They were a little late, much to the obvious displeasure of Wyel Steele who had a tight grip on his young wife’s arm as they entered the room.  He was dressed in the usual opulent garments for a fancy ball, medium blue breeches with matching vest and a silvery shirt with billowing sleeves.  His cloak was just as opulent, dark blue velvet laced with silver brocade, which he untied with a single tug of the tassels and carelessly handed to the attendant with a single hand.<br/><br/>Kethry wore a lavender gown, bejeweled and cut deeply in all the right places.  Her tanned skin was soft with a slight iridescent sheen from the lotion that had been applied and her make up was just enough to enhance the already lovely features of her face.  Her luxurious hair was left down and loose, a bit rebellious against the braidings and coifings so often incorporated into fashion, yet the soft curls were quite pleasing and better suited to her features.  Silver lacings halfway up her slender calves gleamed in the soft light with each step she took.<br/><br/>They waited for the couple in front of them to complete their greeting and offering, Kethry’s eyes drifting first to the pregnant woman and then to the bear of a man.  Wyel leaned down whispered something about wifely duties in her ear and she glared at him though the defiance washed away as he merely raised an eyebrow and stared her down.  She was spared anything further as he stepped forward and presented the new baroness with a shawl unlike any others in the court, so sheer and delicate so it would go with any of her beautiful gowns.  Kethry bent at the knees, inclining her head respectfully with courtly grace and poise.<br/><br/>Wyel didn't seem quite willing to let his wife leave his side but there were boring matters he wished to discuss with some others so with a warning look, he let go of her arm.  For a brief moment, her lips pressed together and she took a deep breath before schooling her features into a pleasant smile.  A small group of women including the Countess were off to the side and once she stepped into their circle, much whispering began and the longer it proceeded the more animated the women became though Kethry paled and looked resigned.<br/><br/>After a while, Kethry excused herself from the Countess' throng and nonchalantly moved through the crowd, a polite word here or a delicate nod there.  Her eyes roamed all the faces and noted those most notables as she picked up a tall fluted glass of champagne.  The tips of her fingers drummed on the hilt of the rapier at her waist, ornate and slender much as its bearer, as she noted the glance from her husband.<br/><br/>So many Elk here, she grumbled purely internally though her gaze drifted to Mithra before skirting off to Cinsel, a fellow Fox who seemed just as happy to be there as she, though she had to admit to herself it was nice to get away from the keep for at least a little while.  And where is that little Serpent?  Going to make a grand spectacle of an entrance no doubt.  There was no evidence of the snideness of her thoughts though, continuing on as the polite social butterfly she knew would be irksome to Wyel.<br/><br/>She did stay away from the men for now though, instead drifting toward Lady Peacock.  Now there was one person she didn't mind mingling with!  Always one with a story that would be sure to entertain, and quite often shock poeple, she inclined her head most respectfully as she approached.  As was only proper, she waited for the elder to finish her current conversation and acknowledge her presence before drawing closer or speaking.