Cassian surmised that June looked far better with a smile than a scowl, but he delighted in the way she scowled anyway. Maybe this was his problem addiction weakness... a stubborn and unruly person that could never be tamed.

Her quip about the bored little debutante didn’t sting as much as it might have, were he a man with more single-minded romantic pursuits. His hope was to find a lovely debutante who decidedly did not have room to grow bored, be it through travels, children, or other household affairs. And as for her diversions… June might be surprised to learn what Cass found tolerable, to a discreet point, and if he were allowed to entertain his own. It’s only fair.

Though the meaning of Juniper’s venom-laced words were clear. She didn’t need to say it, he felt it: she hoped he was despised by whomever he married. The statement let on to cards she should keep closer to her chest; he was making no allies over at the Edevane household anytime soon. Indeed, she spelled out in no unclear terms that he ought to watch his back. And with further crystalline clarity, that she hated him wholeheartedly for what he did. (Or more accurately, the things he did and didn’t do.) For a moment, he felt a bit bad. Were this his sister, he’d likely wish to murder the offending man in a duel. This much was relatable. But the fact that she’d dug her own way into all of this also made things different than what he could imagine ever happening to his sister. 

Unfortunately for Juniper, Cassian was quite good at what he did. So even with distracted idle thoughts while they faced one another, he saw the instant her hand reared up as though to slap him. And he caught it, effortlessly, with one big hand clasped hard against her wrist. His eyebrow raised, surprised -- less that she wanted to slap him (that much was obvious), more than she'd risk it here, where a few people in the crowd no doubt saw what may have happened. It would hurt her more than him. That was simply how society works.

“I don’t think of you as a dumb debutante for a minute,” he offered quietly, and it was the truth, even as his hand squeezed hard around her wrist indicating a clear message -- this, however. This was dumb. His look on her remained stern. This was a fine line she was walking, and he did not expect Mister Edevane to be very charitable in his punishments even with his own daughter. Already, he could see her father taking acute interest from a distance. Clocking, most likely, his daughter’s ire that radiated at him. “Nor do I wish to toy with you. But I’ll offer you some advice, Miss Edevane." He leaned a touch closer, so that he might utter quietly near her ear, "A little glimpse into the mind of a man, for the fresh debutante.”

The song was near its end, and he punctuated his words with a twirl before bringing her back to his arms. He went on, cool blue eyes impassive as he found it necessary to make himself clear to June. This was fun, while it lasted. “If you wish to gain any proper form of courtship and proposal, then it may behoove you to act with a touch more propriety. You may be alarmed at how well it can work with those pretty green eyes of yours.” Green eyes usually harbored a bit of danger, in his mind. This must be what attracted him first.

The song finally concluded, and they took their requisite step apart from each other, with Cassian lowering in a small bow. “Enjoy your evening, my lady…”

---