Oh, he liked her.
But Nicky had been charming at first, too. Too charming by half; and charms of that sort could wear out surprisingly fast as soon as a woman stopped caring so much about impressing you, Max knew. But he had learnt from past mistakes, was still on guard tonight... but that did not mean he could not enjoy himself. That was not to say every young dark-haired debutante was as dangerous as the next.
A little flirting here was no danger to either of them, of course, though her mother - though embroiled in conversation with another of the group - was still a little close for comfort. A girl was never entirely the same under her mother's supervision; although Miss Lupin had very well mastered that light smirk.
He toasted her and her new glass, pleased at her wording. "To exceeding expectations," he echoed, inclining his head at her before he took another sip of his gin. "I can think of one way to ensure my evening will not be wasted," Max continued, "if you have room on your dance card, that is?" It was something of an exaggeration, in truth, to imagine one dance with her would have any impact on his evening overall, but it seemed worth laying out a little of his intention. Besides - "I imagine there is no end of competition for a place on yours," he added, still smirking.
But Nicky had been charming at first, too. Too charming by half; and charms of that sort could wear out surprisingly fast as soon as a woman stopped caring so much about impressing you, Max knew. But he had learnt from past mistakes, was still on guard tonight... but that did not mean he could not enjoy himself. That was not to say every young dark-haired debutante was as dangerous as the next.
A little flirting here was no danger to either of them, of course, though her mother - though embroiled in conversation with another of the group - was still a little close for comfort. A girl was never entirely the same under her mother's supervision; although Miss Lupin had very well mastered that light smirk.
He toasted her and her new glass, pleased at her wording. "To exceeding expectations," he echoed, inclining his head at her before he took another sip of his gin. "I can think of one way to ensure my evening will not be wasted," Max continued, "if you have room on your dance card, that is?" It was something of an exaggeration, in truth, to imagine one dance with her would have any impact on his evening overall, but it seemed worth laying out a little of his intention. Besides - "I imagine there is no end of competition for a place on yours," he added, still smirking.
