17th June, 1892 — Poppy Dashwood’s Debut, Surrey
As far as debut events went – somewhat predictable in style, and usually difficult to tell much about the young lady at the centre of it all in one flash of a greeting before they were swept away by every gentleman in the room – he was quite impressed with this one.
His gaze had drifted upwards often enough in admiration of the flowers falling like stalactites from the ceiling, but now Endymion’s eyeline had come back to earth, because it was his turn to dance with the debutante in question. He knew Dash through Ozy, of course – and liked the fellow (in spite of his being Ozy’s friend, and something of a bad influence) – but this Miss Dashwood, a younger half-sibling of his, was a far newer acquaintance and (for all her diminutive size), one rather brimming with potential.
“Miss Dashwood, the lady of the hour,” he said with a smile, as he came to collect her for their polka. She was a fitting vision against the rest of the ballroom, floaty and elegant and innocently white – he could only hope she wasn’t yet bored of the ball. “I hope you’ve been enjoying your evening,” he said to that effect, sauntering out to take their places for the dance and grinning at her again. “Do you think you’ll recall any of it by tomorrow, or has it all been too much of a blur?”
His gaze had drifted upwards often enough in admiration of the flowers falling like stalactites from the ceiling, but now Endymion’s eyeline had come back to earth, because it was his turn to dance with the debutante in question. He knew Dash through Ozy, of course – and liked the fellow (in spite of his being Ozy’s friend, and something of a bad influence) – but this Miss Dashwood, a younger half-sibling of his, was a far newer acquaintance and (for all her diminutive size), one rather brimming with potential.
“Miss Dashwood, the lady of the hour,” he said with a smile, as he came to collect her for their polka. She was a fitting vision against the rest of the ballroom, floaty and elegant and innocently white – he could only hope she wasn’t yet bored of the ball. “I hope you’ve been enjoying your evening,” he said to that effect, sauntering out to take their places for the dance and grinning at her again. “Do you think you’ll recall any of it by tomorrow, or has it all been too much of a blur?”
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