No Mistake

It was, perhaps then, not Lupin's fault that her feelings were not as sensitive as was usual that evening. The encraching shadows of danger and the pulling distraction of some hundreds of gazes might be thought to be a very sensible reason why she did not, at first, realize. It wwas in fact not until quite a time later - looking back - that the realization of her own sensations truly were made known to her.

The shadows had subsisded, the room had behun to move about her once more, and Lord Maximilien was leading her gracefully up the croweded grand staircase to the brilliant rooms above. The way opened up before them as if by magic; the dignified, composed, and charismatic little gentleman beside her seemed to be his own talisman against the ballroom crush.

A the top of the stairway, he turned to her neatly, and in the quick movement of carrying her hand to his lips with a practiced air, he murmured "Courage, ma petite - ma petite Anne Touloure." Lupin looked at him beneath ehr lashes, and acceded - to his gesture and hiddenly to his preparation for her entrance to the world of fashionable Paris.

The night was filled with the echo of strange, polite, repetitive exclamations. Behind her, the whispers spread like bees floating across clover fields. The introductionswere assumed; Lord Maximilien's good friend Ann Touloure, visiting from Austria; educated - of all places - in Britain! His amie - his bonne amie... Bonne et bonne! The laughter rang out, the titters flowed. Lupin cringed inwardly, but her visage ws calm, Lord Maximilien had calmed and glanced around, dignified, at the surrounding swarm. He was in his element and his very stried seemed to purr.

Lupin walked with Lord Maximilien, promenading, dancing, very much playin gthe lovelost, the very mannered lovelost; nodding, returning words of politesse, smiling quietly here and there - looking, rarley, at her companion, but when doing so, always with over some shared and private amusement. And Lord Maximilien, the beloved of Paris, the chameleon of society, smiled back, stroked her fingers on her sleeve absentmindedly, and showed her off with every stride.

The evening drew on and Lupin had been swept away by a vying group. Her silver, sweeping skirts were surrounded by the gaiety of blues, oranges, greens, dark clarets - men's coats of the most beautiful hues. They surrounded her, amused her, took her arm. They were moving from the cardroom back into the main salon - the men's shoulders taller than hers as they moved throught he large double doorway, but not by much - down by the far wall, across the room; Lupin was looking up, smiling slightly at something the nearest friend of Lord Maximilien was saying to her, when she saw a figure in a dark golden coat, a familiar figure. A figure of her most vivid dreams and worst nightmares. Above the coat, a face, frozen, the quizzing glass in his fingers held absolutely still.

The room seemed to lose all of its breath and everything dimed and caught for a moment - but perhaps it was only Lupin's own life that seemed to catch. At that moment, Lord Maximilien appeared at her elbow, and taking her hand, raised it to his lips significantly. Lupinknew he was deepening the ruse for her, and forcing her chin up slightly , she dropped her eyes and swept him a low curtsy. There could be no mistaking her look upon rising. There could be no mistake. The room was bright with candles. Lord Grefham, white and almost gray beneath his powdered wig, turned slightly and enquired something of a passing acquaintance. The acquaintance gestured brightly, and tittered slightly at Lord Grefham's lack of information. Lord Grefham's eyes grew very cold.

He watched her coldly, haughtily, while Lupin took Lord Maximilien's arm and began to glide gracefully towards the refreshments table, her head held in the veriest picture of pride an status and beauty. Her eyes were the only cold thing about her - sparkiling like agates covered with the streams of new rain She did not look back towards the entrance; she withdrew inside herself and her hands went almost numb they grew so icy. Lord Maximilien lookied at her oddly for a moment, and then moved to laugh and pet and cover her distanced gaze and whitened complexion with animation.