[Thomas Sterne (Aida)]

Having left the company of Lady Viola and Mr. Devenish, Thomas set out to find his sister once again to see if she could – as she had promised during the first dance – introduce him to any of her acquaintances from whom he could request the pleasure of the second dance. It did not take him long to locate his family members, yet it was a rather surprising sight to see he brother-in-law engaged in a most lively dialogue, or better say monologue, with a young lady while Lady Jane and the Dowager Countess stood by silently.

Upon approaching the party, Mr. Middleton’s speech revealed to be hovering over the subject that he liked the most: his business. What a surprise! Thomas said to himself somewhat sarcastically, as it was his belief that the merchant simply could not speak of anything else but his business due to his lack of worldly knowledge or tact, though I wonder how on earth he could have managed to find someone to listen to his blabbering! And a very pretty someone too… hmm…

“And that is how your dear father, Mr. MacAlistair, dissuaded me from making the gravest mistake of my life! Such an honourable, and resourceful too… yes, I have never met such a grand man in my whole life…” Mr. Middleton was saying, apparently thinking to himself that he was pleasing his addressee by relating anecdotes from his encounters with her father, when he noticed the younger Sterne son quietly joining their group, smirking amusedly. “Ah, Captain, I didn’t notice your arrival! Let me introduce you to Mrs. Clare,” the jovial merchant went on, “the admirable daughter of a great fellow merchant, a most honest man, without whose advice I would have never gotten this far…” Mr. Middleton then turned towards his mentor’s daughter, “Mrs. Clare, allow me to introduce my brother-in-law: Captain Sterne…”

“Enchanted,” Thomas stepped forward with a rather roguish smile on his face and bowed before the lady, not letting Mr. Middleton go on any further with his extensive explanations. “Shall I have the honour of this dance, Mrs. Clare?” he added, just as the musicians were beginning to tune their instruments for the second dance.

[Selina Clare (Rose)]

Selina had hardly left the Duke a moment and had only had time to grab a glass of wine from a passing waiter and try to control her fluttering heart before she was addressed by a gentleman several years her senior, inquiring if she was not James MacAlistair's daughter. Upon replying in some surprise that she was, she discovered that this gentleman had been an old business associate of her father's. Before she knew it, she was caught and was forced to listen to her father's praises sung left, right and centre. How pleasant, one might think, but not for Selina. Firstly, this man, Mr. Middleton, did not know that her father had been knighted and persisted in calling him Mr. MacAlistair; and secondly, she really did not like being reminded of her father's former years as a tradesman. It dragged everything down in the murky setting of commerce. She hid a delicate shudder.

Fortunately, a new gentleman joined the party, just as Selina was seriously starting to consider fainting from the heat of the room (quite intolerable!). She only had time to murmer one last time, "Sir James MacAlistair, Sir!" with a sickly smile on her face, before the introductions took place.

She cursied to the Captain, eyeing him with interest. Attractive, good teeth, roguish smile... if only she were not widowed, she might be very interested... as it was...

"Good evening, Captain, so pleased to make your acquaintance," she said in her gentle, well modulated voice.

His direct proposal came as a surprise, but she was glad of it. Anything to get away from these dreadful Middletons! "I should be delighted, Captain Sterne." She dipped a quick curtsy to the others. "Delighted to make your acquaintances, Mr. Middleton, Lady Jane, your Ladyship." Then she took his arm and allowed herself to be led towards the floor.

[Thomas Sterne (Aida)]

“I would like to apologize for Mr. Middleton’s lack of… consideration,” spoke Thomas in a rather low but articulate voice as he led the petite lady towards the rows of dancers which were only then beginning to form, “I hope his speech did not displease you terribly, as it is usually its tendency to do so.” While they took their places in front of each other, Thomas spent a good few moments observing his companion with an apparently casual yet in fact a very perceptive gaze – her peach shaded gown veiled beneath a delicate white gauze, her carefully adorned hair and the tiny blue flowers that matched the colour of her large innocent-looking eyes – and wondered if Mr. Clare was anywhere close by.

“I do hope Mr. Clare will not mind our dancing together,” he added as a result of the latter contemplation, smiling softly.

[Selina Clare (Rose)]

((OOC: I'm sooo sorry, Aida!))

Selina was in a quandary as to how to reply. She had been displeased by Mr. Middleton's conversation, both his excessive interest in vulgar matters of trade and business and the length at which he expressed his opinions- it was hardly delicate. Of course she could not say so. She merely settled for a laugh that both relieved the tension and was yet a complaint. "I am afraid I have no head for business as some have. I am shockingly ignorant of such things."

They took their places in the dance, Selina looking modestly downwards as was her custom, while her brain worked furiously. A Captain with relations in trade was not as good as a Duke, but really, she could hardly have started better and she could live a little. Besides, there was a roguish glint in this gentleman's eye that suggested that he might well be an interesting partner. If only she were not a widow but a wife!

"Mr. Clare?" she repeated to his delicate question. She sighed softly and was genuinely regretful as she replied. "Alas, he is no longer with us. He can make no objection. So you see," she added more flirtatiously, "I am all yours, Captain- for this dance."

She curtsied as the dance began.

[Thomas Sterne (Aida)]

(OOC: no problem, Rose! )

“I am very sorry regarding Mr. Clare,” remarked Thomas, taking the chance to bow to his dance partner as an opportunity to hide the devious grin that had formed on his face rather involuntarily and which greatly contrasted with his consoling words. “It is I who am most privileged to be in your service, Madame – even if for the duration of a single dance,” having stated the latter remark, Thomas furtively bit his lower lip as to avoid grinning again and approached the lady with elegant and unhurried steps as they started the dance with a figure of eight.

Meanwhile his mind wandered upon the possibilities of a future liaison with the beautiful widow. Experience in the esteemed field of libertinage had taught him that there were generally three kinds of widows: first were those who were by nature virtuous and intended to remain faithful to the memory of their dead spouses; second were those who were quite the opposite; and third were the widows who were looking to remarry. The third group – regardless of their nature – usually proved to be the most resilient towards temptations and seduction, often demonstrating a virtue more stubborn than even that of debutants, with whom they had to compete. No matter which sort, however, widows were naturally among the best conversationalists, as the flirtatious yet cautious Mrs. Clare appeared to be.

“But surely, La vie continue and one as charming as yourself, Mrs. Clare, should not waste away her youth in regret of the past,” said Thomas in a rather brotherly tone, beneath which lay the hope of receiving an answer that could clarify his doubts, “forgive my directness, yet I have come to observe the inconsistency of life upon many occasions, and I know only too well the value of time lost.”

[Selina Clare (Rose)]

Selina danced her figure of eight after acknowledging the man's sympathies with a silent nod. She was pretty sure that he was not sorry at all that she was a widow- she had not missed the brief smirk that crossed his face, though why he should be pleased she was not sure. As a widow, a liaison would be out of the question. Such a thing could get messy without a husband to provide cover, and Selina was far too cautious and desious of a good marriage to want to risk it. She would have to stick with flirting at present.

What he said next almost made her smile in its directness- well, well, two minds worked alike!

"You are quite right, Sir," she replied softly. "We have too little time with our loved ones to waste time in waiting. I have mourned for a year, but I would hardly be here at Almack's if I did not agree with you that it is time to move on with my life." She glanced up at him from beneath eyelashes that fluttered just a little, and took his hands for a turn.

[Thomas Sterne (Aida)]

“Indeed!” smiled Thomas, assuming by Mrs. Clare’s answer that she probably had the intention of remarrying. “After all,” he continued in a gentler tone, pressing the lady’s hands lightly, “in delay there lies no plenty…” yet he left the quoted poem unfinished, settling merely on a playful smile before the dance parted them once more.

Under the current circumstances, even though his engagement still had not been announced, Thomas doubted that he would make a proper candidate in the eyes of a woman who was already experienced in regards to marriage, as he possessed neither the desirable title nor the compensatory wealth; unless either his brother or his father’s uncle were to pass away – if the latter would after all choose him as his heir among the other contenders. Considering the latter fact and how unlikely it was for a widow who had a second marriage on her mind to set out on a new adventure, it seemed to Thomas that he was going to spend a more tranquil time in Mrs. Clare’s company, their amusing flirtations probably leading to a simple friendship.

“Before I forget!” he added in a friendly tone, “should you receive an invitation from Lady Jane, please be on your guard if you plan on accepting. You see, Mr. Middleton has this, hmm, unpleasant brother whom he often imposes upon single ladies who happen to be there when he is visiting; though I should add his intentions are quite ethical.” His voice became tender again as they were drifted closer towards each other, “not that a lady of your taste and intellect would need such an advice, still…”

[Selina Clare (Rose)]

"My thoughts exactly!" replied Selina with an responding smile and pressing his hands back before executing a neat turn away. She did not recognize the quotation, but she did know a flirtatious glance when she saw one, and it was this she responded to.

When they were next together, she was surprised by his words. She could not tell if they were overly familiar in criticism of his family or whether they were lightly meant. At any rate, his tone did not admit that his intentions were tender, so she flung impropriety to the winds.

"I must thank you, Captain Sterne," she replied, allowing her eyes to me his with a limpid gaze, "there is nothing more distressing than mistaking honourable intentions for... something else. I would of course be delighted to continue my acquaintance with Lady Jane" (very far from the truth but what could one do?) "but I see I must plan my engagements carefully. I thank you."

She continued with another flirtatious glance, "Is there anything else I should be warned about in your family?"

[Thomas Sterne (Aida)]

“You are most welcome, Madam,” Thomas bowed his head slowly, the roguish smile never leaving his lips as in turn he gazed into Mrs. Clare’s large blue eyes, “I should like to think I am of some use to my acquaintances…” he deliberately hesitated a bit, then added: “perhaps even friends.”

With the next part of the dance demanding their attention, he had time to think about Mrs. Clare’s latter remark, which had appeared quite puzzling to him. Could it be that like many other ladies she had already been warned about him and his reputation? Or was it her feminine intuition that was at work here? Perhaps she might have been merely jesting! In any case, there was only one approach that he could take in order to answer her question and he did so when they were reunited to make a turn.

“I believe I should consider myself quite fortunate that for once my reputation has not preceded me,” said Thomas rather playfully and almost in a whisper, “though I have to admit it does put me in a rather compromising situation!” after a brief pause which lasted till the end of the turn, he let out a deep sigh – which appeared a bit artificial due to its excessive melancholy – and continued: “even so, I shall endeavour to act as a true gentleman and will hence warn you, Madam, against my rather... unbridled admiration of beauty.”

All of this, however, was said in a most light-hearted tone.

[Selina Clare (Rose)]

Goodness! Selina had heard nothing of Captain Sterne's reputation, but she thought she might be beginning to discover it. His smile and the low, teasing timbre of his voice were all delicious sounds to the widow's ears. Nobody had made love to her for so long. Why, it must be two seasons ago...

As he almost whispered to her, she turned her head so that for a brief moment in the dance their heads were very close together. She allowed herself to absorb the delicious feeling of being close to an attractive man.

When the turn was finished she looked at him in the eye and said with limpid innocence, "You are an admirer of beauty then? Pray, you must inform me when you see something worthy of calling truly beautiful. I should be very curious to see the effects of unbridled admiration." She could not resist one very uninnocent flickering of her gaze downwards before the dance briefly became communal. She smiled delicately at the woman on her right and also at that woman's partner. The man smiled back with glee. The woman, Selina felt satisfied to note, did not!