August 6th, 1892 — The Fruit Ball; Wellingtonshire

One of the perks of being a man courting a woman was that he didn't have to fuss too much about dance cards and the like. He was on a few out of courtesy but no more than that. Not that he did not enjoy dancing but it was a lot less pressure to do so when you weren't also vetting a potential spouse. He had arranged to meet Miss Montague here as it had seemed something that might be up her ally.

They had been courting for about six months now and Roman's thoughts were starting to veer towards when might be the proper time to ask for her hand in marriage. They got along amiably and he saw no reason they would not continue to do so far into the future. There was a vast array of fruits but he was waiting for his young miss before indulging.

@"benevolence montague"

  

Benevolence had enjoyed the past few months, the process of being courted by Mister Crouch had been rather lovely. He was kind, temperate, and although charismatic and easy to speak with, it was in a reserved and quiet way that she enjoyed immensely. She did not think she would have agreed to the courtship if his attentions had been showy or austenatious. No there was a quiet dignity to him that she coming to like more and more.

The theme for this party had been strange, too strange for her to think up a garment that was pretty and made sense for the scene. She had gone with a fashionably cut deep purple gown, the neckline decorated with the pale white and pale green accents of grape vine flowers. It did the job.

'Good evening Mister Crouch' she smiled broadly coming level with him. 'Roman' she corrected herself, it had been difficult to get used to speaking to him in that regard.

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Lady is a wonder

It still gave Roman a bit of a pause to hear Miss Montague say his name. He personally would have rather they be engaged before showing such familiarity. They had been courting for six months now, however, so it was not altogether out of place.

"Which fruit are you meant to be emulating?" Roman asked instead. He had been trying to puzzle it out but was at a loss, if he was being quite honest. He supposed he might not know as much about fruit as the young woman did. "You look very lovely." She really was with her dark hair and large, bright blue eyes. He took his lady's arm and moved towards the refreshments.

  

She gave him a look of mock affront, a clear joke 'Is it not very obvious'' she gestured to her deep purple dress, with its subtle floral accents, 'Is it not very clear what I am?' she teased. Benevolence laughed merrily, as she slipped her arm through his, blushing slightly at his complimented but rather delighted at the same time.

'I'm grapes,' she laughed, she hadn't gone for as literal an interpretation as the other lady dressed as grapes, whose gown was fashioned to look like a bunch of grapes, while Nev had only gone with a deep purple wine colour, the grape flowers, which peppered her collar and adorned her hair were green with little white flowers. 'I'm most disappointed that none of the gentlemen ever feel the need to take on them theme while none of the ladies do.' she smiled, as they circled the dance floor, 'I think it would be a very daring gentleman who decided to come dressed as a banana or even a most exotic pinapple.' she smiled, as two ladies dressed as apples passed them with a nod.

She still found it strange to be seen on the arm of Roman Crouch, and the looks of unabashed jealousy she could perceive on the faces of some ladies around her. She could not believe sometimes that he was interested in her. The thought made her give his arm a subconscious squeeze as though confirming for herself that she was in fact not imagining his presence.

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Lady is a wonder

Roman was familiar enough with the woman by now to know when she was just teasing so her words were met with a fond chuckle. He affectionally laid his hand on hers as she slipped her arm through his.

"Some do," Roman said, his eyes on a younger gentleman who was clearly some sort of citrus if the orange was anything to go by. There were a couple of other men as well but remarkably few, to be sure. "Now that would be a sight." The image of Aldous dressed as a pineapple and Reuben as a banana crossed his mind for a moment and it was all he could do not to laugh.

Now at the refreshments table, he took stock of their options. "See anything that tempts you?" He asked, taking a couple of figs himself.

  

The intimate and affectionate contact was deeply pleasing and Benevolence was enjoying the quiet moments of just being 'a couple' that were rather rare for them. He was so busy, and the last few months with all of the things happening at the ministry had been especially long and arduous. She worried for him, but not tonight. Tonight he looked well and happy, and was here with her, making jokes.

'Oh my Merlin you are right!' she giggled, turning her body towards his in an effort to hide her laugh from the assembly, their private joke all the more special for being private. There were very few men who dressed up generally, but she hadn't been looking much at other gentleman since she had become more specifically interested in Roman.

'She took a strawberry and a glass of champagne, biting into the sweet red fruit. 'Your turn?' she gestured to the table. 'Which of the fruits on offer is your choice?' she asked, helping herself to another strawberry, gesturing to the table, and then by way of a joke, gestured to the ballroom and all of the other 'fruits' on display.

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Lady is a wonder

He smiled as she laughed. It was a rather lovely one but he supposed he was biased. He also typically did not notice these things about women very often.

"I think these figs will do me fine," Roman said, indicating the figs he had selected earlier before smiling as he added onto her joke. "And I am rather partial to grapes."

  

Benevolence laughed openly, a rare thing for her and covered her mouth at his rather adorable and flattering comment about grapes. She smiled up at from beneath her lashes. 'Mister Crouch, your flattery is proving to be very effective.' she laughed.

'Then can I be bold enough to ask that you pick me for the next dance?' she beamed, she had assumed they would dance at least once this evening but the jubilant feeling in her stomach from his comments and attention was making her feel bold - like a flower opening up to the sun.

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Lady is a wonder

"You have every right more than most to do so," he teased gently after he had eaten some of his figs. She was the woman that he was courting, after all. If she so chose, she could demand he not dance with any other though that would not reflect well on either of them.

  

She liked that thought - that, at least in some way, he thought of himself as hers, or at least that she had some claim over him that others did not. She did not mind that they wouldn't dance every dance together, she didn't expect that, she wasn't an especially jealous person, but she did enjoy the looks and glances of other girls, that she, the quiet, wallflower Miss Montague was being courted by one of the brightest men in England.

She took his hand as they headed towards the floor - feeling every bit the very honoured lady.

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Lady is a wonder