Masquerade balls were, in Elladora’s esteemed estimation, only enjoyable when one had a particular fondness for the hostess and thus had a higher purpose than frivolity for one’s attendance. She rarely attended balls and when she did it was usually out of boredom, but for Evalina Rosier she would wear a creation from her mother’s favourite French fashion house, don a mask that made her feel faintly ridiculous and drink just enough champagne that she didn’t impede her reputation when really she had quite particular ideas about how disreputable she would like to be.

It was all Ursula’s fault.

No, she forced herself and she took another sip of her half-drunk champagne, don’t think about that for Merlin’s sake! Find Evalina. If there was anybody that could clear the mind of one’s emotionally confusing sister-in-law then it was the ever-enticing hostess of tonight’s festivities.

Striding into the hallway she knew would lead to the ballroom Elladora spotted a tall woman with raven tresses in the mirror and allowed herself a small smile before the woman promptly vanished. She narrowed her eyes contemplatively. She had no idea what Evalina might be wearing but the dress had certainly looked fine enough to be one of hers and the alabaster curve above the neckline gave Elladora hope that she might find their hostess sooner rather than later this evening. By the time she had reached the other end, expertly avoiding conversation with no less than three separate matrons she had no interest in speaking with, Elladora was disappointed to see that upon a second glance the woman from the mirror was most certainly not Eva. Instead Mrs Mulciber nodded at her in greeting and Elladora responded in kind before vanishing away swiftly: of course she had mistaken Ursula’s best friend for her lover, after the last few weeks it simply felt like just another perturbing twist of life.

As she entered the grand ballroom Elladora had to suppress her awed pride at the sights all around her: clearly the ball, though in its early stages, was already a tremendous success. There were delighted faces everywhere she looked – albeit ones that were tempered slightly by the rigours of the class they all belonged to – and Elladora could see the effortless style that was Eva’s speciality practically glittering everywhere. What she couldn’t see was the woman herself but just as she was beginning to grow agitated at the prospect of actually having to properly socialise a squawk demanded her attention and she turned to see a raven atop an ornate chair eyeing her beadily from behind a small plague doctor mask.

“Ah Vanth, are you my escort?” Lips twitching she watched as the raven took off, circling slowly to make sure was following as he led her through the crowd and to the patio beyond. The decorations were just as luxurious out here but the crowd had not reached a point where fresh air was a necessity so the garden was startling quiet after the ballroom, aside from the tap of the raven’s sharp talons as it landed on a table and gave another squawk. A shadow moved then and Elladora smiled as Evalina emerged from the darkness, looking far more resplendent than Elladora could have possibly imagined.

“My dear Mrs Rosier,” she took slow steps closer, her voice polite and steady. “What a tremendous success, you must be very pleased with yourself,” glancing over her shoulder to see that they were alone Elladora lowered her voice and allowed a coy smile to bloom on her lips. “You chose that dress to torture me, I am quite sure of it.”

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fabulous set by Lady <3