**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.**
"Oh, are you being courted?" Vincent asked knowing that even though he was a third prince to York, he was not able to go after someone whom was already being courted.
"No." Catherine said almost too fast. "No, the man trying to court me is completely insufferable and unbearable."
"Why do I get the sense that you have no interest in settling at all?"
"Most considerably because I do not wish to settle in Nigera, but I have not a choice."
"If you could leave Nigera, where would you go?"
"If I am to be forthright with you, I would begin in Europe, then Italy, then Rome, and then I would most likely return home to my family." Catherine said thinking about her plans.
"Europe, Italy and Rome? Interesting choices for a lady. May I inquire why?"
"This will sound rather foolish, but I want to be able to go see the libraries of Europe, see the magnificent countryside in Italy, and study with the scholars in Rome." Cat said with a slight blush coming to her cheeks.
"Intriguing." This caused her to blush even more. "Not many ladies would admit to wanting to travel and study."
"I am not many ladies." Catherine rebutted. All of a sudden she noticed her father waving her over. "Please forgive me Vincent, but I must go. My father is calling." Catherine said starting to walk off.
"Wait, lady Catherine.. Tomorrow, would I be able to call upon you at your father's manor?"
"I would hope so. I do wish to see you again."
"Alright, I shall call upon you tomorrow at half past the hour of noon." Vincent said with a nod.
"I look forward to tomorrow then. In the present time, I really must be going." Catherine said picking up the hem of her dress before making her way to her father. She curtsied when she reached him. "Hello father."
"Hello Catherine. I must thank you for earlier when you kept your tongue under lady Brooke's observations."
"Thank you father. I knew you would not wish for Brooke and I be cross with each other."
"So daughter, who was the man you were enthralled with moments ago? That is the longest that I have seen you hold a steady conversation with someone." Thomas said knowing the his daughter did not converse frequently with any of the lords.
"His name is Vincent." Catherine said with a smile.
"Vincent? His is not from Nigera, I would assume?"
"No father. He comes from York. He didn't leave me with a surname though. He said he didn't wish to be so defined by his status."
"Are you seeing him again?"
"He said he wished to call upon me tomorrow, with your permission of course."
"My daughter, if you have no problems, then neither do I."
"He said he is going to call upon the manor at half past the hour of noon."
"Between him and Lord Marks, who would you prefer?"
"In being completely forthright I would prefer Vincent as of right now."
"Well, then you had best find him and encourage him to call upon you at an earlier hour. Your step-mother was under the impression that you welcomed Lord Marks' advances and has asked him to the manor at the hour of noon tomorrow."
"Father, I really wish she would allow me to choose my own life."
"I know pumpkin, but she just wants to see you married and happy. She just frets for you are about to become of age as well as Teresa, and Heather trails by a slight year's time."
"Father, I would have chosen sooner, but all of the lords in Nigera are insufferable. I am going to search out Vincent out to pass your message along." Catherine said before walking away from her father. After ten minutes she found Vincent once again.
"Lady Chandler, you just cannot stay away can you?" Catherine laughed.
"I just came to pass along a message." Vincent gave her a look saying he was waiting. "My father said you are welcome to call upon me tomorrow, but you must come by the hour of eleven. The other man who is trying for my hand is going to be there at half the hour of noon, and if he is there when you arrive my stepmother will not allow me leave."
"Tis no problem. I shall call upon you at the hour of eleven tomorrow, but for now... May I ask for this dance?"
"Vincent, we are not well on our feet. I would not be able to face you tomorrow if you I fell during our dance."
"If you fall then it will distract everyone from your partner's horrid dancing because they will all be focused your beauty."
"More likely they shall be focused on my odd choice of animal." Cat said motioning to her cat ears.
"A cat is not a common masque animal. Pray tell the reasoning behind it."
"I feel more identified by a cat than that of any other animal."
"The cat is one of god's more intriguing animals. Why did you choose it?"
"I chose it because I share quite the personality with them. We both like to be to ourselves and wish that we can simply be left to do as we please." Catherine said slyly.
"You know, out of the immense number of masquerades I have attended, you are the first cat. This has been the first time I have had to guess a personality."
"You claim you know masquerade identities well? What does a peacock or a fox represent?"
"Simple. A peacock would be the disguise of a woman who cares much about her outward appearance and spends lot of time prepping herself in hope of attracting someone of a high class. They are mostly worried about being emerged into a higher class of people. A fox would be the disguise of someone who is sly, cunning, and wily. Someone who knows more than they let on and someone who has skill in the art of deceiving and trickery." Vincent said with a smirk. "So did I match the personalities correctly Catherine?"
"Surprisingly yes."
"Whom was I revealing?"
"My cousin Teresa and my stepsister Heather. Teresa came as a fox and Heather came as a peacock."
"And you came as a cat. Much a difference from your family."
"Yes, I suppose, but I am not like that of my family. I am told that I take after my mother Vanessa."
"May I ask where she is?"
"Unfortunately, she has gone from this Earth. She passed when I was but a babe."
"I am very sorry for bringing her up. My apologies."
"Tis quite alright. Is the dance you asked still in wait? I feel my family will not last much more time here and then I will be forced leave. Once Heather tries to win over her highness Alexandria and is not chosen as a ladies maid, she will not wish to remain here."
"Well, then we shall take a dance." Vincent said before leading her onto the floor. They danced with a slight improvement, but most just enjoyed the comfortable silence between them while they attempted to dance. When the dance ended Catherine saw Tess waving her over and she took her leave.
"I am sorry to end the dance, but I fear I must go. My cousin is in need of me." Catherine said before curtsying and then walking over to Tess.
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