Jareth stared at Sarah for what seemed like forever and she felt her face getting warm. There was a hint of a smirk on his face, but just beneath it, a look that she recognized from their time in the ballroom. She felt like her heart was dancing, like her soul was lifting right out of her body and towards his. This is what she'd been running from in the ballroom - this helpless, maddening feeling of belonging and need. How could just a look do this to her? His eyes seemed to drink her in and leave her wanting more of his attention. Her lips parted, and a soft sigh escaped as he came even closer, it would be so easy to just lean into him and allow him a kiss. How was it that she'd thought him cruel again? She watched, mesmerized, as he bit his lower lip and she felt herself doing the same. That was why, this hot, intense feeling in the pit of her stomach that somehow came too easily when he was near her. He was cruel and she would do well to remember that.

Jareth's eyes were narrowed, surprised to realize that she had called him by his name. He was very surprised to realize that he wanted her to do it again, it gave him chills to hear his name fall from those perfect lips. He watched as she swallowed the nervous laughter that bubbled up inside of her, and he wanted to kiss her laughter away, make her feel some sort of need for him. A million expressions flit across his face at once, as he processed the conflicting emotions racing through him. He had thought to make her uncomfortable and off balance by his entrance, but somehow, he found himself equally stunned by the intensity of their closeness to each other. He wondered if she was thinking about kissing him, for he was certainly thinking of kissing her. Kissing her and then claiming her for all of time. He thought about that, he really did want forever with the girl. But unless she changed her feelings for him, they would only have this one year. He looked away for a minute to compose himself. After a long moment, he bowed to her then to the other women in the room.

"Greetings to all, I hope that I do not come at a bad time?"

"Jareth, you've never seen fit to disturb one of our luncheons before?" His mother was amused, he could tell. "What brings you here to disturb it now?"

"My apologies, ladies, I meant not to disturb but to admire." He took Sarah's hand and kissed it lightly. He could see that she could not look away from him or even take her hand away. It pleased him to know that she was not running or kicking him. He had not liked the kicking. This was much better and he smiled back at Sarah, suddenly filled with hope. Hoggle saw this too and grew angry as he watched Sarah giggle. Jareth found himself grinning slightly, bemused by the young beauty in front of him now.

"No men allowed in here - you gotta get outta here," Hoggle said in the high pitched voice he'd been using. Jareth frowned at the little serving girl and tilted his head.

"Do I know you? You seem - familiar," Jareth's eyes took on a dangerous glint and Hoggle took a step back, still close to Sarah, but a bit further from his king.

"Rules is rules - out," Hoggle growled, not looking directly at him and Jareth smiled as if he'd heard the most delightful joke.

"Of course, rules are very important." He turned back to Sarah. "At times it appears that we act in our own selfish interests when we are actually only following a demanded pattern of rules. At times, we wish that we could act another way, but know that we cannot escape our obligations. Rules are in place for a reason. Wouldn't you agree, young Sarah?" When she learned what he was planning, she would fight him, but she would have no choice but to obey. Rules were rules after all and they had such little time to get this right. If they could get this right. When she was near him, his thoughts had no foundation in reality. He really was her slave and he found this caused his heart to race. Another sign of love, perhaps - or did he just not like to lose? He had no ready answers.

Sarah bit the corner of her lower lip again, agitated. He was here and they weren't arguing. She knew that she was in over her head, knew that he was waiting for some sort of answer from her, but she was unsure what he was really asking. She also knew the others were watching them - watching her reaction to him. She pulled herself together and nodded.

"Rules are important. One of mine is to never trust people who can't be honest with me." She pulled her hand out of his and sat down, stained dress forgotten. Hoggle laughed out loud at that. Sarah would never trust the rat. Things were looking up for him again. He watched Jareth smiled and stared at Sarah as if he'd like to swallow her whole. He wanted to kick Jareth, but his skirt was too restrictive for that. He'd have to settle for glaring at him fiercely.

Jareth tilted his head and regarded Sarah seriously as he answered her, kneeling at her side.

"Honesty is quite important, in the end. I do find however that certain people have an issue with too much honesty given at the wrong time. Sometimes, we must withhold such brutal truths until our intended listener is ready to hear it." He stood up quickly, bowing towards his mother and grinned again.

"I wished to see my wonderful mother and elusive aunts to tell you all of a ball I plan to have soon. Formal invitations of course, will be forthcoming, but I could not resist a chance to see so many beautiful women in one place." Briella rolled her eyes but said nothing. Her brother had it bad.

"A ball - what is the occasion, nephew?" Marissa asked, knowing the answer, but wanting to hear it aloud. Jareth's eyes twinkled back at her as he pondered his response.

"A bit of a mystery as yet, I'm afraid. There are rules that even I must follow before I can freely answer that question." His mother bit back a laugh as she stood to smack his arm lightly.

"Wonderful, my son. Now - as the little serving girl has said - this gathering is for women only so perhaps we can chat at a later time."

"Of course, there is someone else I must visit to declare my intentions. But I shall return later this evening for dinner if I am allowed?"

"Of course," his mother said drily. "I look forward to your next visit. I must say I have not seen this much of you for quite some time." Jareth almost blushed at that. He'd been busy. Kings got busy.

"My apologies, Mother. If things go the way I hope, you shall be seeing much more of your errant son."

He bowed again and winked at Sarah as he left the room, humming the song he'd sang to her in his ballroom. Sarah smiled to herself then froze. Declare his intentions? No. He wouldn't - he - he just wouldn't. Out of the corner of her eye she watched Karen smile and touch Marissa's sleeve as they started whispering to each other.

"Sarah, come and let us take that walk in the gardens. Your mother and your new aunt will most likely wish to catch up a bit and Briella most likely wishes to see her father," the queen said in a tone that would tolerate no argument from daughter or new found niece.

"Um - sure," Sarah said, glancing over at Karen and Marissa who were now deep in conversation. "I'd like that, your highness."