Rufus looked at his dance card. "Before I tell you if it is, Mr. Prewett," he answered with a grin, "won't you up your wager?"
His eyes glittered slyly. He adjusted the golden rings on his dark fingers. Two sickles? Mr. Fitzroy Prewett was no pauper, was he now? And if Rufus was not mistaken, the name next on his card did belong to the swaying debutante.
It was one of the first balls of this season. Now that school was out for the winter and Rufus was of age, he would not have missed it for anything and he danced with any girl he thought at least a bit lovely. It did not bother him in the slightest that he might be the youngest man present. He was tall, he was rich, no parents were around to keep him -- and did he mention that he was exceptionally handsome?
His acquaintance with an older ministry man like Mr. Prewett might seem odd, but Rufus knew a great number of ministry types. He had grown up playing in the halls and corridors of the Ministry of Magic, hiding in the parlors and visiting offices all over the building, while his parents attended diplomatic talks. After his mother and father returned to the Gold Coast, these contacts remained and they opened doors to London's society.
His eyes glittered slyly. He adjusted the golden rings on his dark fingers. Two sickles? Mr. Fitzroy Prewett was no pauper, was he now? And if Rufus was not mistaken, the name next on his card did belong to the swaying debutante.
It was one of the first balls of this season. Now that school was out for the winter and Rufus was of age, he would not have missed it for anything and he danced with any girl he thought at least a bit lovely. It did not bother him in the slightest that he might be the youngest man present. He was tall, he was rich, no parents were around to keep him -- and did he mention that he was exceptionally handsome?
His acquaintance with an older ministry man like Mr. Prewett might seem odd, but Rufus knew a great number of ministry types. He had grown up playing in the halls and corridors of the Ministry of Magic, hiding in the parlors and visiting offices all over the building, while his parents attended diplomatic talks. After his mother and father returned to the Gold Coast, these contacts remained and they opened doors to London's society.