He still hadn't managed to talk to Miss Victoire, but he didn't think that was on purpose — if she had invited him personally, then surely she wanted to see him? No, she was probably just busy with the dance floor — and he would not begrudge her that, both because he could not dance and because it was not as if August had any claim on her.

He was smiling, faintly, when he heard her voice and turned towards her. "Miss Victoire," August said, warm. It felt strange to call her by her first name, but that was the proper way to call her — she was the youngest sister, after all. "No, she didn't manage to frighten me into leaving."