Tonight hadn't been as unbearable as he expected it to be. Perhaps it was because he'd found himself busier than anticipated, between dancing with Calla and seeing his mother in good spirits, he felt like he could breathe a little easier. Alvin was casually aware of Miss Thompsett here and there, but this was very much her night and the lingering awkwardness between them was enough to have him giving her a wide berth so she could enjoy her time unencumbered by whatever it was that made this strained between them. Her dress design had come out exactly as she'd described and he was still secretly pleased to know she had been able to make it a reality.

Alvin was also aware of a young miss who had a striking resemblance to Sloane and he was trying not to gawk at her every time she came into his field of view. He was projecting his own misery into the situation and while he maintained, and would with his dying breath, that Sloane would have hated this, she would have endured it regardless, because it was important to her friends and her friends had always been her everything. If she could have seen them though, he knew she wouldn't have complained too loud about much of anything, but suffered in discomfort, itching to get out of a corset and fancy dress the moment they left. The young lady he kept seeing was just him trying to grasp at straws and he knew that, could rationalize it, and so he'd put it from his mind.

Thankfully, it was a relief to feel that the sting wasn't as bad as he thought it would be and that had let him relax a little. He'd managed to chat with a few acquaintances here and there, took a spin on the floor with his mother, who had yet to cry this evening, which was a win in his book and the night was winding down. They'd survived and now the next chapter was upon them.

He'd been about to get himself something to drink when he spotted Miss Thompsett on the edge of the dance floor. Alvin hesitated, thinking he should stick to his plan and give her space, but she'd already spotted him and they were doing that awkward thing where they weren't sure as to whether or not they should acknowledge one another. Finally Alvin caved and smiled slowly as he made his way to where she stood. "Lost your dance partner?" He attempted to tease gently, hoping to keep the air between them light.