"Do you enjoy reading?" The mellifluous, young voice was laden with boredom as she made an effort to entertain her male companion. Her father hovered nearby, always flashing her his handsome smile when their eyes met.

"Quite a bit, yes. Recently I acquired a copy of..." The young man she spoke with was taller than she, and handsome too. He had fine, chiseled features and a ruddy sort of blonde hair that matched the ice blue of his eyes quite well. All of the girls her age were quite smitten with him, but Elizabeth found him boring, and his affairs with a few of the other girls were quite scandalous. If she were to marry, it would be a man of honor at the very least. Elizabeth pretended to listen to his tale, nodding occasionally and inserting a rare "Mmm? Really?". Her attention was focused upon the musicians and the couples still dancing. She had always had a fascination for the way the two intertwined, though she had no skill to speak of in either realm. She could dance well enough for social occasions, but that was the extent of it. Her mother had forced the piano upon her when she was a child, but when she resisted - her father had seemed relieved and released her from the bond. Elizabeth was quite sure it had something to do with the man in her mother's past, but she did not push it.

"William," she cooed softly, placing her hand upon his forearm. Charm was a powerful tool. "If you would excuse me?"

In a swirl of material, she turned from him and approached her father - chatting busily with some of the older gentlemen.

"Papa," she interrupted softly, and he turned to smile at her. She looked so much like her mother had, when he had been reunited with her all those years ago. Her eyes were brilliant and she was vivacious, and when she smiled at him his heart melted.

"Yes, precious?"

"Would you dance with me?" How could any father refuse such a request?

"Gentlemen, if you wouldn't mind.."

"Of course not! Please!" The other men chimed in unison, smiling at the beautiful girl as well. Many of them had designs on her, as their sons or grandsons were now at a marrying age as well. Others appreciated her beauty with a lewd admiration that would infuriate her father could he read their faces. Raoul turned from the talk of business and swept his little girl into his arms, and onto the dance floor. Both were competent dancers, never would their be a DeChagny who was not. They twirled effortlessly about the other couples, smiling into each others eyes.

"This is all so silly Papa. Why don't we go for a ride?"

Raoul laughed. Riding was a passion that he had always shared with Elizabeth, even when she was a small child. There had been many times when she had wormed her way out of trouble by suggesting just that, a ride.

"This is all for you, my girl! Please try to enjoy it."

"But really, Papa! I am perfectly capable of finding a husband on my own and even if I were not, this room certainly does not have the right man in it. I mean, I know them all! They're all drab and boring or womanizers.."

Raoul glanced away a bit uncomfortably. Talk of sex with his little daughter seemed so.. Wrong.

"That's not the only reason for this celebration, Beth. Your birthday is in less than a week, and all of these people wanted to celebrate with you."

Elizabeth warmed to the pet name her father had given her long ago.

"No, Papa, they wanted the free food." They both laughed, and with that - the conversation ended. The night was at least half over and she could endure the duration.

Christine, meanwhile, was making her rounds. The women were all clustered together in different parts of the room, arranged by social status. She made conversation amongst them, but found herself distracted as she watched her daughter dance with Raoul. She couldn't help but smile. She felt so fortunate to be in this place tonight. There had been many times over the years where she had nearly thrown it all away, to run into a demon's arms. When she watched the way her child looked into the face of the man she had chosen, she knew she had made the right decision. Her angel in hell could not have offered her such a life, and she was fortunate to still have it.

"William really is quite smitten with her, Christine."

Christine turned toward the voice of Jacqueline deGent, and forced a smile. Christine knew how Elizabeth felt about the rather handsome young man, but she also knew that Raoul was considering his parent's offer most seriously. They were a very wealthy family, and while Elizabeth would certainly not ever want for anything on the DeChagny fortune alone, it was an added insurance. And not of least importance, it would seal a very significant merger between Raoul and the young mans father. Christine suppressed a sigh. She wished that arranged marriages were altogether done away with!

"I can see that. I am sure she is fond of him, too.. " Christine lied.

"Let us arrange for them to spend the afternoon together, then, tomorrow. William will send for her?" Jacqueline seemed hopeful.

Christine consented with a nod. Secretly, she hoped the spirited woman inside her daughter would find the gall to frighten away the young man - since she, Christine, did not possess it.

As Jacqueline smugly turned to tell the other ladies of her lads good fortune, Christine left the circle to approach her daughter - who had just disappeared up the steps. She would not tell her now, their was no need in worrying her. Instead, she hoped to implant positive thoughts about William into Elizabeths' mind. She wondered, however, where her little Beth was going...