<div class="floatright"><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Pics</div><div class="spoiler_body">(http://us.123rf.com/450wm/blanarum/blanarum1404/blanarum140400010/27241410-beautiful-ellegant-woman-in-white-long-dress-holding-her-head-up-with-a-very-dignified-and-strong-at.jpg?ver=6)<br/>(http://us.123rf.com/450wm/peter1977/peter19771504/peter1977150400030/43403119-noble-women-portrait.jpg?ver=6)(http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/35500000/Atia-of-the-Julii-atia-of-the-julii-35559415-300-450.jpg)</div></div></div>There was a gentle smile playing on the young noblewoman's face as she gazed at his face after his question, a mock-thoughtful look crossing her face as she brushed a glove-covered right hand against her lower lip, smile tugging at the lips corners though as she gazed at him.<strong>"I believe there are far worse candidates. I may not agree with all traditions, or all commands. I am not about to just refuse this one completely. However, both Marie and I wanted to give you the warning ahead of time because neither of us sees dropping it as surprise would be smart."</strong>The last part was said a touch more wistfully, followed by a faint sigh.<br/><br/><strong>"We get raised by stories of great achievements of sisters, aunts, mothers and grandmothers, but few speak of the darker side of politics. Part of the reason I choose silence or only few words... around strangers."</strong>She looked at him and then over at the dance floor where Christina had already taken up one of the young men to a dance, a young man easily lead and one she should be able to drop easy enough but seemingly good enough to dance with for the moment. Gazing up at him again Jesanie smiled slightly though as she lowered her voice a bit more.<br/><br/><em><strong>"Neither Marie or I think poorly of you. If anything Marie seems quite curious. She is friends with a certain lovely halfling woman after all, and while a lady doesn't kiss and tell, the smug grin and giggle tell quite a lot at times."</strong></em>She smiled teasingly, but then continued in a somewhat more grumpy tone for a moment longer.<em><strong>"Unfortunately while our Matron tries to take care of us the Elders see a great chance to strengthen our house and speak of a lineage 'spark' that only comes once in three to five generations or less, and they seem intent to grasp it. Personally, I think they're being greedy, and cruel, pushing us without asking our opinion. Not any better than the tales about the time before our house Ladies seized control over our own destinies, from <span class="bbc_u">past</span> 'masters'."</strong></em>Her tone seemed a bit wary at that point.<br/><br/>Around that time there was a pause in the music, as the doors at the back were opened, and Tehr and the others were greeted by a sight of three ladies entering the room, all of them dressed in rather costly clothes but in different styles, each holding a certain presence to them however. They werer human at first glance, but seeing Maria and the familiar figure of the Matron following quickly behind them in a respectful manner seemed to make more than a couple of guests curious.<br/><br/><em><strong>"Lovely. Master Tehr, please meet our local elder, Phoebe, who has gathered the others here. The blonde woman behind her is Natalia, one of the few survivors of our former eastern family members from time before the peasant revolt at Novgorod, and lastly, Daria, our 'youngest' elder and a former member of the faith, but she renounced her vows before joining the sisterhood, while still carrying a lot of church's teachings with her. Thankfully she isn't one to preach as much as disapprove quietly."</strong></em>The tone that Jesanie kept seemed cool but respectful with Phoebe, somewhat disdainful with Natalia, and almost hostile with Daria.<br/><br/>The three of them had to pause to chat when approached  by more than a couple of nobles, but Marie slipped away quickly to hurry over, letting out a sigh in relief once she got closer to Tehr and Jesanie, smiling somewhat meekly.<strong>"Good evening to you, and welcome. I apologise for not being around to greet you but situation was what it was."</strong>She seemed more than a little tired, her hair was still up in place and held by a hairpin, her flowing white dress accentuating her narrow waist the cut rising up to her bust flatteringly, but with frilly enough material to give just the appearance of showing more skin than was decent. From a distance at least.<strong>"Thankfully we should all have some time to chat, dance, and talk if we so choose, but the elders seem intent to have a word with yourself before the end of the night."</strong>Marie finished her short 'report', but smiled to the two, even as Christina joined the gathering of people welcoming the elders to the hall, along with Rosalyn who seemed more than eager to beg free from the attentions of a particularly pushy young man who seemed to scowl seeing the maiden elf turn away from his company.