Seeking laughter, 09/10, 10AM

[Isabeau Everhart]

Out and about, winding through the corridors Isabeau found herself in the library.

[Davina Wellsley]

The hand upon her own arm was feather light. The pressure hardly felt. Davina, enough out of her element regarding such afflictions, had the foresight to place Joanna on the inside as they walked on in case they should happen upon others' or were jostled in some form.

"Well, in truth I am as you - tis my own first time here at Windsor so everything shall be new!" She exclaimed in answer to Joanna's statement. "Will you allow me to speak of what we pass to you? I hope to do justice but this place is most daunting at times. Yes, I do think that would best serve - one ribbon for us both. Otherwise would be most unfair to the other "Ladies" and I would not want to be thought of .....Oh! Here is a set of wooden doors set back onto the walls with another opposite. We are some distance form where we began - think you that any of the 'Gentlemen' would hide so close? Shall we try them both?" Her voice was tinged with a touch of excitement and her natural competitiveness began to show itself.

"You must pick which one Joanna ....Left or right?"

[Joanna Craven]

"Yes, please, I should love to hear your description of the surroundings," Joanna replied eagerly, pressing her fingers into Davina's arm for a moment, silently thanking her for being so wonderful. "I must try to learn my way around, which is a bit difficult, though not so impossible as it might appear!"

Already, Davina was proving to be a better guide than Deedee. There was something crisp and clear about her descriptions that spoke to Joanna's ordered mind. Deedee would go around in circles gushing about the furnishings when Joanna really wanted to know things like exactly how the doors were placed. Little tidbits like that were vastly more useful when it came to navigation and mentally placing herself on the map, as it were, than embellishments she could only faintly imagine.

"Oh, we must look everywhere that we possibly can within the allotted time!" Joanna declared, her emotions mirroring Davina's. "I must say, it is rather fun to be discovering these new places together! But for now…hmmmm…right. Yes, let us go to the right!"

As they went on their merry way, Joanna tipped her head towards Davina. "Do you have a room in the castle or are you lodging elsewhere?" she asked, eager to know more about her new friend—yes, she would call her that now!

[Davina Wellsley]

"I am with my brother Richard - Viscount Baintree - in rooms well enough for me .....Here, let me show you the doors ..." She spoke as she moved slowly towards the doors that Joanna had said they would try first allowing her time to stand before them and perhaps in some fashion known only to her acquaint herself?

"They are of some dark wood with a large metal loop for a handle on each door with scratches and a cut or two here and there. I wonder how long they have stood here - shall we brave it and open them! I for one hope to catch out whoever thought to hide here ...." She would wait for a minute or two in allowance of the others' curiosity before she would open them and step inside.

"I see no one else about and tis very quiet. Oh! Cobwebs ...." And she pulled gently at a nesting that now were visible to one side of the hinge.

[Joanna Craven]

"Ah, I see," Joanna replied with a smile, feeling mildly jealous that Davina had family around. Had her own elder brother not passed before his time, would they be lodged together even now?

The blonde was positively thrilled at the chance to extend her curious fingers and explore the facade. Yet she was also aware that they were in a competition and it would not do to linger too long. So, she only took about fifteen seconds or so to feel her way around. The surface was worn, but well taken care of; the wood had been polished within the past few weeks, for her fingers slid along with ease. The metal was pleasantly cool and she couldn't help but curl her fingers around the handle and pull, though she was more than happy to let Davina take over or help at any point.

At the mention of the cobweb, Joanna smiled but refrained from stopping their entrance to reach out for it. They were here to investigate, after all.

"Very quiet indeed," she agreed.

Suddenly, the most wicked throughout struck her. Perhaps there was no one hiding there, but if there was then there might be a quick way to draw him out. Just maybe Joanna could actually be of use, sans eyes…

As they walked, the fair-haired beauty purposefully took a wrong step, leaning a little into Davina as the side of her foot pressed against the floor, but not so much as to knock the other woman over. "Oh, my ankle!" she cried, feigning moderate distress.

Now to wait and see if any gentleman would do their duty. If no one emerged, then they could safely go on their way and try another room, content that no one was hiding...or that if they were they were not made of gallantry and who would want a ribbon from such hands?

[Davina Wellsley]

"Let us start by opening those shutters ...... Oh!" Her next words cut off in startled surprise as Joanna suddenly seemed to catch her footing all wrong and leant upon her own frame ......

It was a moment or two before she realized that there was no real distress but some play-acting!

"Joanna? Oh Dear - are you hurt? And here we are all alone ... Is there no one about?" Davina uttered in what she hoped was a convincing voice as she peered into the rather dimly lit interiors her eyes trying to seek out any movement.

[Temperance]

Davina and Joanna
Joanna’s cry of distress and Davina’s worry did alert someone to the trouble at foot as the door behind them creaked and a middle-aged matron poked her head out of the room. The woman looked a bit surprised to see the ladies for a moment but padded over without question, wiping her hands in an apron as she curtsied quickly. “Is something the matter, my ladies? I can, ah, did you hurt your leg?” The maid questioned, noticing Joanna leaning on Davina and hurrying forward to offer her own support to the young lady. “Now, how did that happen. Can you stand my lady? But it must hurt.” The maid looked around undecisively. Her portly form could offer more support to Joanna than Davina, but she wouldn’t be able to carry the lady back ot her chambers if she had hurt her leg.

“I know. I saw two young gentlemen go into the sunroom just around the corner there. Let’s just get you ladies out of this closet and then I’ll go and get them to help.” The maid frowned briefly at the cobweb near the door, someone had obviously not been doing their work properly, before focusing on helping Joanna and Davina back to the hallway so that she could then do as she said and summon the young lifeguards.

Heather
The ladies headed out in any and all directions from the room, some eagerly rushing past Heather and some disappearing around corners as the hallways turned. She might note Angelina taking part of the game as well, the young Italian waving at her merrily. “Let me know if you see my cousin, Countess Atherstone. I mad ehim promise to be social and participate properly in the game.” The Italian called to Heather before dashing away in her own search of prey, wile her disapproving chaperone hurried to keep pace with the petite lady.

In just a couple of more minutes when the ladies had spread further away from each other in their search, when a door opened just before Heather and a young laughing man darted out. Heather might note that the youngster was holding three ribbons. Stumbling for a moment as he narrowly avoided the collision, the man looked startled for a moment before smiling and greeting her with a small bow. “Are you alright, my lady? I hope I didn’t startle you?”

[Heather O`Roarke]

Heather
Heather laughed and waved to Angelina "I shall!" It would be good to meet with Peter again and briefly she considered she ought to write to them both to invite them to a trip to town. She knew Angelina would appreciate the diversion. That was going down on her long list of letters to write on the morrow. Then the chase was on. Laughingly the redhead ran through the corridors.

Breathlessly Heather stopped in her path, only just escaping a painful confrontation with a door. "Oh, I'm quite alright, now that I have captured you," she grinned "I'm afraid I must claim one of your ribbons sir. What do you demand in return?" Belatedly she added "Oh, but first a name." She offered her hand "Tis the lady Heather O' Roarke, Countess of Atherstone, who has found you first."

[Davina Wellsley]

Davina and Joanna

Davina smiled back at Joanna forgetting that there could not be any response then replied graciously to the servant saying "I thank you for your aid and in the telling of where we shall find assistance - my friend and I shall await your return here ......" She pressed Joanna's hand a bit as she spoke perhaps asking that a response of some kind from her might not be a bad idea .....

"You are sure that you can stand?" Davina inquired a bit louder than normal. "Unfortunately there is no chair or bench out here ...... I have taken your point and think it was well done indeed!" She whispered. "And if there are a Gentleman or two as she said well, then we have taken a 'ribbon', with hardly any struggle at all!"

[Joanna Craven]

Davina and Joanna

Everything was going extremely well…until no gentlemen emerged. There was a woman, instead, and while she provided them access to the hidden Life Guards, Joanna suddenly felt like a foul cheat. She hadn't meant to worry anyone—at least for no more than the few seconds it might take for a body to come out of hiding and her to reveal the ruse triumphantly.

"Oh bother," Joanna muttered quietly, embarrassed and rather crestfallen that her trick had only complicated matters.

Davina did not seem upset at all, which was some comfort, and yet Joanna could not quite share her enthusiasm. "We should not have let her go off," she protested mildly, her cheeks rosy and lips etched into a small frown. "I did not mean to keep anyone uninvolved from their other duties or to circumvent the fairness of the game in such a large way! The men will be very cross at being lured away, will they not?"

Yet she spoke even as she still pretended to lean against Davina. Worries aside, the blonde was already in ten hands over her head, so there was naught to do but embrace the subterfuge and apologise to the poor woman who had gotten roped in once all was revealed. She would simply have to hope she was feeling nervous because she'd never done anything like this before, not because she really had gone too far with the hoax.

[Temperance]

Heather

“Demand in return?” The young lad looked almost startled for a moment. With a youthful eagerness to win he hadn’t even thought that it might be much more pleasurable to get caught. “I want, I want, I want a kiss!” The lad blurted out, even as his cheeks acquired a sort of rosy hue over his own words.

Heather’s reminder of introductions first made the lord scramble to compose himself again as he bowed quickly, but without the finess of an experienced courter. “A pleasure. I’m John Chandler, son of the Baron of Winterbourgh.” The young lad quickly kissed Heather’s fingers as the redhead offered her hand.

Davina and Joanna
Giving her own arm to Joanna as well the maid helped the ladies out of the closet, maybe later she would also wonder what the ladies had wanted browsing through the brooms, and closed the door behind them. Making sure that the ladies would manage for a moment the maid then hurried off in the direction she had pointed out to the ladies leaving Davina and Joanna alone for a moment with a promise to be back quickly with help.

It was just about a minute later when hurried footsteps sounded and two men in the scarlet coats of the lifeguard rounded the corner the hands of both habitually resting on their sword hilts while the portly maid was doing her best to try and keep up with the men. Davina might recognise their faces from the room where the competition was announced if she had paid attention to the men. She might also notice a ribbon end hanging out of one of the men (Richard’s) coat pocket. The young lords glanced over the situation as they approached, removing their hands from their swords as they did so. “Ladies, may I ask what happened?” One questioned even as he hurried forward to crouch by Joanna’s side, figuring she was the one injured as she was leaning on the other lady. Unaware that Joanna would be unable to see it, he glanced upwards with a smile and gestured towards her ankle. “My lady, does it hurt to stand? May I take a look?”

“Richard.” The other lifeguard glanced warningly at the one crouching by Joanna’s side and stepping forward bowed lightly. “This is Richard Moore and I’m Damien Meville. My lady, may I ask if you were injured as well?” Damien directed this last question to Davina as he stepped closer, ready to assist as well as the maid clucked worriedly behind their backs.

[Davina Wellsley]

There was a whisper of dishonesty for a moment but then she gathered herslf and began to play the Game - taking her cue from Joanna. "There is no need to think ill of this scheme for I am quite a willing accomplice!" She whispered just as two Soldier's rounded the corner and all at once the space was taken up by their presence ..... Davina's blue-eyed gaze took in their uniforms and she thought she spied a tale-tell length of ribbon tucked into a pocket - which she would explore once some order had been restored!

"Gentlemen!" She exclaimed in greeting. "How very fortutious that we happened upon the Maid who them directed You to our aid ..... She is quite well I do think save for just a small hurt to her ankle...." Addressed to Mr. Meville with a smile as she then added her own name - "Davina Wellsley and this is my friend Joanna Craven. Might you not assit her in standing Mr. Moore ....And I am quite well thank you Mr. Meville ....."

It was not for her to address the issue of Joanna's non-sight so she said nothing as she waited for what was to happen next. Her gaze returned to then length of ribbon that she could see clearly in the pocket of the man as he knelt beside Joanna ..... Now how best to get it? And how to let the other girl know as well for the were a team ....

[Joanna Craven]

Joanna smiled briefly, happy to hear that Davina was not upset, though she remained less than mollified herself. A moment later, the Life Guards arrived, their concern and kind attentiveness proving that they were of the highest caliber of gentleman. Immediately, Joanna decided she could not, in fact, admit to the ruse. Instead, she would wiggle her way out of it with a bit of quick thinking.

"Oh, I feel like such a fool," the blonde exclaimed quietly, looking down at the young man whom she had heard bend his knees. Her cherry cheeks confirmed that sentiment. "I am blind, you see, Mr. Moore, so I can be most dreadfully clumsy! I turned my ankle a moment ago, but now that the initial shock has passed, I can feel that there is no true injury. I believe I merely have a particularly spiteful cramp, which will hopefully ease up after a minute."

She had no way of knowing if either of these men were familiar or had ribbons on their person, so she would rely on Davina to send her some sort of sign or, even better, to stake a claim to the prize herself.

"If you would lend me your arm for a moment, so I might spare my friend the extra weight until I can stand on my own, I would be most grateful, " she said with her most charming and rather flirtatious smile. It was not one she typically showed to men she had just met, but something about Davina's friendly, easy manner was helping her to truly relax and just have fun. "I do hope we did not call you and Mr. Meville away from pressing activities!"

[Heather O`Roarke]

Heather & John Chandler

"How do you do, John Chandler" Heather murmured, observing the young man through long red lashes. Here was a lad who still needed to learn much and she wasn't averse to teaching. "Then a kiss you shall have."

She waited for young Chandler to realize she agreed, amusement tugging at her full red lips as she noted the rosy blush to his cheeks. The redhead closed the distance between them. After all it wasn't a hand she was about to kiss, though that would have been a nice bit of revenge. Yet, what did the poor lad learn from that, other than that women could be cruel? Heather leaned in, pressing her lips with feather light touch to his, before licking them and experimenting with a soft nibble. "Open your mouth, John," she whispered throatily "So that I may kiss you properly." Then she allowed her tongue to slip inside, explore him with leisure, while her hands contented themselves with clasping his shirt, caressing his chest. Had there been more time her hand would have wandered lower, but for now she decided to keep him innocent.

Finally she drew free, laughing breathlessly. "How was that Master Chandler? A ribbon fairly won?"

[Temperance]

Davina and Joanna

“Blind!” Richard was surprised by that announcement, the lifeguards exchanging a quick look between themselves. But as Joanna requested assistance with such a pretty smile, Richard couldn’t help but smile back even if the lady couldn’t see it. “My apologies. We’ll take a look at that ankle in just a moment, but first lets get you somewhere more comfortable. Here, put an arm around my shoulders, here.” Richard guided Joanna to settle the arm around his shoulder and then bent, scooping the lady up into his arm. “There. This way there won’t be any pressure on your ankle so you aren’t hurt further.” He announced to Joanna with a grin.

“There were some seats in th sunroom. Your friend might be most comfortable there for noe.” Damien explained to Davina with a reassuring smile, laying a hand on her shoulder for a moment, as Richard turned to to head back the way from where the lifeguards had came from while carrying Joanna in her arms. “I shall go and get something to fortify you. Tea. Yes. And sugar water.” Wiping her hands in her apron the maid rushed off again, presumably to bring some treats to the small group.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, ladies,” Damien commented, offering his arm to Davina to take so that they could follow Richard and Joanna. “Do no worry, you did not calls us away from something. We are not on duty today.”

Heather

It took a few moments of shocked blinking for John to realise that the lady had actually agreed to kiss him. And once he finally grasped it, the blood in his body didn’t seem to know where to go, his ears turning crimson even as her cheeks paled a bit as the lad fidgeted. Fiddling with his hands the boy was truly at a loss as to what to do. He opened his mouth to say something but then Heather had descended upon him, giving him the most thrilling and frightening kiss of his life. Unable to do anything but follow her words, John opened his mouth to receive the kiss as he clumsily attempted to repeat what Heather was doing.

“Umm.” John didn’t quite know where to turn his eyes, he was the one who was supposed to make a woman’s knees go week with a kiss! But certainly Heather was having butterflies in her stomach too. Maybe she was feeling a bit faint even. Francesca had always said his kisses made her feel a bit faint. Cheered by the thought John managed to smile and held out his hand for Heather to take a ribbon. “Ribbons. Yes. Uhm. Here, my lady.”

[Heather O`Roarke]

Heather & John Chandler

It was a young, enthusiastic kiss. Not the height of accomplishment, but enjoyable in its green nature. "Should you wish me to teach you further, young Chandler," the dreaded temptress whispered "meet me this evening at the presence room and I might consider it. Perhaps I shall even allow you to escort me to my room." She intended to invite all men of interest to the Kings Presence Room. It would be an amusing way to pass the time.

With a show of being careful what ribbon to pick, Heather selected one and tied it around her wrist. "There, that is the first. I shall have no doubt milord that your effort will help me win the game. Now, if you will excuse me, there are more gentlemen to hunt."

With a dash the lady was gone, chasing the sound of male feet.

[Davina Wellsley]

Davina and Joanna

She accepted the offer and placed her own hand upon the offered arm well pleased that both of these Gentlemen seemed to harbor no indignation at Joanna's sightless eyes. She nodded in agreement at the suggestion about the Sunroom as well adding "I am glad then that this small thing will cause either of you any harm - what, if I may ask, had brought you here?" Perhaps a subtile way of finding out if they would speak of the Game they all played! Now how to get that ribbon might be harder indeed .....

Walking beside Damien she began her campaign of questions - harmless things really - but designed to obtain as much information in a short time and then to think of a way of letting Joanna know. Once they reached this Sunroom and Joanna was seen too she would manage to impart what she had learned.

[Joanna Craven]

Davina, Joanna and the LifeGuards

Joanna was grinning too, though she was doing her best to appear demure at the same time. A little flirtatious banter was merely fun and games between the sexes, of course; still, she did not wish to seem promiscuous. No matter, she was enjoying being carried in the guard's strong arms and was not ashamed to let him know it. She'd been swept up thusly in the past after actual incidents of injury, but never with quite so much self-assurance.

"Why, I feel miraculously healed already," she declared teasingly as they headed to the sunroom. "I wonder if you are a magician!"

There was a pang of guilt when the kind maid hurried off to fetch beverages, but sugar water did sound rather appealing at the moment. Joanna knew she had to keep her strength up, for she and Davina would need to move quickly once they parted from these men lest they fall too far behind the others!

With no sign from Davina, Joanna decided it was time to gently pry on her own. "I always seem to have these silly accidents at the most inopportune times! I fear that my partner and I are doomed to fare poorly in this game, due to my clumsiness, but your presence and that of your friend is no small consolation."

There. If he was participating, then no doubt he would do the gentlemanly thing and reward the poor blind girl. And if not, she would manage a very quick recovery so they could excuse themselves and be off once more!

[Davina Wellsley]

"How very clever of you!" Davina wanted to say but as she was following the pair that would have to wait once the Sunroom was reached - but the Soldier's answer would hopefully come afore that!

But she also had no idea if the man walking beside her had heard Joanna and so she risked a rather sheepish look to her side a smile half playing about her lips ......

[Temperance]

Heather

With his face still crimson John could only nod as he watched Heather pick a ribbon and carefully tie it around her wrist before running off. Oh, but what a woman she was! John was proud of himself for having made such a deep impression on her however. Without a doubt Heather rushed off to hide her excitedly flushed cheeks. Yes. The lady was quite smitten with him now. Pleased by this train of thought John stuck his chest out and strutted off in the opposite direction to find more young ladies to impress, even if he had initially thought to show his prowess by not getting caught by anyone.

Meanwhile Heather’s dash of following the footsteps she had heard brought her to the tail of another young girl who spared just a quick glance at the countess before hurrying forward in her own hunt. The countess was left to decide in which direction or room she might find more prey.

Davina and Joanna

Damien smiled and responded to Davina’s chatter in kind, not that the lady had a lot of time for talking as the sunroom was close by. Hurrying forward Damien opened the door for the Richard to carry Joanna in and then for Davina before stepping into the small room himself.

Richard gently deposited Joanna on an armchair with some relief and knelt before her. “If you would allow me. Just tell me when it hurts.” Gently pushing Joanna’s skirts a bit higher Richard took hold of her ankle, gently prodding at it while glancing at her face to see whether hse might be grimacing in pain. The lady didn’t seem to be in excruciating pain though so after a few moments Richard stood up again to announce his decision. “I believe you shall be alright, Lady Joanna. You can just rest your ankle for today.” “Oh isn’t that lovely. You will get to dance at the Masked Ball then.” The portly maid announced, overhearing the announcement as she bustled in again with a small tray. She busied herself by pouring and handing everyone a tall glass of lemonade, adjusting the plates with snacks on it and then took her bowing leave once more.

The gentlemen exchanged a look and chuckledas the girls revealed they were after ribbons. It was so cute to see them being all clever about it. “Not to worry, Lady Joanna, I do have a ribbon for the hide and seek game to give you and Damien likewise has one for your Mistress Davina. But in order to redeem them, we want…” “But with what or how shall you ladies redeem the ribbons from us?” Damien cut in with an encouraging smile, before Richard could make another one of his outrageously flirtatious demands.

[Joanna Craven]

Joanna bit back a protest as Richard moved her skirts aside, realising that he was bent on making certain she well. Of course, she gave no indication that anything hurt, though she pursed her lips and wriggled her ankle a bit in his grasp to lend credence to the pretended muscle cramp. She was much relieved when the young man stood up and she could hide her stockings beneath her skirts once more. While she was not a prude, per se, she was not accustomed to being handled in such a personal manner, even if he had been very professional about it.

"Thank you, Mr. Moore," Joanna said, smiling her gratitude. "I confess that I am a very poor rester, but I shall certainly take greater care with my steps in future."

The blind girl thanked the maid as the refreshment was handed to her and took a small sip before feeling for the table and placing the glass safely on its surface. It was a miracle she'd set it down before she heard Richard's insinuation, which might have caused her to drop it!

Blushing furiously, Joanna nonetheless rallied. "You've already swept me off my feet, Mr. Moore," she pointed out, raising a brow. He had been gentlemanly enough about it, to be fair, but he had nonetheless held her close. "Is your ribbon so fine as to warrant further compensation?" Her lips quirked, almost as if she were daring him to demand something more…or attempting to shame him into relenting. It was impossible to tell.

Davina, no doubt, could handle her own gentleman. Joanna was quite curious to see just how far the other woman would go for the precious ribbon…

[Davina Wellsley]

"Indeed, Gentlemen, I must concur." She said as she came to stand beside Joanna and laid a gentle hand upon her left shoulder to indicate her presence. "Yet, we also cannot be without reciprocation ....." Her blue eyes looked back at the two men steadily. "If you will allow for us to have a moment in which to think ..."

She waited a moment before she knelt along side her friend, skirts pooling, to whisper the following words.

"Well, what shall we give them? It cannot be too outlandish after all for my brother would not approve and I would not see you labeled so new-come to Court! Do you dance?" She asked suddenly as an idea formed. "Might we offer a dance ....." Her eyes strayed over to where the two stood - assessing. "They both look well enough and should I think be able to conduct themselves well - after all Mister Moore has already demonstrated his concern for your person Joanna!" She teased a bit. "And will, I believe, see you safe upon a dance floor. Of course, I can be terribly wrong as well ......."

She did not add that these two might just be of the persuasion to see her friend's impediment as a sport and her an easy mark ..... The gaze she directed then narrowed a bit as that thought was digested and so sorry would they both be she swore to herself.

"What about singing?" 'oh really Davina'! she chided herself for her lack of feeling. One needed sight to read musical notes after all ....

[Joanna Craven]

Joanna blushed a bit at Davina's mention of Mr. Moore's "concern". He had been quite forward, it was true! Yet there was nothing about him that scared her; he seemed to be a daring young man, but not a dangerous one. Of course, she'd been wrong before… Still, she was older now and by her estimation he was playful and perhaps a bit impertinent, but that was all.

"Ah, would that I could dance!" Joanna exclaimed softly, looking rather sad for a moment, but by no means was she upset by Davina's question.

"My voice is nothing to boast about, but have you a talent?" she inquired, but then realised she was getting off track, so smiled apologetically and tried to think up something clever. And failed.

"Well, there is no reason we need to offer each the same prize, now is there? I suspect that your Mr. Meville would be appeased by a dance, for that would be a great honour," she said with a warm smile at her lovely new friend. Who would not wish to partner her at the masque?

But what could poor, blind Joanna offer Mr. Moore besides the kiss she suspected he desired? He had already carried her in her arms and poked about her skirts; she was not about to offer her lips as well!

"Do you think it would be improper were I to offer Mr. Moore a kiss on the cheek?" she ventured, thinking that might be a gesture within the spirit of the frivolities, but would show she was nonetheless modest. Yet she honestly was not certain as to whether that would paint her in a poor light, and so she squeezed Davina's hand rather eagerly and bit her lip as she awaited a verdict.

[Davina Wellsley]

"Hmmm ...." She sat back on her heels blue eyes once again assed the two Gentlemen and then replied saying "I should see no harm in that Joanna for he would then have to take it as it was ment - a simple Thank You for coming to your aid." She whispered.

"We should not keep the waiting much longer! And to answer your questions my voice is horrible and I will never be as a Nightingale but my fingers are nimble and have quite the skill with a needle - oft times I will design things upon request ..... Oh!" She exclaimed as the idea struck. "We shall have to discuss this again at a more opportune time for I have had an idea that you might just find you can do!"

With a small clearing of her voice she stood calling out "Gentlemen ..... We have made a decision..." The smile on her lips their clue that twas a favorable one!

[Joanna Craven]

Joanna nodded, glad that she had not accidentally offended Davina with the suggestion. Hopefully the cheeky young man would accept her offer and not try to press for more. While a kiss on the lips was not an abhorrent suggestion, it was not something Joanna meant to grant to just any man. Despite how charming Mr. Moore had proved to be, she knew him not at all. Moreover, she suspected that he was the sort of man who flitted from woman to woman rather than fixated on a specific one.

While the blind girl was quite curious as to what Davina's idea was, she merely nodded vigorously to show her interest, as it was time to face the Lifeguards. Davina seemed to leave it to her to make the announcement, so Joanna swallowed once and then put a smile on her face. Hopefully, she appeared confident, for she was desperately trying for such a look.

"You, Mr. Moore, shall receive a kiss—on the cheek," she added firmly, hopefully showing him she was a modest girl who wasn't to be messed with. "And you, Mr. Meville, have earned a dance from the fashionable lady at my side. Does this seem fair?"