“Perhaps you may know it now!” Azucena said politely, using the knowledge her mother had taught her about ladylike interaction. Truthfully, Azucena did not have many lady friends during her youth, nor in her adulthood. The only close friend was always Aurelia, but in the days since the season started, Azucena had only seen her once, and before that they had not spoken since the accident, so she was hardly a friend anymore. There was also that peculiar Belle, who was close enough to Azucena to invite her to tea, but not close like Aurelia, nor close like her boys.
To Azucena, boys were often just boys, and she could easily befriend them because they were quite simple to understand. Girls, however, were much harder to please in her eyes. Her mother was nearly impossible to satisfy, as was Duchess Ellis, as was sister Gertrude; they all made her shy away from other women, except for her dear Lia. She supposed she must make new friends now as she tried to forget her guilt and Orpheus Langston.
She behaved appropriately. Her skirts were smoothed, her hair was braided, her gestures were delicate and small, just as mother had intended, but this other woman’s feminity seemed to decimate her own. She was so polite; overly polite, even, like she feared Azucena might convince the ton to shun her if she made a wrong move. She wondered why that may have been, but she said nothing of it, returning from her thoughts to her learned facade.
Suddenly, the girl asked a very direct question, and then removed it just as quick without a chance for Azucena to digest it. At this, she gave her a puzzled look, tilting her golden crowned head to listen for her explanation. When she listened, a smile grew very slowly on her lips, touched by a story of love, and chuckled a bit at her comment of being old. Honestly, Azucena had not noticed her age until she had pointed it out. Although she looked mature, her features were quite smooth. She must have been even more beautiful at the time of this love story.
“You are not silly, not silly at all.” She laughed slightly, shaking her head. “I have been in love before, yes; twice, I believe. Once when I was a bit younger, and perhaps now once more, still with the same man.” Azucena smiled, her two front teeth showing adorably. “If I lost him once more, I think I too would go anywhere to find him, even the corners of the earth.” Her eyes were entranced somewhere, but she returned her gaze back to Katrina, admiring her features. “It is a very romantic thing you are doing.”
As she looked at her, Azucena’s spoken words were genuine; but as per usual, thoughts began to lurk beneath the surface of Azucena’s consciousness, threatening to permeate the barrier around her internal dialogue. Considering the close-knit relationship between the ton, or at minimum, the noble class, Azucena could not help but wonder if she knew the man Katrina spoke of. She hoped it was not Archibald, at the very least. The girl may have known nothing about her new acquaintance, but anyone deserved better than Archibald.
Anywho, Azucena returned to her more tranquil stream of consciousness, listening to Katrina speak of names. Her expressions also seemed to gild hidden thoughts, but Azucena did not have yet the will to deciper that. Surely, it was nothing negative about her, but she was not quite sure. Azucena was wanting to make a new female friend, so she hoped her words were also true; perhaps not naked, but exposed enough to be spotted by many.
“Thank you.” Azucena replied politely once again. “My name refers to the spanish version of lilies, what is yours?” The other girl continued, experimenting the feeling of Azucena’s nickname going over their heads. Then, she looked around at the ladies of the tea. “Have you met any of the other ladies yet? If you would like, I could show you around london as well!!” She said, and that part was a bit too realistic.