Elletra swallowed as Cerian made her way over in a significantly more restrained manner than her younger sister. Hawkeye quietly tugged Inessa away into a corner with Dieter, and they were alone.

“Lady Fiamma. What a pleasure to meet you,” she said, quietly adding, “again.”

The Countess Cerian Sterai-Poloska carried herself with a poise and grace born of years of practice, her gowned step calm and easy.

“Countess.”

“Please, call me Cerian. My brother chooses his friends carefully.”

Although she couldn’t be sure, Elletra was almost certain her singsong voice was hiding amusement.

“I’m Elletra. You won’t…”

“Of course not. I’ve been trying to get at least one of my brothers engaged for such a long time now, and I had just about given up on Illy.”

She couldn’t help it – she locked eyes with Hawkeye across the room and mouthed Illy?, savoring his strained grin.

“Engaged? No, no, it’s not like -”

“You’ll take care of him, won’t you? He has a habit of getting into difficult situations.”