It was a pleasant night out on the carriage ride up to the school and Harrison found himself quietly anticipating the first ball of the new season. It wasn't his first time attending this event, the last one being technically successful, but ultimately a failure as the interaction had gone nowhere after a month of bland conversation, he couldn't blame the girl for their incompatibility and he hoped to find someone more suited this time. It wasn't long after everyone had gathered that stirrings at the head of the stairs indicated that guests should gather to welcome the women, “out”.

The hopeful men, excited friends of the debutantes and other eager guests jostled for position to get a good look, it was quite interesting to see how people stacked up, you could almost tell a man’s class by the cut of his suit. Harry’s own was crisp, well tailored and his cravat was the perfect match to the tone of his outfit, he was a fashionable man and was grateful to have the money to follow such things. The women tonight however, namely the debutantes, looked beautiful without exception, dressed finely and walking like the elegant young women they were. There was nerves of course, and several of them keenly glanced around for reassuring faces in the crowd. He didn't blame them if he was honest, his own sister had been quite blunt with their father about her anxieties when it was her turn, it all sounded quite a lot to go through, but it was how futures were made.

Mr Knight continued to watch, the head girl and the prefects all first, followed by the girls in order by name, as was the way. It was not until fairly late in the precession that her found his eyes captured. A brunette woman, with pale skin and dark lips. He smiled, he had always liked brunettes and the appearance of this lady was very intriguing. He muttered her name to himself to commit to memory as she descended the stairs and was greeted by several well wishers. Did he dare approach such a striking beauty? Of course he did. He wouldn't wait too long, but nor would he pounce on her as soon as her feet touched the floor. Harrison briefly hoped that her eyes might catch him across the room and she would find him as lovely as he found her, but this was not some fantasy romance, the room was busy, there was too much movement for her to catch him, perhaps. What he did see however was another man preening himself and speaking to his friend while gesturing towards Miss Parkinson. ”Not for you sir, you are dressed like an undertaker's apprentice” he said to himself in his head with a grin.

He walked across and took the woman’s hand, gently bowing as he led her to the others who were already dancing, he gave her his name, he already knew hers of course from the introductions. ”It is quite a challenge for some ladies, the change from being a student to seeking their future. I admire your concern for your peer.” he said as they danced close. ”But I believe that tonight should now be about you.” he gently spun her and watched as her dress reacted to the dance. ”You really are quite exquisite Miss Parkinson, I hope that you do not share your friend’s fragility.” he gave a fun grin to her. He was already enjoying the woman’s company and hoped for the chance to get to know her much more.

The light blush on the young woman's face was sweet and only enhanced her delightful femininity. She seemed well able to navigate her feelings on tonight's event, which was a good sign and despite her youth she carried herself well. Harrison lifted Minnie's hand in the air as they crossed positions with another couple in a spanish waltz, his gaze did not leave his dance partner. "And so you should be, you have studied so long, and have more expectations in front of you, but tonight you should be allowed to celebrate. It is not a night for tears" he considered that comment, did it sound a little dismissive of her friend? Perhaps, but best not dwell on it. Harrison hoped that he was positively contributing to Miss Parkinson's enjoyment, although social decorum made it frustratingly difficult to tell a person's honest opinions.

The dance partners all crossed again, giving Harry another chance to spin his partner until she came to rest with her chest to his. He cupped one hand and placed the other in the small of her back as they carried on their steps. There was a fun smile on the well dressed man's face as he looked at the lovely eyes of the woman. "Blue" he said quietly to himself as he caught a proper look at their colour. "I am having a quite pleasant time too." he gently squeezed his hand on her lower back before they separated again to continue the dance moves. As they walked between other couples he asked her. "Please tell me, if one were to visit the home of the Parkinsons, which part of the country might they find themselves?". He hoped she might have questions for him too, but as the man, it was only proper that he go first.

This was going well, at least, that is what the expressions on his young dance partner's face told him. She had a lovely expressive face that was pleasing to look at and he certainly found himself doing so quite unashamedly, he was pleased that he had not packed out his dance card plans because he hoped that this woman might accept a second request to dance, it would be an obvious declaration of interest, but why not.

"Yorkshire is a lovely county." he replied to her, remembering his trips their, particularly as a youth. "Well, I hail originally from Hertfordshire, but now reside in London." How uninteresting of him, ask a hundred wealthy bathelors their address and get ninety nine London addresses. "We also have properties in several other cities. I think you would enjoy the Calcutta home, it is something of a favourite of mine." They came towards the end of the Spanish waltz, Harrison took one more oppurtunity to hold her close to him, just a little more boldly this time as his confidence in the chance of reciprocal interest grew.

The band started playing and the couples moved into the laendler. Harrison squeezed the hand of his partner as they briefly separated. Tradition dictated they have two dances before either of them moved on to other partners for the evening. It was a tricky dance but one that Harrison really enjoyed, and one that would allow him to spin this pretty girl in a manner that she might find quite exhilarating. "I shall be quite disappointed to hand you to your next suitor Miss Parkinson." he said before he bowed to begin the dance.

She was asking about his properties, a wonderfully genteel way of feeling out his means, as was a essential for a woman in her position, if she had consideration that a dance may become a courtship. This was an encouraging sign. He smiled before answering, "Indeed I do, my family has also has estates in Melbourne and New York, I am currently in the process of taking transitional control." it was true, but it was something that pained him, the weaker his father became, the greater Harrison's own portfolio and wealth became, there were days he hated every galleon for it, but it was his life and he had to be grateful for what his father had built for him.

He would put that out of his mind as he saw the wonderful expression on Minnie's face as she spun alongside him. "To think I almost missed tonight's event abroad, that would have been a shame, I think shall remain in the country for a while.: he answered as she coyly mentioned him seeing her at another ball. He would make sure of it. He glanced at another man as paths crossed and they gave each other a polite nod, the momentary lapse in focus on Minnie made him miss a half step and her spin ended a little more abruptly into his chest than was usual. He gave a little grin at his moment of clumsiness before his eyes registered the position he found himself in.

Harrison's heart thumped as the woman's dark hair and pale skin came almost achingly close to him. It would not be long before the music pattern would resume and she would be spinning back away to arms length, but time seemed to stand still as his breath paused. She was beautiful, and her features drew him in. Perhaps if they had known each other a little longer, perhaps if they were not surrounded by a thousand leering eyes and gossiping tongues he would throw caution to the wind and take a step across the last few inches that separated them. Harrison hoped that the dilemma on his mind was not to apparent to his partner, he absolutely couldn't kiss her, could he?

Miss Parkinson behaved exactly as a lady should, stepping out of the embrace that if Harrison was honest with himself, was inappropriate and just a symptom of his excitement to finally meet someone that piqued his interest. A little part of him was of course disappointed for the space to return, but only a socially clueless woman would put such a thing on her reputation, and socially clueless was not the sort of woman that appealed to Harrison. He smiled, whether her wit and personality would her elegance remained to be seen, there was only so much you could learn in a dance after all. But he had learned enough that he knew he wanted to know more.

"I am grateful that I was able to make this ball, it has been very pleasant dancing and speaking with you and I thank you for your attention. If you have space on your card for another dance later in the evening, then I would be honoured, but if you are not available, then I shall simply have more time to look forward to our next meeting." Harrison gave a gentlemanly bow to Minnie and took one last look at her before allowing her to excuse herself. He would seek to dance with other women, meeting two more perfectly lovely and pretty young things in the course of his evening. But they weren't the same as his first dance, and he couldn't help but feel the slightest sense of jealousy when her passed Jessamine and her latest suitor on the dance floor. He had a letter to write in the morning.