Anthony was put at ease by the young lady’s response to his awkwardness. She was a pleasure, really, when one got beyond the swooning. He wasn’t surprised by her name as much perhaps as he ought to have been. Mama had certainly mentioned all three Ms. Malfoys in one of her quests to have him settle. He couldn’t remember anything particularly poignant about the youngest, as that was not the one he’d been directed to entertain, but he was pleased to have made her acquaintance now anyhow. He stood patiently as she steadied herself, a small smile on his face.
“Well Ms. Torie Malfoy, it is a pleasure to meet you,” he quipped playfully. “I see my cousin has good taste in friends, even if she is a startlingly competitive little thing.” He laughed for a moment, thinking back to their croquet game over Atticus’ birthday. She still held that victory over him to date. Anthony was sure she’d just gotten lucky, and next year would tell another tale! “Don’t ever bet against her in croquet,” he added, shifting so the young lady might hold onto his arm as they swept out of the room. “If she loses, she’ll force you into a challenge forever, and if she wins, you’ll never hear the end of it.”
The teasing eye-roll that followed was fond, even as he cast his diminutive cousin in a rather harsh light. Anthony could hear her now in his head, scoffing at him and swatting him with her fan, telling him not to be so sore a loser he ruined her reputation amongst her friends. He sobered a touch and dipped his chin. “She is fiercely loyal person though,” he added. “If you’ve managed to befriend her, I’m sure you’ve made a true friend for life.” If there was one thing to be said for Poppy Dashwood, it was that she would set all odds aside for those she cared about. They had that in common.
As Anthony and Ms. Victoire swept over the threshold out of the small room, chaperone in tow, the gentleman slowed his pace to let the youngest Ms. Malfoy direct them. He didn’t know exactly what her mama looked like, or where she might even be at this time, so he didn't try to lead.
“Well Ms. Torie Malfoy, it is a pleasure to meet you,” he quipped playfully. “I see my cousin has good taste in friends, even if she is a startlingly competitive little thing.” He laughed for a moment, thinking back to their croquet game over Atticus’ birthday. She still held that victory over him to date. Anthony was sure she’d just gotten lucky, and next year would tell another tale! “Don’t ever bet against her in croquet,” he added, shifting so the young lady might hold onto his arm as they swept out of the room. “If she loses, she’ll force you into a challenge forever, and if she wins, you’ll never hear the end of it.”
The teasing eye-roll that followed was fond, even as he cast his diminutive cousin in a rather harsh light. Anthony could hear her now in his head, scoffing at him and swatting him with her fan, telling him not to be so sore a loser he ruined her reputation amongst her friends. He sobered a touch and dipped his chin. “She is fiercely loyal person though,” he added. “If you’ve managed to befriend her, I’m sure you’ve made a true friend for life.” If there was one thing to be said for Poppy Dashwood, it was that she would set all odds aside for those she cared about. They had that in common.
As Anthony and Ms. Victoire swept over the threshold out of the small room, chaperone in tow, the gentleman slowed his pace to let the youngest Ms. Malfoy direct them. He didn’t know exactly what her mama looked like, or where she might even be at this time, so he didn't try to lead.