She was interested in the trip, which would be a lot of fun, and such a different environment to the London and Hogsmeade scenes, he could picture the young woman now in one of the beautiful Indian gowns.

"That settles it then, if you write me your address I shall conduct with your father and we shall visit Mumbai together." he had a big smile on his face, tempered by the disappointment that their second dance was coming to an end and he would have to hand her over to the next gent on her card. "I will make sure to put in my credentials as a potential husband to encourage your father to allow the trip of course. But please don't feel there is any pressure on yourself in that regard."

He finished the dance and lifted her hand to give it a polite kiss on its top before the dancers took a moment to applaud each other before the next song. "Between you and me, the sort of person who swoons into formal arrangement after a single meeting is foolish". He had placed his honest cards on the table so as not to shock the woman, although she seemed bright enough to work out for herself that an eligible bachelor might like to court a beautiful debutante. He was curious to see if she would go through with the offer after all.

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Elias Grimstone Matilda Farris

  

He seemed of a like mind to her – or at least he was saying all the right things to persuade her. She didn’t know if this was gentlemanly ploy, to entrap a young lady into courtship by promising exciting adventures first, but she thought he was more inclined to fun. (After all, she hadn’t forgotten his wager of his hotel room.)

And she was not opposed to being in demand, for the purposes of society – but she was sure she was not the sort of person to swoon into arrangements after one meeting or even the second. But he had promised no pressure, and that was quite enough for Mattie to abuse his generosity and good looks all she pleased. “I quite agree,” Mattie murmured, while he was bent near to her hand, “that people ought to fully explore their options first.” Subtly, she let her hand brush ‘accidentally’ down his chest as she let her hand drop again. That was the most flirtation she could chance at a ball.

Before they parted, she granted him her Irvingly address. “You should write to me privately first,” Mattie said in a mischievous undertone, “so that I can soften my father to our ends.” Or, better yet – if she could play things right and steal away to India with him without telling her father at all.

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   Harrison Knight

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