June 28th, 1894 - Spellcraft Ball

Sutton enjoyed the season, enjoyed balls and parties and everything that went along with it. She had absolutely no reason to be nervous, but she was. This felt like high society; the magical ladies of the ton, and she needed to make a good impression. After a failed season already, there was no excuse to do it again. Sutton knew the older she got, the harder it would be to find a husband. She was nearly twenty, just a couple of days shy and as much as she knew it was silly to put this pressure on herself, she had to.

"Zenny, how are we to stand out in this!?" She whispered as she tucked her arm into her dear friend's. With the other she smoothed out the skirt of her pale pink dress, surveying the room at large with all of the attendees who were already familiar with one another! Sutton knew that her sister and their friends may not have a hard time standing out, but hopefully it would not be for all of the wrong reasons. She knew they were finished and debuted but it all felt so different. Things were far more strict here, a little more uptight than what they were used to. Sutton hoped they just didn't make fools out of themselves with all of this!

As they made their way to pick up their dance cards, Sutton was struck by how much thought had gone into all of this and she wondered if they would even get asked to dance. She was worrying far too much about it. Surely it wouldn't hurt to have new, fresh faces in the fray? "I hope this isn't a disaster." She sighed as she slipped her dance card onto her wrist.

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Zenobia Honeysuckle c/o Tycho Dodonus

  

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Zenobia was utterly enjoying the journey thus far though it felt very odd to do things without her brothers hovering somewhere nearby. In fact, she half expected at least one of them to somehow materialize in the crowd. Of course, that had yet to happen though. "I am sure we already do," Zenny assured.

She fanned herself with her fan in her free hand as she observed the room before snapping her fan shut. She picked up her dance card and slipped it onto her wrist before taking a glance at the scheduled dances on her currently blank card. "Oh, there will be a Quadrille later in the night. Try getting in the same grouping as me," she said excitedly, seeing one of her favorite dances.

  

Sutton wished she could harness some of Zenny's nonchalance about the whole thing. She seemed entirely unbothered that they were in a new town, with new people and in a new social setting! These people were probably wondering who they were or where they'd come from, which only made Sutton squirm a little. She wished she had half of Leighton's bravery or some of Zenny's zest for the evening. Maybe then it wouldn't be quite so daunting.

"Of course, I do enjoy the quadrille." If she made it that far without making a fool of herself somehow! Everyone here seemed so prim and proper compared to their peers back home. Not that their society was any less formal, but people always seemed a little more welcoming, it was louder, more fun. "Do they do them in the same order we do?" Not that it strictly mattered, but Sutton looked at the dance card on her own wrist thoughtfully, wondering if any gentleman would even bother to fill out a slot. "Do you think we'll get them filled out?" She really wasn't this much of a worry wart normally!

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Zenny clapped her hands in excitement when Sutton agreed. If they got lucky perhaps Leighton, Maebee or the others of their little friend group would be in the spots beside them. Not that she was adverse to mixing up with the locals and making new friends, of course, but she loved dancing with her friends.

"A little different but not so glaring," Zenny said. Even different balls back home sometimes did things in a different order. She giggled as Sutton asked if she felt they would get their cards filled out. "Well I certainly hope so, I did not get new dancing shoes for nothing." The Southern twang in her accent shone through despite all the accent training their finishing school had provided which drew a bit of attention. Not that Zenny took any notice.

  

Sutton chuckled at Zenny's enthusiasm. It was infectious, which helped ease her nerves a little bit. This felt akin to debuting all over again. Nobody here knew them and it was both daunting and a little bit of relief. Her father's reputation did not follow her here. In Britain she was just another debutante, like any other, trying to have success on the marriage mart.  She wasn't sure if that was better or worse.

"I hope you're right." She surveyed the room at large and the current occupants milling about. Her mother was loitering nearby, watching, as Leighton managed to get some of her dance card filled out already. Perhaps they should follow her sister's lead and push further into the room, making themselves known. Where was Maebee when they needed her? "Let's go see what we can accomplish then."

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"Of course I'm right," Zenny giggled with unfounded confidence. She hooked her up through Suttons and took stock of the room. "Let's start on this side. The men there look less like old prunes," she whispered to Sutton before plastering on a bright smile and moving forward, arm still looped with Suttons.

  

"Zenny!" Sutton hissed through a laugh at her friend's comment. She was, not wrong however and so Sutton allowed herself to be pulled away from that selection to another part of the room where there were indeed, some younger fellows. Their accents were all so charming that Sutton found herself so easily enthralled in the most mundane of conversations, but as they mingled, the pair had managed to get a few slots filled.

"Alright, it is not so bad. Has anyone in particular caught your eye?" Sutts was curious to see if her friend had anybody in mind or if she was mostly winging it like she was.

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Oh but did she love the way a British or Irishman talked. As it was, Zenny was easily charmed and eager to get to know their new acquaintances. Perhaps one of them would even prove to be the love of her life! She could hardly wait.

"I have not yet met enough men for one to have caught my eye," Zenny decided. She needed to meet one that took her breath away the moment they locked eyes. That had not happened yet.

  

"Well I suppose we should take another turn and see who we can find." She smiled conspiratorially. Maybe a little champagne, or something to help her find a little more courage. They were here for a reason, so they may as well fulfill it.

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