March 15th, 1891 — Et Tu Brute Ball, Hogsmeade Memorial Ballroom, Hogsmeade

Ever since Tatiana had debuted she'd found herself attending an increasing number of social events, particularly balls. She was more than happy to accompany her niece, in fact she trusted no one else so much as she did herself with the important task, but she'd always found such things to be severely tedious. Mariana found society's restrictions chafing and what was more constrictive than events such as these? There was all the protocol and etiquette which was frankly ridiculous but such things didn't change overnight because someone decided to point it out.

In all honesty she thought Tatiana could probably handle herself alone and probably better than half the men that attended such things. However her niece was not completely worldly and it was impossible to defend against the unknown. Ultimately it came down to the fact that Mariana was nosy and liked to know everything about anything she happened to be interested in and that extended to Tatiana's social life.

A servant suddenly and silently accosted her by brandishing a scrap of paper at her. Mariana scowled at them and then plucked the paper from them, after which they mysteriously retreated, only to accost someone else in the same manner. She looked down at the paper and raised her eyebrows. She looked back up again and saw the other person similarly looking down at what was presumably a scandalous piece of paper. Mariana walked up behind them. "What does yours say?" It was brazen of her but she was too intrigued by the strange notes to care, that is if she'd have cared in the first place. Within reason no one really gave a damn if she was a little liberal with her manners, everyone was far too busy fretting over the debutantes.

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Enoch Rosier | OUTFIT |

  

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Enoch frankly loathed these sorts of events. He saw no advantage to something as trite as gossip - other than its ability to highlight young ladies that were to be avoided, obviously – but he himself was above such base concerns. As such he had only attended this evening’s entertainments because to not be seen there would be worse than to endure a few hours of whatever nonsense this was.

He had been handed a note almost upon arrival and a cursory glance gave him the measure of how the evening was likely to go:

Your fiancé is not all she appears to be.

Enoch rolled his eyes. And then nearly jumped out of his skin when a voice spoke behind him and he whipped round to be greeted with a sight that immediately made the whole evening worth the trouble: Mariana Macnair, quite his favourite of the society women his mother’s age, though one he had always been obliged to admire from a distance given that, to the best of his knowledge, his mother was not especially well acquainted with her.

“I dread to imagine, Mrs Macnair. This one,” he held it out for her to examine. “Is certainly not mine.”

What did hers say, he wondered, offering her a rueful smile in the hope that she would return the favour of revelation.

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Indecently attractive set by MJ

Enoch Rosier. She'd spotted Tatiana in his company more than once which was plenty enough reason to do a little extra digging on him. He wasn't equal to Macmillan in suitability for Tatiana, oh no, he was decidedly better. If it weren't for an apparent lack of ambition that kept him in the Auror department she suspected he'd be the one courting her niece at the moment. Rosier was every bit as handsome as Macmillan, his face at least looked as though it could remember the last time it laughed. Then again severity often had its own allure and who could blame Tatty if that was what she liked? Ah but he was a first son what a waste. If Tatiana really was committed to Macmillan it was probably time to get over his being a second son and take a more proactive approach.

Knowing as much as she did about Rosier's eligibility made the scrap of paper she held in her hands all the more ridiculous. If a gentleman as eligible as Enoch Rosier had a secret fiancee she wouldn't stay a secret for long. She offered the note back to him and proffered her own: "Your husband knows about your illegitimate child."

"Apparently I have an illegitimate child and my husband knows about it, which makes one of us." Had Rosier's own note not been so misguided she might have kept her own to herself but clearly they were fishing for secrets and hoping one or two of their vague statements struck gold. Ironically hers was entirely accurate or at least technically so: she did have an illegitimate child and her husband did know about him. However she'd had a pair of illegitimate children and Eustace had known about it for over twenty years; it was old news, so old in fact one of them had had the luxury of reaching adulthood before dying. It was nothing but a lucky guess.

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OUTFIT |

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If Mrs Macnair had an illegitimate child then Enoch was quite sure that her husband would be the very last person to know about it – Macnair senior had never struck him as being an especially observant man and his wife probably ran rings around him. Which only made her all the more interesting in his eyes. Mrs Olivia Pendergast had been a great favourite of his before her tragic demise, but her sister was even better – and maintaining respectability didn’t seem to be quite as much of a concern for the younger Lestrange.

“It’s not even especially imaginative,” he commented. “I’m sure I could come up with far more scandalous suggestions for some of the rabble here tonight,” and suggestions for what scandalous activities Mrs Macnair could get up to if she so chose.

Mariana Macnair | Ursula Black

  

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Indecently attractive set by MJ

"Could you indeed?" She asked not because she doubted it but because she was vaguely curious to hear what sort of nonsense he might come up with. Illegitimate children and questionable brides-to-be were hardly groundbreaking but anything more imaginative would probably induce apoplexy in the aforementioned 'rabble'.

Mariana had no doubt that he wouldn't dare to say anything vulgar. Not that it'd offend her less than delicate sensibilities but he didn't know that and even if he suspected, it would be needlessly brazen. There was nothing to gain from potentially disgusting her, especially not if he had any interest in her niece although he couldn't blamed for thinking she was beyond his reach now.

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OUTFIT |

  

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Enoch smirked at her response, a frisson of pleasure passing through his body. A young debutante would have demurred and avoided any suggestion that she might even know what a scandalous thing was, but a woman of Mrs Macnair’s age could be candid and that was far more interesting.

“An affair at the very least I would suggest,” he replied smoothly, doubting she would be shocked. “With someone truly inappropriate for good measure.”

  

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Indecently attractive set by MJ

I got a venom like a snake running out of my mouth it's got you burning at the stake

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From the corner of her eye she surveyed him as though she was seeing him for the first time. Even if he wasn't interested in Tatiana which seemed more likely by the second, most gentlemen still wouldn't conduct themselves so brazenly. Mr. Rosier didn't look like your typical halfwit nor did he sound like one. She was also unaware of him having a reputation for being a boor which would suggest that his candor was a result of calculation; he'd surmised that his present company wouldn't find it unpalatable. This was no wild, baseless assumption of course, she'd been the one to freely bring up illegitimate children without so much as a blush. Her late sister wouldn't have dared be so improper even though she would've been the last person anyone would suspect of adultery.

What gave her pause was that he'd not only accepted her impropriety without a hint of unease but he'd then encouraged it. Was he flirting with her perchance? How droll! She decided she'd test him just to be sure. And what would you consider to be 'truly inappropriate'?

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Outfit | Tag: Enoch Rosier | Notes:

  

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An immediate image flashed into his mind: both inappropriate and delicious and involving significantly less clothing than either of them currently had on. Perhaps the Painted Lady’s proprietoress might oblige him later on tonight, being, as she was, that much older and more interesting than any of her girls. After encountering Mrs. Macnair he was far from in the mood for empty-headed girls.

“Oh that I’d have to show you,” he countered, doubting even this redoubtable woman would take up the very obvious invitation. He took a step closer to her nevertheless, not quite crowding, but enough that he fancied he could smell something vaguely sweet and poisonous coming from her. “But then we would both end up on little note paper, the scandal of the room.”

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Indecently attractive set by MJ

I got a venom like a snake running out of my mouth it's got you burning at the stake

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Well then, there was certainly no room for doubt now; Mr. Rosier's cards were all on the table and then some! A less enlightened lady might've blushed but instead Mariana raised her eyebrows and eyed him dubiously. Wasn't he a precocious little welp - he had to be Valerian's age or close enough to it! It was quite laughable, although she had to admit she was at least little bit flattered by it.

It was so unexpected and amusing that she had half a mind to encourage him purely for entertainment sake. Ah, well, we can't be having that, Mr. Rosier, she quipped.

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Outfit | Tag: Enoch Rosier | Notes:

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Enoch felt a delightful frisson of pleasure at her response, mild though it was. Mrs Macnair was hardly a woman who would be improper in company but he sensed – perhaps incorrectly, but he had a feeling - that she was not entirely unaffected. And notably she didn’t have any daughters to offload so the only reason she might interact with him was because she did not find him unappealing.

He crowed internally, licked his lips in a salacious manner that he hoped would not go unnoticed and leaned in quite daringly to whisper as close to her ear as he dared. (And fucking Merlin the scent of her was fantastic!)

“I find some things are always worth having Mrs Macnair, don’t you? Especially the things that are altogether bad for us.”

  

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Indecently attractive set by MJ

I got a venom like a snake running out of my mouth it's got you burning at the stake

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She'd had her fair share of male attention in the past - her sister would've said more than her fair share, more than was considered decent - but it had been a while since anyone had been so... earnest.

Earnest was the wrong word she thought, as she caught him licking his lips in a way that was strikingly reminiscent of a wolf. Mariana supposed that technically made her prey. She was presently not entirely opposed to the notion, though she preferred to imagine herself as something more ambitious and fortified than the typical, like a stag. It would be entirely her choosing if she deigned to be caught.

Nothing is inherently bad for us, Mr. Rosier. Her tone was distinctly coquettish as she chided him. She'd decided to play along with him for now, he was promising to be an entertaining diversion even if only in conversation. Even lethal poisons can be harmless in moderation.

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Outfit | Tag: Enoch Rosier | Notes:

  

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The thoughts that entered Enoch’s mind were far from being harmless and they were the very last thing that one could call moderate – indulging them would have been a particularly satisfying way to spend the evening but, inevitably, he caught sight of his sisters over her shoulder, one looking far too knowing for her own good. (Or his.)

He sighed deeply. He would rather taste Mrs Macnair’s poison any day of the week…

“I fear I shall have to abstain for the present,” he lingered closely for a moment, wondering whether she might remember his interest the next time they met, or indeed if it was something worth pursuing. “Though I would gladly take anything you should offer to give me,” he could not resist adding, inclining his head politely.

“Until next time Mrs Macnair. I hope you enjoy your evening,” he turned, then turned back, smirking. “And your illegitimate child fares well too.”

  

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Indecently attractive set by MJ

I got a venom like a snake running out of my mouth it's got you burning at the stake

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Mariana watched him walk away with the slightest hint of a smirk playing at her lips. After all that he was just walking away? Curiouser and curiouser. She wasn't quite sure what to make of it but regardless it had been an amusing little interlude nonetheless. She turned her eyes to the rest of the room in search of her niece, or perhaps another diversion if it should present itself...

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Outfit | Tag: Enoch Rosier | Notes:

  

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