The challenge, so carelessly thrown out, was answered in the worst possible way, for it wasn't her he then turned and laughed with. No, it was some other debutante in a costume both so obvious in theme and lacking in effort that she ought to have not participated at all. Then, to make matters worse, Ezra went and touched her as though they were familiar.

The mask hid some of how her face fell but not all. Rosalie had never possessed a talent for masking her emotions and even if she could she was certain Ezra would see through her regardless. Still, she did her best to carry on as though unaffected. Her raised glass was soon emptied and another retrieved. She carried on conversations as easily as before. If Ezra was looking to act cruelly, then Rosalie would simply have to deny him the satisfaction of knowing it got to her.

Although Rosalie no longer met his stares so plainly, she remained keenly aware of his presence. He was always just in the corner of her peripherals, always just enough out of sight that she could plausibly claim deniability. It was hard not to watch him though, harder still not to focus on what he was doing with the poorly dressed girl.

That she had drifted to the darkened far side of the room while laughing along with whatever nonsense her suitor had to say wasn't something she was entirely aware of. Not until the man held her hands to his lips for a minute too long and promised to return to her for the next set. And then, rather suddenly, Rosalie was alone for what felt like the first time that evening.

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