@algernon-balfour asked:
to be paired with my muse at a waltzing lesson in Dowager Countess Selwyn’s parlour-party for Algernon!
Clara knew her expression must be sour, but she couldn't quite get her face to pretend to be happy. Who could be happy in her current position ? At a combination parlour-party-waltzing-lesson with the knowledge that anyone who danced with her was doomed to have smashed toes and a front row seat to just how clumsy she could be.
After endless arguing with her sister, Clara finally gave in and accepted her fate. So now, here she stood, her eyes scanning over the room of men and women buzzing with idle conversation, all waiting as a member of the Dowager Countess's staff made his way around the room, handing each a card with the name of their dancing partner - or victim - etched into the paper.
It took a few minutes, but finally the man stopped in front of her, flipped through the stack of cards, pulled one out and handed it to Clara. She looked over the thick paper, not waiting to flip it over and read the name of who she was paired with.
Algernon Balfour was written in a decorative script, the swirls mimicking the wave of relief that washed over Clara. At least it was someone she knew.. maybe it wasn't someone she knew well but that was better than a perfect stranger.
As she waited for the dancing to start she could feel her sisters eyes peering over her shoulder, getting a peek at the card. "Hm.." She mumbled behind her, the gears in her head turning as she tried to decide what their mother would think, so that she could share the same opinion.
"Come on..' Clara sighed, grabbing her sisters elbow and pulling her further into the room. 'let's find him."