Anthony wasn’t sure what… really, had compelled him to purchase the little trinket now burning a hole in his waistcoat pocket. He knew better than to be going out of his way for a woman who was interested in another man, or otherwise unavailable to him. It was the story of his life actually, though at Hogwarts it had always been Atticus he’d trailed after not Basil. It would seem he was destined to pine after all the Foxwood victories in perpetuity. He never meant to fall in love with the same women as his cousin. It just so happened they generally had similar tastes and well… where most women had seen him as the jokester, the goofball friend they all liked to share a smile with… it was Atticus who was the serious, broody relationship type. Never in a million years had he expected to feel this way about someone Basil was enamored with. They were so different after all, their tastes so varied.

But Mr. Torie? She was perfect. In every way. It was no wonder she’d charmed all three of them to some degree. Atticus was just an idiot for bowing out, but Basil… well. Anthony supposed at the end of the day even the quiet, academic type would find the charms of one so sweet and lovely as that enticing. And, in all fairness, Basil had known Ms. Torie much longer than he anyway. This was all just… infatuation. It would soon pass, if he applied himself to it.

The brunette took a sip of his red wine and pulled his gaze from the tiny, toddling ginger that had been announced not too long ago. It was certainly a confusing moment, one that had ignited not only his Aunt Viola into action - sweeping the new couple into the room - but also Atticus - a glower falling to his face - and Basil - who’d turned tail almost immediately to chase after the other gentleman that had arrived. Lissingwood? Leeryton? Whatever his name was. The three Foxwoods each had reacted wholly differently leading Anthony to believe there must be something there the rest of them were not privy to, but he also made a realization in that moment.

This was the instance he’d been waiting for.

Blue gaze flickering up to Ms. Torie just across the way, Anthony made a split second decision. He set aside his glass of wine and made his way unobtrusively over to the pretty redhead. Then, touching her arm gently, wordlessly, he inclined his head as if to ask her to follow him. His heart was thundering in his chest. Anthony knew full well she had no rhyme or reason to do as she was bid; they had only the most surface level of friendly rapports, but he hoped she might anyway. Without waiting for her reaction so as to not attract attention, the brunette made his way from the room into an adjacent parlor.

Once there, he ducked around the door frame to stand just in front of a little library and wait. He would give the lady a moment or two before he made some excuse to wander off to the kitchens in search of more wine.

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