"Beginner's luck, what a charmer." She chuckled quietly, taking a sip of her butterbeer and taking note of the hint of a blush at his ears. "In the interest of being candid," Winnie smiled and leaned in conspiratorially. "I must confess I'm quite shocked there is no Mrs. Grimstone..." She trailed off for a moment. "Or is there and I am a horrible slight? Or would that make you the horrible one?" She waggled her eyebrows at him playfully, leaning back again, fairly certain that by bachelor friends, he meant that he too remained unwed. What a pity. Handsome, genial, quite easy to talk to, she had to wonder if he was just the type who was married to his work or if perhaps he  had some creepy collection of weird dolls or something equally disturbing that chased the ladies away.

"You're a natural at it, either way." She followed up with a raise of her glass in his direction, laughing at herself for where her own thoughts had turned. Though she had lost her sweets to get here, Winnie was starting to think fate had a funny way of making it up to her. She was much more interested in a conversation with the likes of Mr. Grimstone over chocolates anyway.

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She was shocked, was she? They were being candid, then. He laughed lightly at the first part of that, and the way she had leant in; at the second part, Elias twisted his expression to one of surprise. “Oh, didn’t I mention?” he mock-exclaimed, lowering his tone as if this too was some sordid secret. “I’ve left her at home to waylay winsome young women to the Three Broomsticks in broad daylight. I’m sure she’ll never hear of it.” He rolled his eyes lightly, wanting to take another draught of his butterbeer but also not wanting to drain it too quickly and be out of excuses to stay.

It was all in good fun, though; maybe a little forward for the mid-afternoon - but at least in the daylight she felt like an old friend. If he had met her somewhere more dimly-lit, he couldn’t help but wonder just how candid she would be.

“Now who’s the charmer?” Elias murmured with another wry grin into his glass. “It’ll wear off, I’m sure,” he added, only half in jest, lest she had any expectations of him from this. “Give me a bit longer and I’ll ruin it somehow.”

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The following 1 user Likes Elias Grimstone's post:1 user Likes Elias Grimstone's post
   Bronwyn Moony

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look ANOTHER beautiful bee!set <3

For a split second Winnie worried there was a Mrs. Grimstone and she'd made a huge mistake. But then he continued and she narrowed her eyes at him playfully. "Secrecy is not your strong suit, got it." Winnie teased in return, taking a sip of her butterbeer, which was, regretfully almost gone.

"Oh, I know I'm charming, it's part of the appeal." She nodded, grinning. Winnie was nothing if not confident in who she was. At least on the surface and deeper down than most people would admit to themselves. Very little rattled her and a bit of casual flirting had her in her element. Plus it was extremely easy when the company was at the caliber she currently had. "I've got time." She assured him, wondering just how long he would let her monopolize his time this afternoon.

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