Daffy knew attending an event the night before her own family was set to host one was probably spreading herself a little thin, but she didn't intend to stay too late this evening and for the most part, enjoying for tomorrow we set up already. Plus Zinnia had really wanted to go and Senna had agreed to come along and Daffy couldn't think of a good excuse not to go when asked. It wasn't like she could flat out say she was avoiding social situations so she wouldn't run into Noble. According to everyone in her life he didn't exist.

She'd found a pretty teal blue dress in her wardrobe she hadn't worn in a while, charmed the fabric to be a little more iridescent and wove a kaleidescope of small colorful blooms into her hair to suit the theme. It was a Rainbow Ball after all and Daffy was nothing if not normally colorful. Normally anyway. She'd lost a little bit of her sparkle as of late, but hopefully it would come back...

So far the evening had been more pleasant than expected. The new cordials the distillery were premiering were quite tasty, but
Daffy knew better than to have too much. She'd run into Mr. Grimstone again, which was a delightful surprise and a good distraction on the evening. He seemed to have recovered nicely from his crash landing in the pumpkin plants, which was all that mattered. They'd parted ways after a few witty comments on the fashion show and Daff had invited him to the garden party the following day. She then found herself looking for her sisters to see if they were ready to head home yet.

Of course it wasn't Senna she found herself face-to-face with, but Noble, as she turned around once more in her efforts to find her sisters. Daff bit her lip to stifle the reflexive smile, softening her look from the surprise that was clear on her features. "Sorry, I was just looking for my sisters." She said by way of an excuse for the two of them not to have to do this right now.

Daff felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. There was no way she could have prepared herself for this feeling, even though she'd known that running into him at events was highly likely. Not just a month ago coming across one another in a sea of people was like as little life raft to get them to when they could see one another next. Now she felt like she was on an island by herself just watching any hope of rescue float by in the distance.

Daff toyed idly with the bracelet* she'd recovered from his brother earlier in the evening before realizing she was drawing attention to it. Daff hadn't even thought twice about putting it on, even though it brought on another little crack in her heart. Even now it brought a soft, fond sort of smile to her lips as she glanced down at it.

Realizing she was being painfully silent, she finally looked back up at him. "Oh, alright, thank you. I'll —" Daffy had meant to say she'd see him around, and though it was likely true, she didn't think it needed pointing out. "I'll ah, see if I can't find her. It was good to see you Mr. Greengrass." Painful, but alright.

Daffy caught his glance at her bracelet and just barely conquered the urge to hide it. Why she'd even thought to was beyond her, but that look on his face and the fact that he apparently hadn't heard what she said, gave her a moment's pause.

She did stop playing with it, instead smoothing out her skirts to give her hands something to do. Perhaps she shouldn't have worn it, maybe she should tuck away all of the things that he'd given her or that reminded her of him. The problem was, she didn't want to forget, she didn't even want it to be over, she still loved him as much today as she had a month or a year ago, but that didn't change the fact that she didn't know where, if anywhere, they were headed anymore.

"I said thank you and that it was good to see you." She kept the soft smile in place. What Daffy wanted to say was that she was sorry, that she didn't mean what she had said, but she couldn't, not here.

Everything that went unspoken between them weighed on her like the gravity of the moon pulling the tides. She could feel the apology on the tip of her tongue, she very nearly said something aloud, but this was not the time or the place. The problem was, would she ever be able to find either again? With out arranging to see one another, which she wasn't so sure he wanted, would she ever get a chance to explain herself?

Daff fiddled with her bracelet again, speaking before thinking, "So far so good, I had a rather enjoyable conversation with your brother earlier." Though she knew who he was, she doubted the recognition went both ways. It had been lovely though, to get to know his family even on a superficial level. The conversation had flowed naturally and he'd very graciously dealt with the bracelet incident. Just thinking about it made her heart ache a little bit and had her kicking herself for prolonging the conversation unintentionally; Noble was, and always had been, easy for her to talk to.

Daffy bit her lip, hesitating on continuing the conversation any longer. What were they doing? They weren't supposed to do this anymore. And yet, she couldn't stop herself. Daff would take whatever moments she could get in his company.

"I— yes. I accidentally threw my bracelet at him." An unintended slip on a spilled drink had sent it flying as she tried to keep here balance. It was on tighter now and it wouldn't happen again, she couldn't stand to lose it. "We had a very nice conversation, he's very sweet." Fortitude had been easy to talk to and graceful with her slip ups.

"Noble look, I—" She really didn't know what to say, stopping herself short of starting a conversation she had no business starting here. "I should go." She cast him one more smile, taking in his handsome face.