Even though Poppy knew he was joking from the way his voice lilted and his expression seemed to attempt to provoke her, she couldn’t help the nose wrinkle that very poignantly took over her visage. The notion of Kristoffer taking liberties with anyone sat sharply in the space between her ribs and her heart. Poppy tried to tell herself it was because he was better than that, and that he was more of a gentleman than he gave himself leeway to be but… Deep down she was annoyed that one day he might find someone to spend the rest of his life with and that in the interim he would have his fun. It was selfish and petulant to begrudge him that but, for a multitude of reasons, Poppy did. Most notably that she had to share any capacity of Kristoffer Lestrange at all. Hmph. Turning her delicate nose wrinkle away from him, Poppy tried to school her features and think of something witty to say. Nothing particularly polite occurred so she let the moment pass.
They shifted onto the topic of the ton and she continued to fan herself as the warmth on her cheeks bloomed. She didn’t want to detail her earlier exchange with Mr. Dempsey to Kristoffer, but his response to ‘enjoy it’ certainly made her think about everything. (She could have been off in Paris right now, ringing in the New Year in an entirely different fashion if her caprice and Mr. Dempsey’s planning had allowed. Oh how dreadfully exciting. She really ought not think too much about it!) Distracted suddenly from her thoughts by Kristoffer’s mention, Poppy turned, still warm and with one curl slipping delicately over her shoulder from where it had fallen out of her up-do. Ah, speak of the very devil.
A small, sheepish laugh escaped the brunette as she fanned herself a touch more quickly. “Ah yes, Mr. Dempsey is a dear friend,” she replied offhandedly. Before being able to make eye contact and nod in the gentleman’s direction politely, Kristoffer shifted his position to block their view. How curiously amusing. Poppy couldn’t help but grin. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous, Mr. Lestrange,” she teased coquettishly. The glimmer of mischief in her expression unfurled and Poppy couldn’t help but close her fan momentarily. She would have liked for him to be jealous. It meant more than it ought to…
Something softened in her expression then as she appraised Kristoffer more closely. Her voice quieted and Poppy had to resist the urge to press a small hand against his chest. “Don’t worry, you are the only friend I wish to ring in the New Year with,” she said gently. Then, lifting her bare shoulder in a half teasing shrug, she laughed again. “We can make a tradition of it. From now until one or both of us are married, we’ll make every effort to spend December 31st together.” Perhaps this way, she could limit how much she had to share him… for one single night each year.
© Fox