It was a rare occurrence indeed that saw Elladora indulging in anything that might be described as society but with the menfolk of her family at Hogwarts and her only alternative being Ursula even she would make allowances and seek company elsewhere. She didn’t especially care for the location – she honestly had very little memory of the particulars of her acquaintance with the hosts, having begun to suspect that they were friends of Ursula’s and she had inadvertently stolen the invitation without reading it properly – but it was better than another night spent avoiding her sister-in-law’s gaze.

They had much to discuss and Elladora had no intention of uttering a word.

So champagne and strangers, and from her vantage point at the edge of the room she had an excellent view of the latter whilst also being able to enjoy the former. And her view was rather pleasant for once: a young lady she had seen on the circuit for several years now and, to the best of her knowledge, had never entered into a courtship of any description. Which was far from conclusive but did suggest she was an imminently sensible sort of young woman who was clearly suffering under the strain of a tedious conversation.

Elladora finished her champagne and discarded the glass, dabbing elegantly at the corner of her lips as she cut through the room and slipped a hand around the young woman’s waist.

“How wonderful to see you my dear,” she leaned in and kissed her cheek, turning coolly to her conversational partner. “I do hope you won’t mind me stealing her away, it’s been simply ages.”

She didn’t wait for a reply. The balcony beckoned.

It was a rare occurrence indeed for Elladora to go out of her way for another but she had endured more than her fair share of unwanted attention in her younger years to feel compelled to come to the aid of others on occasion. Admittedly her benevolence tended to be directed towards a very particular kind of person but that wasn’t something she dwelled on – some were just more deserving than others.

“Think nothing of it,” she offered airily, straightening her back as she inhaled the cool air, eyes flicking unobtrusively towards the younger woman. “You seemed somewhat beleaguered inside and I know how intolerable certain company can be.”

“It is not a service I offer to just anybody.” Elladora retorted purposefully, taking a step towards the younger woman in the limited light. Across crowded ballroom Miss Carmichael finally stood out to Ella now that she had a few more years lining her face and her marital status, or lack thereof, was becoming something to be commented upon. “I simply cannot abide to see a lovely young lady cornered by such deeply unworthy suitors.”

Miscalculation was not something that Elladora suffered from often but given what had happened to her the previous month she could probably be forgiven for not being entirely at the top of her game. This was all Ursula’s fault - she loathed making a fool of herself and this young woman was looking at her as though she were mad.

“They were prowling closer I assure you. Another moment and they would have lept upon you like wolves on a gazelle.”

Elladora knew she was many things, but a celebrated conversationalist was not one of them and she could not entirely recall the last time somebody had sought ought her company deliberately. She was generally avoided in company, whether out of fear or pity, and the whispers had followed her for years until she had convinced one and all that poor Miss Black didn’t regret a single bit of her circumstance.

Still, it was a charming lie from a pretty woman. It was probably the best thing to come of the evening.

“Amongst some circles I suppose,” she replied with the ghost of a smile. “But I shouldn’t keep you. Your circles are still much more varied than mine I suspect and you may as well make the most of them while you are able. Goodnight Miss Carmichael.”