Iolani stood there, hand bracing herself up on the table, she certainly hadn't had too much to drink. She was the kind of person that could absorb alcohol like a fish, drinking most of the other soldiers under the table. But it felt as if a lead weight had been placed on her chest as the Colonel had given his heart to Aubrianna. The Colonel deserved the better life of retirement. Her eyes refocused and looked about the castle, the huge ballroom had been decorated to the letter. He deserved to have all of it, the castle, the horses, the time, and Aubrianna. She turned then letting go of the table's edge; placing the half empty glass on the table she joined in the clapping of the other guests to celebrate the announcement.
Shafer downed an entire glass of wine in on gulp as he watched Aubrianna run out of the room. He stared hard after her for a while after she'd disappeared from sight. His face turned beat red and his chest began to rise and fall quicker as he angered.
The violins started at a queue given from Howard, with a grin he looked back to his new weapon, Shafer was going to play right into his court and he didn't even realize it. Shafer's lieutenant on the other hand...she was going to be a problem. This dance was supposed to have been shared by the new couple, but given the circumstances. Howard doubted Shafer could pull his new bride to be out of her room.
Iolani didn't even see the anger in his face, she simply thought the joy of the announcement had turned him into an embarrassed gentleman. She turned away as the music started she didn't want to see the happy couples spinning around the floor as they waltzed.
Shafer approached Iolani from behind; he studied her for a moment before he brought his fist to his mouth. He gently cleared his throat, wanting to get her attention, not startle her out of her wits. "Excuse me my lady," he said ever so soothingly.
The muscles in her shoulders tightened slightly upon hearing the voice. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes tight for a second before turning and looking up at the Colonel. She was expecting orders and came to attention, lifting her chin and clasping her hands behind her back. She had smoothed her expression to a mere unreadable one. "Aye m'lord Colonel?" The light hit her just right, lighting up the gems at her neck, creating an almost halo effect
As she turned he was speechless. Looking down upon her he forgot his anger entirely over Aubrianna, almost as if he were in another time. He inhaled deeply, taking in her full beauty. Then a smile came, and it turned into a huge beaming grin. He placed one arm around his back and the other around his waist and gave her a deep bow. Still bowed he raised his eyes to hers, "Would you honor me with a dance?"
Iolani started...those weren't orders coming from him...and that smile. One hand had come up to her chest in surprise gulping in a breath of air. "Chadwick..I," good knight how long had it been since she had called him by name? Ten years? She didn't have time to reflect and certainly didn't have time to retreat. "I," her expressionless face warmed into a smile, bringing a sparkle to her eyes as she lowered her chin to meet his gaze. "I would love to dance with ye."
Shafer downed an entire glass of wine in on gulp as he watched Aubrianna run out of the room. He stared hard after her for a while after she'd disappeared from sight. His face turned beat red and his chest began to rise and fall quicker as he angered.
The violins started at a queue given from Howard, with a grin he looked back to his new weapon, Shafer was going to play right into his court and he didn't even realize it. Shafer's lieutenant on the other hand...she was going to be a problem. This dance was supposed to have been shared by the new couple, but given the circumstances. Howard doubted Shafer could pull his new bride to be out of her room.
Iolani didn't even see the anger in his face, she simply thought the joy of the announcement had turned him into an embarrassed gentleman. She turned away as the music started she didn't want to see the happy couples spinning around the floor as they waltzed.
Shafer approached Iolani from behind; he studied her for a moment before he brought his fist to his mouth. He gently cleared his throat, wanting to get her attention, not startle her out of her wits. "Excuse me my lady," he said ever so soothingly.
The muscles in her shoulders tightened slightly upon hearing the voice. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes tight for a second before turning and looking up at the Colonel. She was expecting orders and came to attention, lifting her chin and clasping her hands behind her back. She had smoothed her expression to a mere unreadable one. "Aye m'lord Colonel?" The light hit her just right, lighting up the gems at her neck, creating an almost halo effect
As she turned he was speechless. Looking down upon her he forgot his anger entirely over Aubrianna, almost as if he were in another time. He inhaled deeply, taking in her full beauty. Then a smile came, and it turned into a huge beaming grin. He placed one arm around his back and the other around his waist and gave her a deep bow. Still bowed he raised his eyes to hers, "Would you honor me with a dance?"
Iolani started...those weren't orders coming from him...and that smile. One hand had come up to her chest in surprise gulping in a breath of air. "Chadwick..I," good knight how long had it been since she had called him by name? Ten years? She didn't have time to reflect and certainly didn't have time to retreat. "I," her expressionless face warmed into a smile, bringing a sparkle to her eyes as she lowered her chin to meet his gaze. "I would love to dance with ye."