That Miss Lestrange was trying to subtly encourage him to extend an invitation was not evident to Charles who was far too wrapped up in deliberating how to make such an invitation. To him it seemed to be getting increasingly difficult to ask her the more they spoke of picnics, he had thought he might redirect the conversation elsewhere so that he could revisit the matter in the smooth and dignified manner he so desired before they parted company, but now it strangely seemed like even that would come across as clumsy and overeager. "Once the weather is more favorable I should think you'll be inundated with invitations to picnics and garden parties." He managed to stop himself from suggesting that hers would probably be superior, he liked to think it would be too. He very much liked the idea of attending a picnic hosted by her but he would have to invite her somewhere of his own choosing or making first, his pride insisted.
Maybe that was the solution he was looking for! A picnic had seemed like a good, subtle way of wooing her but now it wouldn't seem like he'd taken the initiative, it would seem predictable. He would have to invite her to something else first and then there could be picnics. "In the meantime, whilst the weather remains inhospitable, we sadly must make do with indoor pursuits." He hesitated for a moment, anticipating the words he hadn't yet spoken. "Such as the opera. I'm to see Ghiselle the week after next. Are you much fond of opera, Miss Lestrange?" It was a small miracle he had overheard snippets of a conversation earlier that day about said opera or else he would've been stuck for ideas. If Miss Lestrange was agreed he would have to invite a friend so it wouldn't seem too intimate, preferably someone with a wife or sister. Damn it why didn't he have any sisters?! He'd never realized how useful they could be until this conversation.
Maybe that was the solution he was looking for! A picnic had seemed like a good, subtle way of wooing her but now it wouldn't seem like he'd taken the initiative, it would seem predictable. He would have to invite her to something else first and then there could be picnics. "In the meantime, whilst the weather remains inhospitable, we sadly must make do with indoor pursuits." He hesitated for a moment, anticipating the words he hadn't yet spoken. "Such as the opera. I'm to see Ghiselle the week after next. Are you much fond of opera, Miss Lestrange?" It was a small miracle he had overheard snippets of a conversation earlier that day about said opera or else he would've been stuck for ideas. If Miss Lestrange was agreed he would have to invite a friend so it wouldn't seem too intimate, preferably someone with a wife or sister. Damn it why didn't he have any sisters?! He'd never realized how useful they could be until this conversation.
