HER LIPS CURVE to a facile smile, bowing her head politely in acknowledgement of his kind, courteous greeting. she knows his name of course, as any proper lady engaging in solitary politics should. he’d wandered through the murmuring, appeased crowd akin to a shadow, borne from a new, hopeful sun. many took note of the new patron’s appearance & seemed overjoyed, for here was a man of medicine, whose reputation & occupation earned him only the highest regard. her hand withdraws after an appropriate pause, collecting with her alternate at the base of her ribcage. this is where her dead heart beats. she can hear his now too, sweeter than the lilting, lifting songs of the opera. blood – like the rivers of the nile, like the red of her hair.
❛ doctor ravenswood, ❜ she returns, noting to herself the pleasant way such a name rolled off the tongue. ravenswood – it had an air of mystery about it, some ancient weight clinging to the syllables. no matter ! they would converse as any lady & gentleman would, & once he grew tired, he would leave to mingle with other members of the fair crowd. she fancies that she might entertain his polite interest for only a while.
❛ a pleasure to make your acquaintance as well. my evening goes well, doctor, for the music was as lovely as it
was invigorating. may I inquire as to what you thought of the performance? ❜
her appearance immediately reminded him of a fox. not necessarily only the red of her hair, the strings set ablaze, but the witful smiles and lowish tones of a voice which wondered && questioned without modesty. Nathaniel’s lines were boyish in return - the smile of a gentleman who was used to such introductions and, secretly, quite bored with them all. not because of a lack of interest towards people, no; ao the contrary, it was invigorating to meet as many lively spirits no matter their alignment ! are you good or are you evil? do you pray before bed? do you sneer behind those that lash out their minds?
“ my thoughts are rather boring, I am afraid. not exactly the best element to be shared on the beginning of a conversation. ” yet, a shy happiness was eluded between the lines - you love when they ask after your hidden joy, don’t you? for the younger dreamer lived within; the images of a mind most wishful of musical pieces, instead of cadaverous, sickly ones ! heal the world in a proper way, if artistry has been denied; thus youth had thought. azure orbs gleamed with flatter. “ we may speak of anything else, if you agree to call me Nathaniel, simply. the titles of medicine get tiring after years of profession. ”
