675-04-13 - A Dance with a Duke
| A Dance with a Duke | |||||||
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| Summary: Later at the Feast at Castle Equitaine... | |||||||
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The King's arrival had surprised many, though not as much as his announcement of the trip. More a surprise to the commoner names he had included upon the list of those to go. But then there had been the feasting many had looked forward to, meats and cheeses, roasted this or that, and of course wine and ale to wash it all down with. The arrival of food had at least made small talk less of a burden, and the King's announcement had provided some fodder to aid there. As many reached the end of their meal, music began to strike up for those inclined to dance, or simply to provide some background music to those wishing to yet converses over another glass of wine. It seemed Avaline was some where in the middle, content to sip on the last of her wine after she had finished with her food. Merely listening to what conversation her cousin and uncle might be having.
Alajos had been morose most of the time since Herrik questioned the veracity of his dragon legend and eaten in silence. Only the most observant (which probably means his eagle-eyed sister Ortensia) would have noticed that the young duke marginally cheered up whenever a young male servant came to his side to serve fresh wine. Which might have let to Alajos drinking rather a lot of the good stuff. When the music strikes up and some couples start heading for the dance floor, the morose look returns however. The servant boy is gone. They probably have alot of dishes to wash up now. He looks around a little, but consciously avoiding the side where Barbeta and Avaline are sitting. He only casts a brief glance to the side when he notices the Lenouvi duke asking Barbeta to dance. Realizing that Avaline might look at him now, he quickly focuses on the dance floor again.
The Lady Avaline had not had to much wine, nor to little, with her meal. If the serving lad was cute, she hadn't seemed to notice, even if there might have been the occasional smile of thanks to indicate she wasn't completely ignoring their efforts. Rich and poor alike had been hit in the hardships the plague and famine brought. She turns the wine goblet a little within her fingers, pale blue eyes looking to the dance floor and those taking to it. Not so much as a glance to Duke Alajos, while she'd endeavoured to be polite to him as might be required, he had not caught her interest to go out of her way to strike up conversation or expect anything of him. Granted, she does not seem in a hurry to depart from the high time and avale herself to would be partners as she should be doing.
Another dance or three pass without Alajos moving anyway. He seems content to watch and drink. But suddenly Cousin Ralph appears at his side and whispers something to him that causes a look of alarm on the duke's features. A quick exchange follows, until Ralph laughs, pats Jos's shoulder and wanders off again. Alajos sits fuming in silence for a moment, then heaves a sigh. Looking left to where the Lenouvis sit, looking right, where Avaline still sits. Deciding she's the lesser of two evils, he pushes his chair back to head over and bow to her politely. "May I ask your hand for this dance, Mylady?", he asks, with hardly a slur.
The young Lady is content to nurse the remainder of her wine as the music plays on, a mild tap of her foot here and there under the table to some beat within the music. Avaline's gaze does not stray in the least to Alajos, so whatever conversation passes, or more so the reactions of it, aren't really noted. So there is a slow blink of her pale blue eyes when Avaline finds Alajos bowing beside her chair and asking her to dance. She manages to not wrinkle her nose even to hear the faint slur here and there in his words, though if she was allowed to believe in Gods, she might curse them in seeing her own wine glass is empty and thus offers no excuse. Thus it is with a sweet little smile that Avaline gives an incline of her head and moves gracefully to her feet,"It would be an honor, Your Grace." No doubt, her uncle likely to look pleased she is finally leaving her seat and taking to the dance floor.
Alajos takes the hand and leads her to the dance floor. At least all that wine has loosened him sufficiently to be slightly more elegant and not quite so stiff as the plant. In fact, once he's taken hold of her hands and leads her into the steps, the young duke reveals that he is quite a capable dancer with graceful fluid movements. He doesn't really look at his partner, though, preferring to stare straight ahead over her shoulder at nothing in particular.
Least this time there was a proper escort to follow the question. And it seems Alajos has one area he can beat the plant within, dancing. Avaline steps gracefully beside him, her hands touching to him lightly when they reach the dance floor and they must actually....dance. She seems a decent dancer, elegant and graceful in her movements. Good, but not great.
And so they dance, a little perfunctorily, nice to watch, but without genuine warmth or passion. Alajos might as well pushing the furniture around. Once the music stops for a moment, his arms drop to the side. "Mylady.", he manages a slight smile and inclines his head. "You dance well."
At least Avaline is more graceful then most furniture is when being pushed on about. Probably pretty then some of it even. Certainly not to draw eyes for their performance, not flashy, but least there were no falls or toes stepped upon either. Now, for the purposes of political murmurings, there might have been the odd glance to take notice of the pairings as well as what others might have occurred. A slight hint of a curtsy is offered at the end of the dance, to his compliment,"Thank you, Your Grace. You dance quite well yourself. Thank you for the dance, it was enjoyable."
"It was?" Alajos seems actually surprised by the compliment. "It's been a long time since I ... danced. With anyone. A woman, I mean." Even his wine-soaked brain realizes he's talking nonsense, so he clams up again. Seeming ready to flee back to his chair. But there's Cousin Ralph again, casting a meaningful look towards the Princess Barbeta who seems without dance partner at the moment. "Um. Another one perhaps?", he asks Avaline quickly, holding out his hands again.
"Yes, it was, Your Grace." He didn't smash her toes, didn't drool on her, and there was no ill mannered attempt to grope her, and he actually danced well, makes it more enjoyable than most other dances. Right? Avaline's eyebrows shift up just a touch when he seems to have need to specify 'a woman' in there. Sense lacking in much of that, but she still offers a smile,"You did quite well, honestly so." With his posture denoting he means to flee, Avaline had glanced to see if she had another partner to endure before retreating herself, so there is some hint of surprise to her expression when he asks for another dance. A faint nod coming,"Of course, Your Grace. It would be a pleasure." Lightly stepping as her hands settle to his once more. Making some attempt at conversation since he means to dance with her again,"I thought the meal was quite good, the kitchen deserving of many compliments for the fine dishes. Was there one you enjoyed most, Your Grace?"
The power of glances! Ralph appears to be quite content when he notices Alajos' reaction to the glance he has shot in Barbeta's direction. He leans back in his chair and takes another sip from his Athereyne Red.
What, now she wants to make small talk? He only asked her again because she had been so nicely quiet. He could have gone dancing with that chatterbox Barbeta then! Yet Alajos doesn't flee in the middle of a dance. Perhaps he also feels Ralph's eyes boring into his back. "It wasn't bad.", he finally replies after some consideration, "They do seem to have a fondness for strange cheese though. The last one was blue, this one was green. I avoid it. I don't like to eat something when I don't know what it is. I'm also not sure what that thing was... I believe it was a bird of some sort? Or pretending to be?"
Ralph's gaze lingers for a bit on the two of them, as amusement slowly fades from his face, and thoughts and memories begin to claim him, and make him lower his gaze. Another sip, and his goblet is empty, followed by a casual wave towards a servant for a refill.
Really, it was just the requirement per all those lessons in manners, he could have given a curt, short answer and sent her back into silence. But instead he actually seems to take up the conversation starter and actually work with it. Avaline is slightly surprised in truth given how awkward and difficult other attempts have gone, in truth, she'd expected a short conversation ending answer. Especially with the silence that first came, starting to think maybe that /was/ the answer. "They do seem to enjoy their cheeses, I admit I did not take to trying them myself. I...am not sure it could pretend to be a bird, either it is or it isn't, I would think. It seemed a bird from it's structure. " A pause, a consideration before she simply comments,"We will likely experience many dishes we are not familiar with in the Isles." An experiment perhaps, to see if he'll actually continue the conversation or end it.
Maybe it's the wine. Or the whine. Alajos loves both. But the topic of food does seem to get the young man going. "Gods, I don't want to think about it.", he groans, "Do you actually know what they eat over there? I do not, I admit. I haven't given it much thought. Do you think it will be worse than here? Maybe it's not too late to go home..." That last bit slipped out before he can stop himself and the young duke bites his tongue, looking embarrassed for a second. And promptly clams up.
Something in Alajos' reply reaches the other Fennim's ears and he looks up. If the Duke should look his way Ralph will shake his head. No way he can stay behind now! Not after he has agreed to lead the delegation bound for the Isles.
"I cannot say I know myself what type of dishes are common there. I would expect some to be similar, even if many will be different. It is surely possible to see that spices common to our tongues are taken so at least some familiar tastes might be had while we are there, Your Grace." Avaline looking just mildly curious at how the Duke to the topic, and how horridly picky and wrapped up he seems when it comes to the topic of food. Perhaps the turn of the dance, a dance that occurs just after the meal was finished during the feast as it were, allowing Alajos to catch the shake of Ralph's head, or more so that fine lad serving the wine and refilling Ralph's glass. Avaline's eyebrows rise at the last bit that slips out, noting simply,"It has been announced by the King, I do believe it is to late for either of us to return home."
The duke's face gets longer with every sentence Avaline speaks. When he catches Ralph's look, it's good for at least another inch. Not even the return of the pretty servant boy does help. His dance moves slow down to that of a particularly graceful lump of wood and he looks down at Avaline as if it's all her fault somehow. "So you are looking forward to this trip?", he asks crankily.
Noticing Alajos has caught his meaning, Ralph will take a sip from the goblet that has just gotten a refill. And return to his state of idly watching the people dancing, as his thoughts drift off, drowned in another mouthful of Athereyne Red.
Avaline's steps slow to match those of the Duke's, like dancing with a tree stump now. Great. The question has her pale eyes actually looking up to him. "No, I am not looking forward to this trip," her words coming softly, but just a bit bluntly it seems,"I shall have to smile and dance like the world is in perfect order. No doubt as my cousin aids my uncle in deciding which amongst them would be happy to take me off their hands to seal some new alliance. It is just an extension of /this/ trip." Seems she wanted to come on this one as much as she wants to go on the next. He is saved from having to actually respond as the last strains of the song are played. A smile is given as she steps away and makes a curtsy,"Thank you for the dance, it was an honor, Duke Alajos." Giving no more then a breathe of a moment for a response, certainly no opening for another dance as she is soon turning to walk away, either to find another dance partner or a glass of wine. Perhaps the plant is free for a spin about the floor?
Alajos seems rather baffled at the way the young woman handles him and before he has any chance to react, she's gone. He stands for a moment, uncertain what to do with himself, then scurries off the dance floor. Let her dance with the plant. He'll go find the handsome servant. Just for a refill of wine of course.
Avaline does dance with a number of others, to please her Uncle, to be the Lady she is expected to be. Small talk far easier to make with many of them. Eventually slipping along at some point in the evening, perhaps a walk in the gardens before she retires for the evening, now more certain to actually side step the Duke for the remainder of the evening.
