Rosensteel Plantation

Melenie, who had taken to leaning against a column nearby, snatched Serenity's fan and began to cool herself off with it. Being ladylike was very, very low on her list of priorities at that point."Oh, calm yourself, sugar! You look simply radiant."

And in an instant, Serenity was that mouse he was searching so hungrily for. His eyes met her flushed cheeks, a smile played along his slitlike mouth, and he began to take singular, moderate strides across the dance hall toward them.

"You're a dear." Serenity said softly, taking a glance over her shoulder. "He's coming over here! Here! Towards--" A strange gargled sound escaped her lips, before she shut herself up. She should have her fan over her face, but a pregnant woman would need it much more than she.
She held her breath and waited, completely paralyzed by fear.

Finally, he reached her. The owl stretched out his talons, took its prey by the hand, and gently pressed its beak to the smooth surface of her hand. "Miss Rosensteel," he said softly.

Mel sauntered away to the door, hoping to catch a breeze or two.

Pretending to be unimpressed with him couldn't have been harder for poor Serenity Rosensteel. But somehow she kept her gazing into his eyes cool and collected.
"Hello. Are you enjoying the party? It's such a long ride for you, I'm glad you could make it.."

"I haven't been able to take in most of it, but it certainly seems like a wonderful get-together," he said, straightening his posture and shaking the wrinkles from his hat with the hand that didn't continue to caress hers. "The trip wasn't too terrible, either. Fine weather, no hindrance..."

"The weather has been lovely lately." Serenity's gaze couldn't help but linger on his hands. They had been so unfairly snatched away from her by the owner.
She would just have to fix that.
"So what brings you to a little Southern get-together, all the way from New York?"

"Well, you see, by coincidence I was going to be staying in the area for a few days anyhow. I was delighted when the date on the invitation overlapped with my trip." Astor paused, dropping her hand like a limp noodle and returning it to his hat. "That gown suits you well, might I say."

"You're staying here? How perfectly lovely. You must come back after this party, I would love to show you around the plantation while you're in town. We've gotten several new buildings.. And thank you!" Serenity touched the fabric, smiling right at him. "Of course, it does look much better while dancing."

"Care to?"

"I would love to." In a few moments, they were sweeping across the dance floor, Serenity occasionally shooting elated glances at Melanie when she thought Angel wasn't looking.

In return, when she managed to catch one of Serenity's sidelong glances, Mel gave her a sly grin behind the borrowed fan and a curt nod.

Serenity cleared her throat, breaking the silent dance. So many ideas, so little time with him.. If only she had her fan- that provided 20 more options of things to talk about.
"Just out of curiosity, what exactly are you in town for?"

"Only visiting," Angel replied, linking arms with Serenity and joining a line dance that had sprung forth from the deep.

"Well that's just perfect, isn't it?" After several more dances, Serenity had lured him outside under the pretense of desperately needing air.

"What's it like in the North? I've never been able to go." She said, strolling arm in arm with him through her gardens.

"A mite cooler in the winter months... Similar terrain, though. Could just be my region, of course, but notwithstanding." Angel retained a hint of a British accent that had managed to slip through the intense Americanization of three generations of Astor. In his eyes there was France. "It's awfully balmy out tonight, though, I must say."

The adoration pouring out of Serenity's stare was almost revolting. "That is.. Absolutely fascinating." Her lying skills were just as revolting as the schoolgirlish crush she had on him. "What are the ladies like? Certainly they can't compare to our southern hospitality, can they?"

Angel wasn't exactly one to pay much attention to the female majority.

--

"Excuse me," stammered a tapping finger on Amanda's shoulder.

Amanda turned, half smiling as she looked to see who it was. It took a lot of effort not to jump for joy when she saw who tapped upon her shoulder.

"I did not realize you'd be joining us this evening, Wallace."

"Well, luckily for you, you've only hit the tip of the iceberg in hospitality. We could go on a carriage ride.. A stroll under the sycamores. Wouldn't that be nice?" She asked, her eyes shining. Serenity did look quite nice in the moonlight- face powder did that to a girl.