Miss Parkinson behaved exactly as a lady should, stepping out of the embrace that if Harrison was honest with himself, was inappropriate and just a symptom of his excitement to finally meet someone that piqued his interest. A little part of him was of course disappointed for the space to return, but only a socially clueless woman would put such a thing on her reputation, and socially clueless was not the sort of woman that appealed to Harrison. He smiled, whether her wit and personality would her elegance remained to be seen, there was only so much you could learn in a dance after all. But he had learned enough that he knew he wanted to know more.

"I am grateful that I was able to make this ball, it has been very pleasant dancing and speaking with you and I thank you for your attention. If you have space on your card for another dance later in the evening, then I would be honoured, but if you are not available, then I shall simply have more time to look forward to our next meeting." Harrison gave a gentlemanly bow to Minnie and took one last look at her before allowing her to excuse herself. He would seek to dance with other women, meeting two more perfectly lovely and pretty young things in the course of his evening. But they weren't the same as his first dance, and he couldn't help but feel the slightest sense of jealousy when her passed Jessamine and her latest suitor on the dance floor. He had a letter to write in the morning.