The conversation being had was dangerous. Cassian sensed it in his bones. This may or may not be the same thrill that capitulated them over each other in Venice that summer. Not that he was really looking for a repeat of that tonight, or even intended to. But that lilt of her laugh drew a small smile from him anyway.

Perhaps he would wait for her to reveal her so-called secrets. She was right that he didn’t complain about her ‘capabilities’ before. The blonde resisted the urge to step into her further, to levy his full height against her slight frame and remind her of just that. That’s because his line of sight afforded a glimpse at the man who could only be her father, fast approaching. Knowing their time was limited, he kept his voice low as we went on after his humble inquiry to get in her good graces. He’d love to see her recover from this. “To be fair, you certainly left very little to my imagination last time. I do not believe you can keep a secret for long…”

Finally Mister Edevane made his sudden, brusque appearance. Cassian watched attentively as father and daughter had their telepathic little conversation, the fact that he drained his entire flute of champagne in those odd seconds perhaps his only ‘tell’ that he needed a moment to readjust from their… bold candor. The man passed it off to the side just as he stepped up to meet Alistair’s greeting.

“Mister Edevane, very good to see you again,” he recovered smoothly, all broad smile and crinkled eyes with a firm handshake. A treat for the Miss, no doubt, to see Cass in his more reputable element. Nothing at all like the impassive, heated look he’d given her just a few moments ago. Firmed up, if not a bit artificial-looking. Cassian didn’t know Mister Edevane well enough to pick him out of a crowd without context. But he knew of him. There was never a legitimate reason to follow up on him, obviously. He was simply… a person of perpetual interest. Like father, like daughter. “Season’s been getting on well,” he responded blithely.

With a quick glance at the pretty blonde to gather how she’s coping (his pleasant smile twisted a twinge- it won’t be well after what comes next), he turned back to the man with a curt nod. “Ah, yes. I had the pleasure of Mrs. Edevane introducing me to her sister, Miss Ophelia Edevane, earlier this evening.” He had used this fact to go fishing, of course. For this Miss’s first name – her real one.

“Imagine my shock to see this same face once again, and yet not know her at all. Adding my name to her dance card as well, only seemed fair,” he joked, frankly thinking he did a mighty fine job of helping Miss Edevane along in her convoluted web. “I must apologize,” he went on to Father Hellfire, because it was a bit of a faux-paus to speak so directly with a young lady without introduction. “That this caused my curiosity to get the best of me.” He turned slightly to regard the young woman again, this time his look a bit more inquiring. As if picking up on the conversation they’d just left off, “Though should your father approve, perhaps we may have the next dance, Miss?”

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