Snippet #8243

How had she ever let Skógursson talk her into this?

Normally, Jocelyne only endured the small talk and drudgery of exquisite balls and celebration at her husband’s request as her personality did not render her good company at places where she encouraged to gossip and dance all night. There were more productive uses for her time, surely? Nevertheless, her Visitor - and dare she say friend - had been remarkably insistent upon attending, for there hadn't been an occasion of its like since he had arrived on this plane and her initial refusal had been met with disappointment that might’ve wrenched even the coldest of hearts.

So, here she was, dressed in her second best gown of shimmering dark jade silk that was decorated daintily with silver embroidery and silvery taffeta at the end of her sleeves and neckline, creating a more modest coverage than most women attending. Her hair was worn down, in the custom that she felt best befitted her current status in the company of a gentleman who was not her husband, swept back and held delicately in place by a beautiful silver butterfly clip.

Her left hand held to her face the sturdy deep green stick that supported the mask that was the customary adornment for the masquerade. Its ceramic surface was coloured in a bright green hue and dusted elegantly with silver powder, giving it a fairy-like quality, covering her eyes and nose fully, though no doubt a great many people would recognise her from her voice and not so perfect dancing.

Her lips were curved up in a smile directed towards her companion, who was wearing his glamour currently – Jocelyne’s only term for them attending the masquerade. His young features looked aglow with excitement, which served to light up her eyes with temporary merriment. Despite the rather dire circumstances that surrounded their Contract, she was quite fond of her bizarre friend, though it had taken a great deal of time for her to get used to a number of his unique qualities.

However, she couldn’t imagine life without Skógursson’s abundant thirst for knowledge and near constant smiles and attempts to cheer her. At this thought, she squeezed his left arm lightly with her right hand that rested upon it, giving him a look of amusement as she inclined her head towards the Faux residence. They had decided to walk there as it wasn’t at all far from the De Winter home and of course, it was an opportunity for Jocelyne to show him Ursum by night properly.

At last they were within a few metres of the gates of their destination and she discreetly whispered quite matter of factly to her Visitor, “I do hope you enjoy yourself, dear friend, otherwise this will be a much wasted evening." The slight smile on her pale lips told a different story, however.

Oh, she did hope he remembered the arrangement they had decided when the Contract had been completed. As she was born from low-born nobility, it was not difficult to pass off his presence in her household as that of a distant scholarly cousin, sent by his parents to be taken under the wing of his slightly elder cousin, in hopes of finding a favourable match for him.

Of course, this was nonsense and Jocelyne found herself oft frustrated with the lying and it had been hard enough convincing her husband’s family of this tale, but the lady had flat refused to let Skógursson hide unseen in the shadows of her world, especially when he seemed so eager to learn all about it!

They halted just outside the gates of the residence, taking their allotted place at the back of the small queue to get inside the Faux residence. Carefully, she lowered her hand off Skógursson’s arm to retrieve the small but beautiful invitation card from within her little purse that had been designed for such a task.

“I’ll let you hand it in,” she offered, handing the little card to her companion with care.

She owed this night to him, particularly after all the effort he had been putting in to help her brother recover recently.