**I don't own BATB, Catherine, Vincent or any other characters mentioned. I also don't own any places mentioned or any scenes that may be similar to another work.**
"Catherine, why ever did you choose such a simple minded, common street animal?"
"I felt that any other choice would draw attention away from Heather. What kind of sister would I be if I kept the attention all to myself and didn't share any with my sister? Besides, Heather is much more beauteous than I." Catherine said with fake honesty and a faux smile as she watched Brooke's face light up.
"That is rather kind Catherine. I am so lucky to have found someone with such a caring daughter. Not many possess such a heart."
"Why thank you Brooke." Catherine said with a smile and a nod before the carriage once again resumed it's silent status. As they pulled up to the gate, Catherine watched as Brooke primped Heather a final time before Thomas exited the carriage. He helped Teresa step down followed by Catherine, then Heather and finally his wife Brooke. Since Brooke was already married she wore a simple mask, but had a dress as extravagant as some of the girls who were attending to find a suitor. Heather went as a peacock, and had large, fluffed feathers around her mask and down the pleat of her dress. Once inside they all split up. Thomas and Brooke wandered with Heather close behind and Teresa and Catherine went off to stroll the garden at the castle. Around their fifth lap of the garden while making small talk, a man approached them with a smile.
"Hello Ladies. I must say, you both look stunning." Catherine noticed Teresa seemed to be interested in him.
"Thank you sir. I am feeling slightly famished, would you mind keeping my cousin Teresa company for a short time?"
"The pleasure would be mine." He said giving a quarter bow. "Forgive my manners, I am Commander Joseph Bishop. I oversee the army in York." Cat noticed that Tess still seemed enthralled by him.
"You are excused. I am Lady Catherine Chandler and this is my cousin Lady Teresa Vargas. If you shall excuse me, I am going to take my leave." Catherine said before walking off towards the food and drink. Once out of the sightlines of the two she watched as Commander Bishop invited Teresa to a dance and she shyly accepted. Catherine then went and got herself a drink as she was starting to feel parched. While watching Teresa and Joseph dance Catherine got lost in thought and clumsily tripped over the edge of her dress before starting to fall. As luck would have it, someone was able to break her fall. She looked up and was instantly intrigued by the eyes behind the mask of the man who had broken her fall. He helped her upright before smiling as he watched a deep pink color the lower parts of her cheeks as she gave a nervous smile.
"I am so sorry Sir. I do believe my feet have run off without me for I am never this out of step."
"No worries, my lady. Do tell, what is your name?"
"It is Catherine." Catherine said before biting her lip.
"Catherine. Just Catherine? Do you not have a surname of which I can refer to you?"
"Catherine Chandler, Sir. And you? Now you know of me, but yet I do not know of you. Pray tell, is that even?"
"Vincent, my lady."
"And what of your surname? You pursued mine, so it is only fair that I pursue yours."
"That is true, but I do not wish to be so defined by my status. Right now, all I want to do is pray that you will take my hand when I ask if you would accompany me for this dance."
"Well Vincent, it would be my pleasure to accompany you for this dance, but I must warn you. I have very little practice with these sorts of dancing styles. I am not meant for dancing."
"Well, then it is fair for me to warn you, I am no dancer myself. My mother gave up on teaching me because I am not meant to be on my feet." He said with a laugh as he lead her onto the dance floor. The dancing ended up terrible for both as neither could get their footing or keep to the dance as everyone else was. When the dance ended they both exited the floor with laughter being shared between them.
"Well Lady Catherine, I do think that we are equaled in our inabilities to dance."
"That is very true Vincent, but nevertheless it was rather fun."
"I completely agree..." Catherine said before being cut off as a voice yelled out.
"Presenting, their majesties Jeremy and Anne Salter and her royal highness, Princess Alexandria Isabella Diana Salter." Vincent almost laughed as he noticed the look of pure disgust that came onto her face.
"I dare say Catherine, you are not a follower of Princess Alexandria. Are you?" He watched the embarrassed look make it's way onto her face before she spoke.
"Oh gods, is it that clear?" Catherine couldn't believe she had let it slip.
"Don't worry. You secrets are safe with me. To be forthright, I cannot stand royalty much either."
"It is not so much royalty, as it is more of the fact that she has godly amounts of power, and yet she does the same as a common housewife. To have so much power and to not realize all of the goodnesses you could do with it."
"You are rather blunt in your opinions of her." Vincent said rather shocked that she was so willing to speak out.
"Oh gods." She said with a shocked look coming onto her face. "Please know that I meant no forms of disrespects towards her highness. My mouth has as much of a tendency to run away from me as my feet do."
"Tis no problem my lady, for you see, it is your mouth that seems to have me captivated. I have never met a courtier such as yourself who so despises the positions in which we are required to take in life. Not even in York, where people are more outspoken."
"You ventured from York?" Catherine asked surprised.
"Yes, the main city. My family required that I visit with them." Vincent said sounding slightly vexed.
"You wished to remain in York?"
"No. I wish to be free of my family's name and the status it brings."
"Still, York must be beautiful."
"I suppose. You must not venture outside of Nigera much. Do you?"
"Oh how I wish. I have never even been outside the county better yet outside of Nigera."
"Would you want to?" Vincent asked knowing he would be able to convince her to come see him.
"Oh gods yes, but I know that my father would never let me leave to travel. My stepmother would convince him that I am to remain in England so that I can settle with my one suitor whom is from England."
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