Mervinia was attending her first ever ball. She felt excitement, ever since she was little she had been dreaming of getting married and having children, well, more so it had been pressured upon her to think in such way. Dressed up in an ornate ballgown, a robe à l’anglaise retroussée, underneath which multiple hoops were hidden. It had been more than a challenge to get each of the elements of her outfit perfectly in place. She looked quite the part however, and she had received multiple compliments on her appearance already, from the maid, to the cook, her family, even the cabman had complimented her.
It lead to her walking into the room full of confidence, along her father and mother. As soon as the first gentleman had tried to approach her parents for a conversation however, Mervinia felt intimidated. She had not ever interacted much with any gentlemen from around her age, except for her brother.
Among the crowd of people, her eyes stumbled upon a young gentlemen. One whom she found most attractive. He however, seemed to be much more occupied flirting with who Mervinia thought must be someone who his courting. She could not help but feel some jealousy, for such a thing was something she desired herself. When his eyes met hers, she stared at her feet. She did not want to give him the feeling she had been staring at him. She started feeling embarrassed, had he noticed her staring? She quickly joined into the conversation her parents were currently invested in. Nothing that interested Mervinia too much, mostly about the most recent political updates. However, she would not be making a fool of herself by giving the gentleman more of her attention, and messing up further.
It was not long however, before she saw him approach her from the corner of her eye. Immediately, nervousness was all she felt. She was certain she was going to be told off for starting at him. The words he spoke, they took her by surprise. It did not seem like he was calling her off, merely that he was inquiring about something she had no knowledge on. It was a confusing question, a painting? The idea of her face being on some gallery wall sounded weird to her.
“I beg your pardon, but I must confess that I have never posed for such a thing. To be perfectly candid, I am uncertain whether I would relish the notion of my countenance being displayed for the public’s scrutiny in an art gallery.” she carefully looked at him, hiding most her face behind the detailed fan she was carrying with her. His hair was certainly attractive, with its dark tones and curls, but she could not help but feel the way he had started this conversation, was a weird way to get acquainted with a lady. She could however see her father, but even more so her mother were more than pleased she was talking to the gentlemen, whose name she did not even know. “Sir, might I humbly request the honor of knowing your name?” she said, mostly out of formality and to please her family.
@LunaticLeviTheSecond - Darius