Simon appreciated respectfully Antoine’s lady. She had made, indeed, a good impression on him. No man in this world could be completely insensitive to beauty, just that the way each one perceived said beauty was different, according to each man’s personality, culture and social understanding. He was surely not as instinctual as others, and the perspective of a doctor was different than a poet’s, an artist’s or a merchant’s who sold womanly trinkets.

Antoine’s stumbling was a moment of concern, but drinks were ordered and everything was fine.

”We are both lucky,” he said, raising his glass quickly to friends in need. ”To friends in need! Life would be too barren without friends.”

When he thought he saw Edenai, he excused himself to check if she was indeed the one. Fortunately Antoine and his lady didn’t mind. He succeeded to catch Edenai and to convince himself that she was the one he had seen. He hadn’t got mad of longing too much for her, to see her traits in any woman passing by.

”I enjoy going to the opera and to a play when I get the time and money for it. It doesn’t happen often, though,” he admitted.

He got lost in those doe-like eyes and in her bright smile. She made him feel that he was indeed the one she had been dreaming of, exactly how he had thought so much about her. That his company mattered. And that my, how sweet it sounded to him… The peony was less important than the delicate hand holding it.

”I liked the show a lot. I agree with you, like watching someone else’s dream.”

She had such a poetic expression! And the foreign accent sounded so sweet on her lips! For a skilled courtesan, there wasn’t much effort in having him ensnared, as his basic preoccupations were more around work and studying. He would have smirked if he could read in her gaze that she was checking if no lady was with him. How could he have afforded two tickets at the premiere? And if he could, Edenai was the only woman he would have thought of inviting. Just that the environment she was in was richer, and he knew this. She had found someone to invite her. And, as she explained him, tonight seemed to be Simon’s lucky night. There was nobody else left by her side, to claim her presence for himself.

”I came alone, but I have met one of my colleagues here during the break, he is with a lady. If you want, I would like to introduce you to him…”

Not expecting any objection, he gently took her arm and brought her to the others:

”Doctor Antoine Moscatti, signora Frascatti, please meet my friend Edenai.”

In his mind was anything else except the common knowledge that generally one would not introduce courtesans to respectable couples. He had made efforts to forget the courtesan part. For him, Edenai was too fascinating to make the difference and remember the courtesy learnt in his youth. Besides, there was a childish streak many men had, and he wasn't immune to: not only Antoine had a beautiful lady by his side... now Simon had one too... Even if just for a little while, after which things would be back to the daily routine.

@Crymson, @Atrice, @TwilaD

“Are you well, Antoine?”

He was mightily embarrassed that he had tripped on air. But he felt alright, just a minuscule confused about his own mind. His thoughts. And where they were stemming from, for they felt not like his own perceptions at all. Was he turning jealous? That Renata might seek companionship from another for more than the coin the intimacy would acquire for her?

“I am most well, but, evidently clumsy when in such public domains, perhaps.”

He offered as a lame excuse, for he was truly not very comfortable around a lot of people. Especially when he had to be social. But that were far from the concern presently. One, were to acknowledge his true sentiments towards Renata, and purely. The other were to root out the foreign sentiments of such an awareness and resolve them before he ruins a good thing

He were happy that they had drinks, something to distract wagging tongues and keep questions from flying. And he savors the liquor as if it were a cool drink in a very dry desert. But it were obvious that Renata were more concerned then she showed. For she kept giving him a queer look of it. And he would smile tightly and just shake his head in humility.

And lo what has Signor Duran caught his own eyes upon? Renata give him leave and smile and Antoine wave a hand to shoo the good Medico off to his own lofty heights of affection. And the woman who win such from Simon were just as stunning in her own right. But Antoine had his prize, his pale beauty.

“Tesoro, are you certain you’re feeling well? Would you rather we leave?”

He sets his empty flute down and take Renata’s so that he can claim her hands. And he lean in and whisper about that loose ringlet near her ear lobe. His warm breathe running along the exposed flesh of her neck. And his jaw when he speaks barely, just lightly, brushes her cheek.

“I think I rather return to your house and relax with you my dear. If it please you to have me. Than sit in the box with others and not let my fingers enjoy your warmth. “

Before he could elicit an answer from his stunning companion Simon had found his way back to the pair and was escorting the stunning dark beauty. Antoine straightened and gave Renata his own arm as proper.

”Doctor Antoine Moscatti, signora Frascatti, please meet my friend Edenai.”

"Well met Signora Edenai and Signor Duran.He motioned to Renata and then himself Signora Frascatti and I am Signor Mascoti. A pleasure lady."

@Atrice Mention for @Elena