Unfortunately he had not been able to find a quiet moment to continue his discussion with Bridgette by the day of the party, although he consoled himself that perhaps he could find a moment to join her and his aunt, and they might have that chance then.
He had no true hope of it, but the knowledge of his aunt's return to the social scene made him look forward to this party more than he had any other since he had first been given permission to join the balls.
Thankfully, due to his relatively young age he could excuse himself before the final dance. In fact, his parents wholeheartedly expected him to, so as not to be exposed unduly to any drunkenness. Other than his dear aunt of course. Madame Malaura may have given up her pipe but would give up her 'aqua vitae' when she was in her grave and not a moment before.
That said, Bridgette would hopefully be able to ensure that the Madame's drinks were sufficiently watered down to avoid any truly awful mishaps. As an attendant, Bridgette would be unable to drink much herself, even if she had been of age.
Knowing his aunt, Bridgette would get the chance to try every drink available- at least, in the watered down form his parents would provide for the very young or easily inebriated.
Felix would be sticking to the very safe choices of mint water and apple juice. There were several young ladies in attendance, not all of whom believed in propriety as anything but a way to catch a husband.
He'd be damned if he was the one they caught- in many senses of the word.
Thankfully, those young ladies were absent for the moment, as the first guest he greeted was his dear friend, Kasumi.
"Master Culpa." She greeted, with the demure curtsey expected of her. As if she hadn't been his fiercest rival in the fencing galley for almost a decade, ever since his father discovered she was being taught to wield the blade.
"It's wonderful to see you again my friend." He couldn't help but smile at her. "How was your time away from these mountains?"
"School was as enjoyable as ever. Nothing of great note occurred, which is just as well. Anything noteworthy would almost have to be scandalous in a girls school."
Ah- Kasumi's old complaint. A woman could excel- but only in her sphere. In womanly duties and woman's work. She had never let that hold her back in their bouts but he knew the thought of one day putting aside the accomplishments she held most dearly for those society valued haunted her on occasion. As her friend, he would support her regardless. Unlike his aunt Malaura though, Kasumi's family weren't likely to support her in the path she most truly desired, nor was she likely to throw off their disapproval and carry on with it in any case. Unless she found a husband who would support her, she was trapped.
"I am afraid there has been little of note happening in Culpa Mansion either, for I have little news for you."
"Little is not none Felix." Dark eyes gleamed the same way they did when she spotted a weakness in his defence.
Should he lunge in the hopes of a more advantageous position? Felix wondered to himself. Or surprise her by means of avoidance? "The only true news that I can bare to repeat is that Madame Malaura will be in attendance tonight. Although I doubt anyone else is as happy for it as we are."
Kasumi blinked in genuine surprise. "I thought Madame had withdrawn from society years ago."
"She had." Felix said with a grin. "But as my father always warns me, people can change their minds at any time. She has Bridgette with her."
"Bridgette?" Kasumi's brow furrowed as she searched her memory.
"Her attendant, Bridgette Cheng. I believe they're still getting ready. If you have time this evening, I would like to introduce you."
He couldn't say what the look in Kasumi's eyes was, even as she responded to him. "I have met the Madame before. But I suppose a more formal introduction couldn't hurt, it has been some time."
Felix just barely bit back the urge to correct her, to say he wished to introduce her to Bridgette- it was entirely possible someone would take offence at him wishing to introduce his friend to a servant in his household, even if Bridgette was equally his friend.
Sadly, he couldn't spend all evening in the company of those he enjoyed. He had to leave Kasumi in order to great other guests, and before he knew it the dancing had begun.
He still had not seen Madame Malaura- or Bridgette.
Felix had however, had the very great fortune to have met with almost every other lady at the ball. Some he had dodged politely, others were not truly interested in him, and some he greeted, if not as friends, then as friendly acquaintances. Alice Kubde, escorted by her brother Jael this evening, spared him a quick smile as he passed by, neatly interrupting their quiet argument on whatever 'unladylike' thing she'd done this time.
Their father, the Preacher of the village church, was engaged elsewhere in the room. Everyone knew he'd let Alice do as she pleased until the day she'd turned 15, when he'd expected her to both comply instantly to his demand she behave as befitting a woman of their class, and for her to be grateful for his earlier latitude. She had not been, and the entire family had been engaged in battle ever since.
Julka and Lukasz Coufray were in attendance, despite their family's notable distaste for formality- something entirely forgivable for shopkeepers, even moderately wealthy ones. While he knew they had been invited, as befitting the children of the valiant Captain Coufray, to actually see them in attendance was unexpected. This was explained when he saw Rosa Lalueur make her way across the floor to invite Julka to dance. A few eyebrows were raised, but thankfully Julka's shyness was well known and it was swiftly disregarded as one young girl looking out for another.
It wasn't until he lay eyes on Sabina Rainsdown that his suffering truly began. While she could have theoretically been invited on her own merit, as the daughter of the local Sheriff, she was holding a purse which stood out like egg yolk against the comparatively subdued colours of her gown.
Which meant….
"Feli-Bear!"
Chloris Bourgeois, whose father had purchased property nearby from the proceeds of hastily selling off his factories when he got wind of a potential change in law that supported workers rights, thus cutting into his profits- or worse, forcing him to treat his workers as if they were human beings. Chloris might be excused from her father's practices- but given that she repeatedly complained that workers didn't deserve rights, she generally wasn't.
Her hand was a vice on his arm, and she was attempting to pull herself close enough to hug herself to him in a gesture of 'affection'.
Felix quickly pasted a smile on his face, took her hand in his, and forcibly turned himself to face her. As he did so, he took a single, large step away from her, ostensibly to see her better.
"Miss Bourgeois, I haven't seen you in months!" And had hoped to continue that trend. "What kept you away from our little corner of the world for so long?" And can you go back to it?
Chloris giggled obnoxiously and batted her eyes, which were so thickly coated in cosmetics he could practically see the powder drifting off. "Ah, dear Feli-bear. Did you miss me?" She pouted, angling herself so he could see her from the 'optimal angle' he'd once heard her discussing with a painter who had 'just happened' to be taking her portrait on the day his family had visited.
"There has been so much happening in Krypteyard that I haven't had the time!" Felix assured her. "Why, just two months ago Nico, a former student from the Village school, returned from his apprenticeship in the city in order to join the local band! We will have the pleasure of his playing tonight. We've also hired a new clerk from the village school, Maxfield, who is settling in marvellously…"
"Urgh." Chloris rolled her eyes. "Felix, if you think that's what passes for interesting news, you need to travel more. That's where Papa and I were, visiting relatives in the south."
"Oh?" Thankfully, Chloris was all too happy to talk about herself, her experiences, and her opinions with only the slightest input from him. The real trick had been learning to tune her out just enough to preserve his own sanity, without ignoring her and accidentally agreeing with something he hadn't meant to.
"Urgh." She finally interrupted herself. "I thought your parents had your creepy aunt locked in the attic or something. Why is she here?"
Felix had to take a breath, reminding himself that it would be very impolitic to yell at her in a crowded ballroom, no matter how dearly she deserved it. "My dear aunt Malaura had withdrawn from society in recent years after her fall, but she was hardly locked away. It is her prerogative to change her mind, and she did so."
He turned to see his aunt, settled in the corner of the ballroom where a number of comfortable sofas and chairs had been placed for her. She had clearly had the seamstress remake one of her old dresses, he recognised the glorious crimson silk of the bodice, but not the embroidered black skirt. Her shawl was held around her shoulders with a brooch he knew had belonged to his grandmother Mirjami, with a black granite stone instead of a gem for decoration.
She looked to be having a wonderful time, a bright smile on her face as she listened to a few of the other guests talking away. A queen holding court, a goblet of visibly watered down brandy in hand.
He couldn't help the smile forming on his own face, even as Chloris huffed behind him.
"She even brought the help with her. I mean, who brings a Maid to a ball?" She complained.
"Not everyone has as useful a friend as Sabina." Felix said, hopefully with less disdain than he felt. Not that Chloris would notice either way. "Please excuse me Miss Bourgeois, I must greet my Aunt."
Felix strode across the ballroom as he had been taught, looking straight forward so no one could interrupt him with meaningless pleasantries- only to nearly stumble when he was able to see Bridgette clearly.
Bridgette had always been pretty, with the dark hair and delicate features of her father's heritage and eyes like a summer sky. Even in a maid's cap and the simple grey uniform preferred by downstairs maids, she had sparkling blue eyes and a gentle smile.
She still wore a maid's dress, but this was one was the soft pink used only rarely by cleaning staff as it showed dirt too easily. The shawl he'd seen her knitting was decorated with darker pink ribbons, to match the fabric peony on the headband she wore instead of a cap. It also matched the becoming blush on her cheeks.
As their eyes met, his breath caught in his chest.
Bridgette had never looked lovelier. Her eyes sparkled with mirth as she attended to Madame Malaura, a genuinely amused smile playing on her lips.
"Madame. Bridgette." He greeted quietly as he approached. Too quietly to be heard by the majority of the guests, even those close by. "You both look beautiful tonight."
Madame Malaura laughed heartily, whereas Bridgette's blush deepened. "Thank you grand-nephew. I almost decided against coming altogether after all the troubles we had with my dress, but Bridgette had the excellent idea to ignore the current fashionable silhouette and enjoy what fits. At my age, fashion is something to enjoy looking at rather than to enjoy wearing."
"That's not what I said Madame!" Bridgette protested. "I said that if the current fashion for skirts were uncomfortable, then choose something comfortable! You would find it difficult to enjoy the ball if you spent the evening wishing to be done with it!"
"An astute observation Bridgette." Felix nodded at her. "Father always said a woman looks her best when she feels like a queen."
"That I do." His father's voice boomed out from behind him. Felix startled involuntarily, as did Bridgette and several others within his sight. "And I find it truer the longer I live." Ira Culpa stepped forward, a sly grin on his face. "Although I daresay Madame, it helps when one also looks like a queen, as you do tonight."
Madame laughed again, fanning herself in an imitation of flattery. "I wonder if my dear niece knows what a charmer her husband is, flattering an old woman like this?"
"I speak only the truth!" Ira said, not quite hiding the mischief in his smile. "Madame would not banish me from her court for that, would she?"
His mother stepped neatly into the small circle they'd formed around Madame Malaura's chair. "Do not be so cruel dear Aunt. My husband does pout so."
Almost mindlessly his father's hand went to rest on her back as she stood next to him. "Dearest Emilie. Do tell your beloved Aunt she looks like a Queen tonight? She will not believe me."
Emilie reached for his other hand in order to pat it sympathetically, holding it between her own. "Both are right. My husband is entirely too charming dear Aunt, for his own good. And you are as stunning as any Queen could wish to be." Still holding her husband's hand, Emilie curtseyed- which caused him to bow along with her, rather than pull back.
Felix hurriedly bowed as well, to his Aunt's evident delight.
"You're a family of charmers!" Madame accused, not even trying to hide her delight at their ridiculousness, or her honest appreciation of their words. "And I do believe you are neglecting your guests as well!"
Emilie smiled shamelessly, even as the small crowd around them laughed. Felix envied her grace in society. "Very well Auntie, we'll leave you for now." She said, stepping closer to press a kiss against Madame Malaura's cheek. "But you do look wonderful tonight."
When Felix glanced at Bridgette, she was smiling at them. Bewilderingly, he felt his cheeks heat up as he averted his gaze to his Aunt.