And a Song Someone Sings

[Rosalind Beaumont]

Colors, colors were so important. Rosalind actually thought that choosing the pattern for her dress for the coming out ball had been easier than picking the colors. In the end she had chosen a pale green and pearly white in order to give a nod to her house, and a pattern based on a Worth gown which she thought would show off her best assets very well. She did not much like the idea of being stared at like she was only a piece of flesh, but she needed a husband.

She had just finished her final fitting; the dress was as spectacular as she had thought it would be, and would be ready and delivered in time for the coming out ball in three weeks. She was going to be the first debutante that anyone saw, having earned that position by right of her position as head girl, and she meant to take advantage of that position by being memorable. Her mother was right; if the former Miss Browne had managed to catch a Potter, Rosalind could catch someone from a more prestigious name than Argyle. She would utterly avoid Mr. Argyle at the ball, letting him see her but not allowing him close enough to ask for a dance. Let him want her but know that she was a prize not already his.

The bell rang and Rose was immediately aware of a man entering, several inches taller than her but easily six inches or more shorter than Leo. It hurt to think of Leo, for all that there as no way that he could have been the one to hurt her. Her mind had to be supplying his face in the flashes of memory she had because he was the only one she had ever considered being that close to.

Chaperoned and in public, Rose knew she was (or at least should be) safe. She tried not to pay the gentleman any mind, instead smiling at Mrs. Tatting, who was making assurances about her gown.

"All eyes will be on you, Miss Pendergast, I'm sure of that. Of course, you being Head Girl will help that nearly as much as the gown, but you will look spectacular."

"Thank you, Mrs. Tatting," Rosalind said. "I do believe I will take some time before I leave, but I am quite glad to hear that my gown is coming along well.

  

[Charming Doge]

He still wasn’t entirely sure if he was going to go to the Coming out Ball at Hogwarts. Well he was going but he wasn’t sure if he was going to be there for any reason aside from being the legal guardian of his graduating sisters who had insisted on attending the Ball with their friends in addition to having their own joint Ball later during the season. In truth he had been dreading this very moment since their father had died and wished there was a way to turn back time and keep Darling and Dearest young and innocent forever.

But as that was impossible and Char was more or less a practical man, he knew he had to prepare and that meant a new suit for the Ball and a few new shirts and jackets for any functions that he would be attending with his sisters. He would also have to drag Valiant away from his derelict friends long enough to get him fitted for a few new suits. It was his hope that Val would attend functions as an additional chaperone for their sisters and perhaps set his sights on a woman and settled down at least a little.

It was a lofty goal, settling all three of his siblings in a single season, especially given that Val hadn’t shown much interest in debutantes in the past. Honestly, if he showed as much enthusiasm for courting as he did for gambling and loose women, Char wouldn’t have to worry. But he was a natural born worrier and that had only been amplified by the fact that he was now responsible for not only his siblings but their batty great-uncle as well as his son and the household though the nursemaid did her best to help where she could.

Opening the door to Twillfit and Tattings, Charming stepped inside, looking quite dapper in simple attire of tan trousers, high collared shirt, a brocade vest in a medium green and over it all a medium brown jacket with brass buttons. He didn’t bother with the overly fussy things such as hats and canes, found them to be impractical though if the situation called for it had been known to don a hat.

Looking around the shop, he found one of the owners to be tending to a young woman. Most likely a debutante. Content to just browse aimlessly until he could be tended to, Char was rather rudely listening in on the conversation though it could hardly be helped. The shop was quiet but for the two women talking. Though at the mention of this young woman being Head Girl, Char--in the midst of taking another turn around the shop--turned his head to try and get a better glimpse of her. She would no doubt be at the Ball and as Head Girl would be sought after by many a bachelor. Of course generally speaking it was wise to watch where you were going when walking and Char was reminded of that fact when he collided with a dress form displaying what was surely some new fashion trend as well as the work of the seamsters that worked for the Mrs. Twillfit and Tatting.

“Merlin!” Cheeks flushing, Charming fumbled with the form, trying not to trip himself or let it fall. After a bit of a tussle, he managed to right the dress form then set about nervously trying to make the now rumpled gown look as it had before and probably only making it worse. “I am so terribly sorry!” He called out, clearly flustered as he fussed with a bit of draping fabric that he couldn’t quite remember the position of. Finally lifting his hands in defeat, he took a step back and looked at the dress skeptically. Reaching out, he attempted one last tweak and then shook head head and reached up to run his fingers through well kept brown hair as he turned to face the two women, looking rather sheepish. “Please, forgive me.”

  

[Rosalind Beaumont]

The noise drew Rosalind's attention, and for a moment she stared before adverting her brown eyes and blushing. He could not be comfortable, whoever he was, with his little accident.

"It is quite all right, sir," she said; her voice was slightly more tense than she wanted it to be. She did all right if she was expecting men, but not so much with surprises. "I'm sure Mrs. Tatting will be able to re-situate things." The other woman nodded, and in fact went about her work.

  

[Charming Doge]

Just wonderful. She probably thought he was a moron. A bumbling idiot of the highest order. Clearing his throat and taking a slightly more dignified stance, he nodded. “Yes, well then. I’ll just wait over there.” He pointed unnecessarily to a padded chair just beyond the girl then moved towards it, still a bit unsettled. The train of the dress was sprawled across the floor and noticing it at the last second, Char tried to avoid it.

He bumped into the young woman then cursing under his breath, grabbed hold of her elbow to steady her. “Merlin! What a fool I am today!”

  

[Rosalind Beaumont]

Rosalind flinched as the gentleman bumped into her, and jerked away as he grabbed her elbow. She tried to cover her reaction by smoothing her skirt, but she couldn't help the traces of pink that infused her cheeks. "I'm actually done," she said a trifle unsteadily.

Uncharacteristically clumsy or not, the man was making her distinctly uncomfortable. A year ago she would not have cared and likely would have been prone to a good-natured laugh, but now ... "I'll let you get about your business."

  

[Charming Doge]

At first Char thought he’d maybe bumped into the young woman a little harder than he’d originally thought when she flinched. However, when she jerked away from his attempt to steady her then tried--and failed--to disguise the action as anything other than what it was, his brow furrowed. That was most certainly not a normal response for a young woman to have. Combined with the flinch his initial contact had brought...maybe he was just reading too much into it.

Hazel-green eyes lingered as he pulled his hands away and clasped them behind his back, straightening to his full height which compared to some of the men he knew, wasn’t particularly impressive even if it was a bit above the average. Schooling his features though he couldn’t help but find himself perplexed and even a bit concerned by her reactions, he nodded politely. “I apologize again, Miss. I truly hope I haven’t caused you any harm. If you intend to leave directly, might I get the door for you?”

  

[Rosalind Beaumont]

"It's quite all right," Rosalind said, not wanting to look at the gentleman. At least she could feign demureness. "I need to get on my way, although I would appreciate you getting the door. Thank you."

When the gentleman got the door, Rosalind managed a slightly more than barely polite smile and quickly went on her way. Telling her chaperon that she was not feeling well, she was escorted back to school and headed up to bed.