That might be the only reason I turned up on time. ( or close enough, anyway. it's uttered mildly, something between a statement of fact and what could, from the right angle, almost be taken for a joke. (in a manner of speaking.) he leaves it to natasha to guess at how much truth there is to it, his own expression flickering as she says everything looks good on her.
there's no disagreement there, although his gaze lingers long enough to do more than imply that he's considering her statement. weighing it up before he looks down as she draws attention to the quote-unquote detail of the dress and he exhales. it's almost a laugh, and then natasha asks if he wants to dance.
it's not, strictly, that he'd like to, but—.
he holds a hand out towards in lieu of a 'yes'. then, in answer to her remark about the dress, with an eye cast over the rest of the guests— ) Too daring for who? Daphne and her sister have both been in the city for long enough that a bit of leg isn't going to shock them.
( natasha’s almost (almost) surprised that he says yes — but maybe tonight is a night for marc spector to continue to surprise her, and she’s learned to roll with the punches. he holds out a hand and she takes it, not wasting any time with hesitation; tugging gently, she leads him back towards the dance floor where attendees seem to be straddling the line between what natasha imagines would be regency appropriate type dancing and a bit more modern slow dancing.
settling herself in front of him, she doesn’t hesitate to rest one hand on his shoulder, the opposite still holding onto his as she raises it into more of a ‘waltz’ type position. it’s on the tip of her tongue to tease him (‘like what you see?’) but instead she just watches for a second.
if he doesn’t start them swaying, she will — with a neat little step that still gives the illusion that he’s leading. )
I heard they had family arrive. ( her smile is bland, neutral — ‘heard’ being, of course, a euphemism for found out. even in a place like this, old habits die hard; the bridgerton’s are (as far as she can tell) mostly harmless … but it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye on everything. ) Family that might be a little bit less used to ‘a bit of leg’ —
( a beat, bland smile deepening to a smirk. ) You don’t seem to mind it, though.
for vestments (continued from duplicity)
mk’s last reply
That might be the only reason I turned up on time. ( or close enough, anyway. it's uttered mildly, something between a statement of fact and what could, from the right angle, almost be taken for a joke. (in a manner of speaking.) he leaves it to natasha to guess at how much truth there is to it, his own expression flickering as she says everything looks good on her.
there's no disagreement there, although his gaze lingers long enough to do more than imply that he's considering her statement. weighing it up before he looks down as she draws attention to the quote-unquote detail of the dress and he exhales. it's almost a laugh, and then natasha asks if he wants to dance.
it's not, strictly, that he'd like to, but—.
he holds a hand out towards in lieu of a 'yes'. then, in answer to her remark about the dress, with an eye cast over the rest of the guests— ) Too daring for who? Daphne and her sister have both been in the city for long enough that a bit of leg isn't going to shock them.
( natasha’s almost (almost) surprised that he says yes — but maybe tonight is a night for marc spector to continue to surprise her, and she’s learned to roll with the punches. he holds out a hand and she takes it, not wasting any time with hesitation; tugging gently, she leads him back towards the dance floor where attendees seem to be straddling the line between what natasha imagines would be regency appropriate type dancing and a bit more modern slow dancing.
settling herself in front of him, she doesn’t hesitate to rest one hand on his shoulder, the opposite still holding onto his as she raises it into more of a ‘waltz’ type position. it’s on the tip of her tongue to tease him (‘like what you see?’) but instead she just watches for a second.
if he doesn’t start them swaying, she will — with a neat little step that still gives the illusion that he’s leading. )
I heard they had family arrive. ( her smile is bland, neutral — ‘heard’ being, of course, a euphemism for found out. even in a place like this, old habits die hard; the bridgerton’s are (as far as she can tell) mostly harmless … but it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye on everything. ) Family that might be a little bit less used to ‘a bit of leg’ —
( a beat, bland smile deepening to a smirk. ) You don’t seem to mind it, though.