July 4, 1890 - Sanditon Resort
Dance Card Roulette

A ball by the sea was, at least in Caroline’s opinion, the perfect thing to distract her from her own thoughts. Mr. Darrow was supposed to be in attendance, but she had promised herself, that she would allow him to come to her first. She had waited almost a month, she was sure she could wait a few hours longer before speaking to him. So for now she would distract herself with her full dance card.

Holding the card up she looked at the name, the card glowed for a moment as she took in the name: Kingsley Wells. The name felt vaguely familiar, but she had been introduced to so very many people since her arrival that she really had no idea if she had actually met Mr. Wells before.

The music began and Caroline for a moment wondered if her dance partner had forgotten her when she spotted the gentleman coming toward her. She put on her most charming smile, perfectly acceptable if she had previously met him or not. “Good evening, Mr. Wells.” She really did hope she had presumed correctly as she smiled up at the man now in front of her. “Are you here to claim your dance?” She asked cheerfully.

Yes, this was good, focus on anything but Mr. Darrow.


Kingsley Wells
Amelia Evans

  

Why oh why had Selene talked him into this? A holiday was one thing, but signing up to go to a ball where he was inclined to not only be social but be in full command of his own two feet? Kingsley tapped a toe against the floor as if that would coax them into behaving before he started dancing.

He'd seen who he was supposed to find somewhere in the crowd and so started looking for her. Once spotted, he put on a grin (albeit nervously) before headed in her direction. "In a way, yes." He said, returning her smile, rather happy his partner at first seemed to be at least agreeable.

Maybe she wouldn't be too cranky afterward when he'd stepped on all of her toes. As the music swelled to signal a start, he held out his hand. "Shall we, Miss Delaney?"

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Gloriousness by MJ! <3

In a way? Caroline hardly had a moment to consider if this was actually her dance partner before he fully greeted her and held out his hand. Caroline gracefully put her own gloves hand in to his grasp and smiled as brightly as she might.

"I dont believe we've met before." Caroline began along side the bright swells of music.

  

She looked familar but only within the context of this previous night. Still, King took her hand in his before gingerly taking her waist and guiding her along the dance floor. "No, I don't believe we have," He said, smiling. "Unless you've perhaps visited the Plants and Potion Poisoning wing of St. Mungo's?"

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Gloriousness by MJ! <3

"I should hope I haven't!" Caroline laughed as she followed him through the steps. "Thankfully I've found very little harm at the mercy of plants." She added incase her humor hadn't come through.

  

King laughed, as he extended his arm to twirl her underneath it -- not a massively complicated feat seeing as he had a good 5 inches on her own height. So far, his feet felt fine and he hadn't fallen flat on his face! Another good sign. "That would be most certainly a good sign," he responded amiably, taking her waist again as he picked up the pace to the tune.

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Gloriousness by MJ! <3

"Indeed." Caroline agreed. Mr. Wells had so far shown himself to be a pleasant (and good - he hadnt stepped on her toes after all like the last gentleman had) dance partner and had even managed to make her forget about Mr. Darrow for a moment. That was until she spotted the very man and had to swallow the sudden nerves as the music ended.

" It was very nice to meet you Mr. Wells." Caroline told him as they came to a stop. She curtsied. "I hope we shall have the chance to meet again - although perhaps not when plants have been involved." She joked.

There was little wait between Mr. Wells and her next partner to cause her to think on Mr. Darrow again as she saw Mr. Fisk on his way toward her.

Konstantin Fisk
Elladora Black

  

"Miss Delaney, what a pleasure," Konstantin said by way of greeting. He had met the young lady before at some function or other and found her perfectly charming - really this whole idea was wonderfully novel, who could possibly object to a series of lovely partners and the warm, magically-enhanced air of the Sanditon all around? Mr Fudge truly was a clever man.

"I hope you're having an enjoyable evening?"

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"Mr. Fisk." Caroline greeted with a smile and a curtsey. In her past experiences she had found him to be delightful company.

"I am." Caroline agreed as they headed to their spot on the dance floor. "I've always had a fondness for the seashore." She admitted easily enough.

  

"Are you staying here for the summer, or just a visitor like me?" He asked as they began their dance. He had considered a holiday this summer - certainly the workload at the Ministry had been larger than ever of late, but he had no wish to drift too far from Scotland when there was a certain someone drawing him back.

"I understand the terraces are especially beautiful."

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"Oh just a visitor." Caroline replied airily as the dance started. "I have not had the chance to see them yet, I shall have to make a point to do so." Perhaps with Mr. Darrow later, she reasoned, realizing belatedly that it may have seemed she had given Mr. Fisk a reason to do just that. Quickly she changed the topic, " Have you had a chance to see much of the resort?"

  

“Not this year, my family and I visited two – no, three – summers ago. But I’m sure Mr Fudge has made many chances since then.” He replied, spinning Miss Delaney at the appropriate moment. She danced very well for an American.

“We’ve been rather busy since my brother-in-law became Minister,” he added with no compunction about deploying that particular brag. “I believe you were at the Minister’s ball for the Hawaiians, Miss Delaney? I think I recall seeing you with Mr Darrow.”

Who, irritatingly, was not the Darrow courting his sister. Evander Darrow clearly had some sense.

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The following 1 user Likes Konstantin Fisk's post:1 user Likes Konstantin Fisk's post
   Elias Grimstone

Caroline had made rather a bit of a study of the magical families when she first arrived and as such she smiled at the mention of the minister. She had been groomed to socialize with the likes of these.

Despite that a light blush bloomed on her cheeks at the mention of Mr. Darrow, likely wouldnt have taken kindly to such an insinuation. "Indeed I did have a dance with Mr. Darrow, now that I think of it." She affected ease, grateful the music had begun to slow. "The ball was quite enjoyable." She continued.

  

The blush on Miss Delaney's cheeks would have passed him by in days gone by but in the last few months he had become considerably better at noticing the subtle changed in ladies faces. Perhaps there was something more serious between Miss Delaney and the more respectable Darrow after all?

"As was dancing with you Miss Delaney," he said courteously, coming to the final steps. If he was any judge then he was definitely treading on toes but that was alright - so was she really! "I wish you a pleasant evening, hopefully you'll be able to visit the terraces before the sun sets entirely."

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At Mr. Fisk’s nicety Caroline smiled, “And with you.” She demurred as the dance ended. She gave him a small curtsey. “I shall endeavor to do so.” Caroline agreed with another smile.

And then the man was gone. Caroline glanced at her dance card, 3. Polka, Mr. Gideon Ollivander glowed. Looking up from the card she noted a man already headed in her direction. “Mr. Ollivander?” She smiled politely and she curtseyed to him.

  

"Miss Delaney," he greeted pleasantly. He was not particularly well acquainted with this particular young woman, but he thought that she had been introduced to him at some point or other — or maybe she was a friend of a friend? A long-past customer? In any case, he knew enough to put a name to the face instead of just following the slight glow and offering his hand to a complete stranger.

"I ought to apologize before we even begin; I don't think I'm much good at polkas," he said with a sympathetic half-smile.