<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/7nywiRN.jpg?1)</div>Mara smiles gratefully to Wallen and Valena, demurely standing back and accepting the handshake with a polite inclining of her head, until she's presented with the gift from an unknown admirer.  The blush, then, barely visible under her tan, is sincere and unexpected.  "W-why, I am grateful," she says under her breath, finding her way to a surprised smile as she accepts and unwraps it, then backs away a half-step to unwrap it in their presence, so as not to indicate any secrecy.<br/><br/>"Isn't this lovely?" she asks with innocent fascination, turning the bottle in her hand before reading the accompanying note.  "Well...  I'm very flattered by the compliment.  I can't wait to indulge."  Then, though her smile remains and her blue eyes sparkle, she can only consider the possibilities, as she will undoubtedly have to feign ignorance of the potential of introducing herself to any with influence in the city, and if she overplays her hand she could lose any such opportunity again.<br/><br/>And then again, who, precisely, to invite...?  While she would value any companionship from her fellow performers, and among a few-- why deny it?  It could even be an opportunity for romance.  Or heartbreak.  Or if she considered herself capable-- maybe she'd find one of those cosmopolitan relationships she'd read about in the Blue Books or heard bawdy bards sing of in the late-hour taverns, where lovers don't swear their hearts and only enjoy themselves for a time.  But could she, even?  And would that not be a terrible risk..?<br/><br/>Most importantly, who would not expose her?<br/><br/>"My.  This invitation extends to a guest as well," she says to the room at large.  "I suppose that's either a sign of the messenger's innocent intentions, or of truly<em>bold </em>hopes."  She grins, glancing up, and wonders to herself.  Who wouldn't blurt out that she was no northern reaver of the ice-strewn wastes, but a simple country girl?  Who wouldn't destroy her (ruse) mystique?  Who wouldn't compromise her (scheming) privacy later?<br/><br/>She tucks the card away.  After all... tomorrow is the Temple.  Then there is the visit to Lord Stanley's.<br/><br/>"So.  This poor servant of Lord Stanley Hlath has been waiting this entire time.  I'm with Brigitte, and accept graciously.  He's a Lord, after all."  She then scratches a mark upon the letter for the charity event-- a simple X with two hash-marks per side, staying 'in character'-- indicating that she's willing to commit to the charity event for the Temple of Llira as well.  She then refills her cup and takes a seat against the wall, preserving the gift in its velvet package.  She doesn't openly state that it's the first gift she's been given that wasn't a tool of iron or wood, but one might have guessed as much.