In catching her eye, he felt the tips of his ears go pink. It felt a little ridiculous, standing here subtly flirting even he knew that Sisse was no longer just Sloane's childhood friend. They'd had an interesting year and Alvin had gradually noticed the change. He still didn't know exactly what to do with the knowledge, but it was there, in the back of his mind and he was starting to wonder if it was the same for her. Alvin really wasn't in a place to do anything about it, even if he was starting to realize he might want to.

He followed her gaze, understood the insinuation and he smiled slowly, almost conspiratorially. "Isn't that frowned upon, Miss Thompsett?" Two dances said something, did it not?

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Indeed Sisse hadn't expected him to think she was suggesting another dance, but she was pleased at the thought. Until reality hit. "Sadly it is." She admitted, her cheeks, she was sure, were once again pink. "But however are we expected to know who we ought to marry?" The words were out of her mouth before she could consider them. It was a blithe comment that she might make to any gentleman she friendly with, but not Alvin. With Alvin things were different. And she had just uttered the word marriage. Surely he'd wish to make his hasty escape now and she'd be quite sad to seem him do so.

  

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Thank you Bee <3 Your magic has made Sisse bloom

Sadly indeed. Alvin would have done a second round if it didn't look suspicious. He wasn't sure why that was, and she was right, but the way she said it had him looking at her in surprise. He floundered for what to say, but he cast her a sheepish smile anyway. Alvin didn't exactly know what he was doing here nor what it meant beyond tonight, but he was enjoying himself.

Would a second dance be a bad thing? It would turn heads sure. The problem was that he wasn't in a position to do anything about it. His new position would take a while before he was in a good place financially and that was the drawback wasn't it?

"Maybe that's why people dare to go for a second turn." He ventured a little uncertainly wondering what she would think.

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Oh. Oh. He wasn't running, he was .... was he.... ? Sisse's thoughts couldn't seem to form coherently. Was it... hope.... forming?

She hardly recalled it but her smile softened, "Indeed. I suspect that rather is the cause." Her mouth was dry, her stomach leaping, her arms jittery as if he might take one again in his and draw her to the floor. That was what he was saying, right? Or was she entirely foolish for thinking so. Oh, why had she ever thought she knew what she was doing? She had thought herself so charming so clever this evening, and now.... now she was likely the foolishly naive young lady.

  

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Thank you Bee <3 Your magic has made Sisse bloom

He'd caught her off guard and though they had only been teasing up until now, he thought there undertone was slowly shifting. Alvin still wasn't very sure what he was doing, but he did know he enjoyed her company and he wouldn't endure these events for just anyone. What that meant in the long run, he didn't know, but he was starting to think he ought to put some more thought into it.

"I would be happy to fill in another blank space on your dance card, should the need arise." He hoped that wasn't being too forward, but he also wasn't in the headspace to mince his words either.

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An involuntary grin split across Sisse's face. Before any thought could be put toward the words they were out of her mouth, "I should like that." She hadn't been wrong, hadn't been foolish. She'd worry if she misspoke later, worry if perhaps she ought to have had more propriety, or if she ought not to have been so forward in her acceptance. But Alvin.... it was Alvin. He had to have known the feelings that had been blooming in her the past year, the ones that she had done her best to weed out of her soul. And yet here they were, foolishly impervious to all sense.

  

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Thank you Bee <3 Your magic has made Sisse bloom

Alvin wasn't sure she would agree, but he mirrored her smile. "Wonderful," it wasn't a given, but he could wait and see. It would be a good test of his patience to see if he could handle watching her dance with other people. Surely if he couldn't, that meant something, right? Alvin was still working out some of his feelings on this matter, but that was a later Alvin problem.

"And if not, maybe we could arrange another time." He wasn't sure how many events like this he could attend, but he could try, or maybe he could try for something else.

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The smile that spread across his lips was one of the most handsome sights Sisse was sure she had ever seen. He ought to smile like that more often, in fact, in that split second consideration she found herself realizing she likely would do anything to get him to smile like that again. It felt as if they understood each other perfectly in that moment and her heart seemed to beating rapid wings against her chest.

Another time. Sisse's eyes light up, her joy almost felt like it was overspilling. There were so many things that implied, the happiness that soared through her accompanied by something else she couldn't quite understand. "If it means you will attend more assemblies, then most certainly." She tried to sound polite, like a lady, but she knew her joy broke through the words. Oh to be dancing with him once again would give her something to look forward toward.

Sisse might have said more if they hadn't been interrupted by a Mr. Lingon who had come to claim Sisse's hand for the country dance that the musicians were queuing up. The eager young man hardly gave her time to be divested of her lemonade, let alone say anything further to Mr. Bixby. But she smiled at him over her shoulder, a smile, a hope, a promise as she was led away.

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   Sloane Bixby

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Thank you Bee <3 Your magic has made Sisse bloom