<div style="background-color:black; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><div style="background-color:#BF80FF; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><div style="background-color:black; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><div style="background-color:black; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><span style="color: #BF80FF">Nicolet Darkwood</span> had spent months preparing for this. As it was whenever she went out Nicolet had to keep up appearance. She had to be the perfect actress who’s appearance and grace matched her producer’s and agent’s descriptions. As tiring as the charades were Nicolet enjoyed the spending of coin on a custom gown for the party. Of course when the servants prepared her for the party she was so long in her room that Anthony no doubt grew annoyed and anxious as he so often did when she took forever to be made ready. Of course with the party not until later there was nothing more then makeup that could be done ahead of time. The rest of her makeup would have to be made later. Her hair would also change slightly for the party. And then there would be the dress. It was already packed and ready to go.<br/><br/>To Nicolet the duality of her life, the charming, genuine, actress who was all grace and beauty and pampered queen or the drama was just a face her true self-was the carefree, bitchy, dominatrix who danced in an exotic underground club. The black leather contrast to the pale blue silk gown she wore was as different from night and day. The light makeup and the glossy spun hair toppling down in waves around her beautiful face was a visage of what one would expect of an actress. This of course would be her appearance at the party. For now she wore a simple blood red dress that matched the darker makeup of her mask. Her black feathered mask would look gorgeous with the blue dress and the black and dark red makeup around her eyes would give the birds eyes a red tinge to them. <br/><br/>She didn’t like this side of her much, but appearances had to be kept. Finally ready and set to make her appearance she walked down the stairs to meet her brother who stood ram rod stiff in his fine suit lacking the jacket he would wear later for the party with the mask she had prepared a matching one to her own, but made of white feathers. Oh how easy it was to be male. Not requiring much more then a jacket to complete an outfit from casual meet and greet to party masquerade. Her musing stopped as she reached him and had a good look at him, he looked stunning and every inch the uncomfortable gentleman. She could laugh. How out of place her proper brother looked. How sad it was that there was so much between them that they could not even share their inner most secrets. <br/><br/>“Come brother mine, let us get to the manor it isn't proper after all to leave our host waiting and I am looking forwards to greeting our old friends once more this year. I am certain our ride is outside waiting,” she said sliding her arm through his. She figure his look of anguish was probably because his fiancee wasn’t able to make it. “Don’t worry brother mine, I’m sure Arianna will have a perfectly logical reason for not being able to attend. You can ask her at dinner tomorrow.”</div></div></div><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: white;background:white;"/></div><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: white;background:white;"/></div><br/><div style="background-color:#4080FF; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><div style="background-color:black; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><div style="background-color:black; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><span style="color: #4080FF">Sir Anthony Darkwood</span> wasn’t used to waiting. If anything he hated it. Pacing back and forth in the front hall of the home he shared with his sister and their mother was a large family estate that he’d not figured he’d still be residing in, but after the death of his father this made sense. Him staying here with his unmarried sister and mother. It was his place to watch over the two woman of his home. <br/><br/>Proper.<br/><br/>He couldn’t help but feel awkward and out of place thinking of that word. He knew all too well that Drina Chisholm would be there. He also knew that his affair with Drina would if any found out, ruin his reputation and his family’s credibility in higher society.<br/><br/>This wasn’t the time to be thinking about that though. He had been invited to this party to launch off the hunting season. Something he was GREATLY looking forward to doing. He always did enjoy hunting and it was also the one time that he could spend with his old friends without being out of place amongst them, or feeling strangely like he didn’t belong. Anthony was raised in this world, but he did not belong in it. Liking to read and the quiet passions of writing and poetry he did not fit well with the more partying crowds. <br/><br/>He was however, looking forwards to the party and the chance to see Drina again. So it was that his thoughts wandered to the woman he'd rather be with than the woman he was engaged with. So here he stood waiting and pacing when he heard his sister finally descended down the stairs, he came to a stand still and stood watching her approach him his back stiff and straight. Her words only made him frown deeply at her. <br/><br/>"Nicolet, ever the charmer," he said with a little laugh trying to hide how uncomfortable her words made him. <span style="font-style: italic">Too many secrets hung in the air, </span>he thought before speaking again, "indeed let us go," and without another word he led her out to the waiting car. The servants fallowed with their party clothing and loaded them up in the car as he held the door open for his sister to get inside first. His sister's servants would no doubt come with to see her ready for the party, he on the other hand was far glad to not need such things. He would have much rather a hunt then a party, if only for it being more simple a matter.</div></div></div></div>