"He is a sweet boy," Ismail smiled as he watched Christopher Langdon laugh by his father's side.

"He is a very lucky boy." Patrick pointed out. The boy who had come of age only months ago had come perilously close to being killed by a slayer. If it hadn't been for Angelica, he would be dead, and neither the boy nor his father seemed to have forgotten the fact. Both of them sang the praises of the Blessed one.

"Yes." His friend nodded, then looked about, "Where is the lady you came with. What was her name?"

Patrick looked sheepish for a moment, then nodded towards the group of giggling women a little to their left.

"Lady Sharon Winslet," he said. Patrick hadn't planned on accompanying anyone to this ball, in truth he had not planned to attend at all. When it became apparent that Angelica would not take no for an answer, he had decided more out of habit than desire, not to come alone. So it came to be that he was here with Lady Winslet, who had been sending him not so subtle messages for weeks. 

While the popular beauty was obviously interested in Patrick, he could not dredge up an ounce of attraction. He had picked her instead, because of her extreme cattiness. Lady Winslet was the type who liked to dig her nails and bare her teeth at women who she perceived as a threat. And it just so happened that Patrick would much rather put up with her predatory smile than deal with the hordes of marriage minded mamas and their debutant daughters.  

Catching sight of her, Ismail raised a golden brow, "Whatever happened to your Lady Violin?"

Patrick tensed at the mention of Violet. He had thought of her often over the last few days and had vowed not to seek her out. That woman was trouble. Big much trouble. His thoughts about her made no sense... he found himself thinking about the night they spent together, over and over, as if it had been something other than a simple night of pleasure. The intensity with which he wanted her was too strong. It was better to stay away.

"She is not my Lady Violin."

"Oh?" The Ottoman grinned as his eyes followed a dancing couple, "Well that is good then."

"What do you mean?" Patrick asked catching Lady Winslet's gaze. The woman actually licked her lips!

"Well, it would be a little awkward for her to be dancing with that chap if she were your woman. Especially since he looks very pleased to be holding her."

"Dancing with who?" Patrick stiffened as he turned to watch the dancers. His eyes found her immediately. Black hair strung artfully over her left shoulder, she twirled in a lilac silk dress that clung to her breasts and outlined her tiny waist. A waist that was being grasped by a large gloved hand...

"Highlander," there was warning in Ismail's voice, enough to prevent Patrick from taking a second step forward.

"This is Angelica's doing," Patrick growled. He was angry. It was one thing to stay away from Violet, but another to have someone bring her here, into his presence, where he had to watch her be mauled by some lout who... "I'm going to kill him."

"Since she is not your Lady, I hardly see what the poor man has done to deserve death." Ismail's dry tone had Patrick straightening his evening coat.

"He is trespassing."

"Oh?"

"Yes. I never said I didn't want her, Turk. I just said that she wasn't mine."

Ismail's face broke out in a grin, "Well then, that explains things."

Patrick frowned, "Explains what?"

"Why you have been a pain in the ass these past days for one," Ismail shrugged the after a quick look behind him, he smiled. "The night is about to get complicated for you Highlander. I'll come by later." With that, the Ottoman left, narrowly avoiding the coy Lady Winslet who appeared at Patrick's side. 

"There you are my Lord, I was just hopelessly distressed without you."

"Oh?" Patrick looked at the beautiful brunette with barely concealed impatience. Suddenly bringing her with him seemed like the worst idea he had ever had.

"Yes well all those ninnies can talk about is, that oh, what is her name? Lady Vial or something and how heroic she is and talented and on and whatnot. It is all so silly. A woman who is not afraid of a lion? It is not in the least ladylike."

Lady Winslet seemed to be waiting for some confirmation of her opinion. When Patrick did not indulge her she whined, "Oh but my lord, you have not danced a single dance with me this evening. It is unseemly, truly, for ones escort to leave one so alone."

Taking to the dance floor didn't seem like such a bad idea. After all, it would give him an opportunity to see Violet's dance partner up close and  Patrick would have to be able to identify the man if he was going to bash his face later.

"How remiss of me, would you care to dance Lady Winslet?"

"With pleasure, my lord." The lady put her hand in his while turning to flutter her eyelashes at the women that had been watching him all night.