[Rosalind Fairmont (Alexandra)]

Marcus had dutifully escorted Rosalind the twenty feet from music room to the dining area and then bolted for the buffet - muttering something that sounded very like "roast beef"- leaving Rosie to make conversation with the lady who had been on his other arm, one Miss Bainbridge, an extraordinarily pretty débutante that Marcus seemed to have met sometime in the last week. Rosalind failed to be surprised. He seemed to collected admirers such as this fair creature at an alarming rate season after season.

The pair made conversation for a while before, like Marcus before her, Miss Bainbridge bolted. But not for roast beef. It looked very much like the girl's mother had secured an audience with the illustrious new Duke of Claitonborough.

Left to her own devices, Rosalind wandered to the buffet with a great deal less gusto than her brother.

OOC: 200 posts for Roise. Good girl.

[Blake Pritchard (Lin)]

The first half of the program ended and Blake could only breath a sigh of relief. He had avoided any conversation with unnecessary people so far, having been kept entertained by his mother's running commentary on the performers. She seemed quite happy to simply be whispering at him, or the lady next to her and he was content to just be amusing himself by watching Henry and the performers in turn. He already knew Lady Viola was going to be accomplished- and she was- no lady would plan a musicale if she herself could not play an instrument.

He, like Foxford, dutifully escorted his mother to the dining room, when she immediately exclaimed for half the room to hear. "Lady Rosalind! Has your brother left you alone?" Blake found himself smiling. Oh, flowers, you say? He had not seen her since the Ball, and had not had an opportunity to reap the rewards of his little joke. "Food does have that effect on men, doesn't it." Lady Emerson said to Rosalind in a tone much more suitable for indoors once they neared the girl. "Ah. I am thirsty." She finished with a smile at both of them, before (unknown to her) bolting like Marcus and Miss Bainbridge before.

Blake, now heartily amused by his mothers tactics, cleared his throat. "You look beautiful tonight, Lady Rosalind."

[Rosalind Fairmont (Alexandra)]

"Your mother certainly seems to think so," Rosalind said with a soft smile as she watched Lady Emerson retreat, feeling much more nervous than she would have expected to in such a situation.

"And I thank you," she added with a nod. "Have you and your house fully recovered from Sunday's festivities? I hear it can be difficult to beat fairy dust from carpets."

[Blake Pritchard (Lin)]

"I have, but I'm not as sure regarding the house." He said, offering her his arm to escort her away from the crowd of people that were milling about the buffet. "I hear the housekeeper complaining, but everyone knows there's nothing she likes better than to see results from her.. ministrations." His housekeeper ruled Emerson House with an iron fist, and her biggest achievements were her ladyship's parties.

"And you? I always admire a woman's ability to stand dancing till the wee hours of the morning and still look as fresh as a rosebud the morning after." He couldn't comment. He didn't dance. He was struggling not to bring up a discussion about flowers. God knew he wanted to. It would have been a laugh.

[Rosalind Fairmont (Alexandra)]

"Here I ought to keep my mouth shut, nod and agree that I was fresh as a rosebud-" interesting choice of flower, my Lord, "but that would be lying by omission, I fear. I did indeed dance well into the early hours of the morning... but that was all I saw of the morning!" she admitted with a conspiratorial smile as they dodged the hungry masses and sought somewhere more quiet to enjoy supper. Taking his arm had felt natural enough but as they moved away from the center of things, the dainty nervous butterflies fluttered up her throat again.

"I am now fully recovered, however, and live to mingle another day."

[Blake Pritchard (Lin)]

"I do realize that night or day does not really make a difference. London has the tendency to become nocturnal during these months." He said dryly. He had no preference for sleep at whatever hours, but he supposed that it did defy nature's logic.

Then, catching a lull in the conversation..."Did you like the flowers?" He said, grinning brightly at her, his eyes laughing. "I was wondering if your brother's reaction was more priceless or your own."

[Rosalind Fairmont (Alexandra)]

"I did," Rosalind replied carefully, twirling her fan carefully in one gloved hand and smiling, looking down and thinking of the flood of velvety ruby blossoms that had filled her morning room last week. "Thank you very much," she added, looking up to meet his rather questioning gaze with a grin.

"My brother's reaction..." Rosalind trailed off, paused, and then continued archly: "I have not yet decided whether to nor to be insulted and put out with you, my Lord, for suspecting that my brother would be shocked that a gentleman should send me flowers."

[Viola Fitzgerald (Rose)]

Viola had done her duty by several dowagers before she could escape to the dining room to stock up on food. She was excessively hungry after all her exertions of the day and the knowledge that the evening was going well made her relax a good deal more. Skirting her way through the crowds to the refreshment table, she spied Lady Rosalind Fairmont and made a beeline towards her, glad to see her new friend. They had not had an opportunity to talk at the Emerson Ball and Viola wanted to continue the acquaintance. Her companion, however, had been blocked by a portly gentleman so that Viola did not see that Lady Rosalind was talking to Lord Emerson until she was only a foot away and her intentions were too clear to allow her to back away. Her heart almost stopped before she pulled herself together and approached them both with a friendly smile and a curtsy.

"Lady Rosalind, it is very good to see you again. Lord Emerson."

She wondered if he would be polite to her as he had done at the ball - they had really got on rather well - or if something would happen again. She really had not wanted to speak to him at all. It was the most terrible coincidence them meeting again like this! All she had wanted to do was talk to Lady Rosalind.

[Blake Pritchard (Lin)]

"I am sure you received many bouquets, Lady Rosalind. But the shock lies in the question of the man sending the bouquets. My brother was surprised, much less yours." He said plainly, nodding to a gentleman who clapped him on the shoulder before moving away. "Be assured I mean no other meaning- other than I am glad you enjoyed the flowers."

"And might I ask as to what other flowers I should send next? My florist has implored me to give her a prior warning before my next request so that she can gather the flowers.." He said, this time smirking at her. This eyes twinkled. He never quite thought that pleasing a young lady was so simple and so fun. Perhaps the masses were right. It was the tiny acts that counted the most.

The arrival of Lady Viola was neither welcome or required. She change in expression made it clear that it was not him she wanted to speak with. Blake would not, could not be rude to the Lady in her own home, but right now, he quite desired Lady Rosalind's company and immediately decided that he would not excuse himself.

"Lady Viola. My most sincere compliments on a wonderful party," he acknowledged her, sketching a bow, Rosalind still on his arm.

[Rosalind Fairmont (Alexandra)]

"Then I shall not be put out with you," Rosalind agreed very sweetly, trading a smile for a smile. "I think I should very much like water lilies next time," she informed him. "In some very pretty vases if it might be arranged..."

She would have added another teasing comment but Lady Viola was suddenly before them.

For a heartbeat, Rosalind's reaction was pleasure: pleasure that their hostess had sought her out, pleasure that Viola had evidently enjoyed their last tete-a-tate enough to make time for her once more, pleasure that Lady Viola looked elegant (Rosalind always felt so very let down when she decided that a lady had style only to see them the very next day in pink lace or pairing yellow and black - the horror!) but these pleasant reflections were soon jerked away and replaced by the realization that she was standing in company with Lord Emerson. And now Lady Viola.

The very same Lord Emerson who had (allegedly) be so rude to the very same Lady Viola and then called out Mr. Fopkinslaw (or somesuch.)

Awkwaaaaaard.

Composing herself and determined not to make things any more awkward than this situation was bound to be, Rosalind smiled, keenly aware that Emerson still had a vice hold on her arm.

"Lady Viola! You as well. Especially tonight - so far, it has a been a tremendous success I think." All the right people were here - and none of the wrong ones. The playing had been good, yet Lady Viola's own performance had stood out with the top two or three. All in all, a successful event indeed.