Champaign, violins and starlight

Louise-Annette von Rothburg was very happy that she could wear her new dress at this little soiree. She arrived with her father at the imposing house of some man who got rich with oil. She was aware that almost every glance was directed towards her and felt really proud. Her dress was a dream of embroidery and pearls in white and a very light blue. She had a charming smile on her lips when they went through the crowd and greeted the host. After that her father went away to get them something to drink. She knew he would take forever to come back, because there was always someone he HAD to talk to..

Another night, another big city full of nobles and rich people, another fancy party, in short another mission and like many other times a mission to kidnap some rich girl. Ryan let out a long sigh as he was standing in one of the darker corners of the giant hall where the party was mainly hold. Continuing to search the crowd with his eyes for his target he eventually spotted her. Actually quite the beauty, even more that the description he got telled him.
Before anyone could interfere Ryan started to walk over to his target and gave her one of his charming smiles as he started talking. "Good evening mylady. Mind to introduce myself?" Giving her a slight bow he continued. "Lord Lukas Stuart, at your service."

She let her glance flowing over the crowd, but there wasn't any farmiliar face in it. She holed out her fan und started to blow air to herself with it. As a tall and handsome gentleman walked over to her, she closed it and smiled back at him. "Good evening Lord Stuart. I am Louise-Annette von Rothburg.", she curtsied shortly. "My pleasure." Normally she was used to get a handkiss, but she forgave him. She strumped with her eyelashed onse and looked into his eyes, a gentle smile on her face. He really was handsome...

Louise-Annette von Rothburg, he repeated to himself as well as smirking. She really was his target and now all that was left for the day was to get her away from the party and steal her away. "What an honor to meet you. I already got to hear quite the things about you. Only positive of course though." Still smiling gently to her he raised his arm to offer her to take it. "Mind to go somewhere more quiet? As far as I know the gardens are very beautiful and not too far away."

She chuckled. "I hope so, mylord." She first looked at his arm and then in the direction her father went. He hasn't been away for a long time so she would have much time to take a walk with him.. But somehow she felt a little uncomfortable. Maybe he was a casanova and just wanted to get her away from the other people to.. She stopped thinking about that. "It would be wonderful, but I'd prefer it to stay inside a little more, I have just arrived and didn't even have a drink or danced.", she smiled, "I hope you are not too disappointed. I'm sure we can take a walk through the gardens later.", she said with high politeness. She was hoping she didn't affront him in any way.

His smile quickly turned into a smirk. Actually would have made him wonder and more than questioning her if it really would have been that easy. To his luck though in fact he knew how to dance and wasn´t the worst at it so he took the chance. "Then we should better change that shall we?" Giving her another small bow he offered her his hand. "May I have this dance mylady von Rothburg?"

She smiled and layed her hand in his. "You may.", she answered and let him guide her through the middle of the crowd, where two rows of people were standing in front of each other for the next menuett. When the music lead to the beginning of the dance, she started to move. She had been given dancing lessons since she was able to stand on her feet, so she was very sure of her steps and moved very elegant and like she was walking on clouds. In all the years she perfectionated every move. She smiled whenever they came closer together. He was a very good dancer, too. Obviously the other ladies were thinking the same, because they all lokked at them a little jealous and lurking for him to be free again. She smiled a little brighter.

He had guided her to the dancfloor and only let go of her when they arrived at the ladies line where he obviously shouldn´t stay standing. Waiting at his right position for the music to start he didn´t turn his eyes away from his target, even when they started dancing and got seperated every now and then he was still focusing on her though less and more intensely.

She didn't know why he was looking at her all the time with this glance... like a cat of prey ready to attack. She wasn't afraid though and looked back into his eyes. Maybe a little insobordinate, but she she couldn't help herself. Everytime they came closer to each other she thought what beautiful and deep eyes he had. She didn't even notice that her partner on the right, with who she danced when they were dancing in a four-people-placement, was the son of Duke of Hanwasal, an old friend of her family. When the dance was over, she droped a curtsy.

He smirked to himself again once the dance was over and bowed to the lady before he approached her. "That indeed was quite some fun and you really are a wonderful dancer mylady. I´m sure all eyes have been on your dancing skills. Now shall we go for another round or may I bring you some refreshing drink?"

"Thank you very much", she tilted her head a little, "I really enjoy dancing. What about one more dance and afterwards you are allowed to bring me as many drinks as you like.", she said with a polite smile and lined up for the next dance.

Smirking back at her he agreed. "Will do just as my lady wishes." Lining up for the next dance he had a moment to secretly scan the crowd. Just as he thought the womans father was busy talking to some other guests and actually just got himself another drink. Surely Ryan would still have quite more time to finish the first step of his mission tonight so why not have a little fun? Since she seemed willing enough to do as he pleases when he was just nice enough to her he couldn´t think of anything what could be against it.

Oh, it seemed like he was able to loose sign of her. She smiled, but she couldn't see what caught his view. She didn't mind anyways.

The next dance was quite a pleasure, too. They really danced very good together, she thought. WHen this dance was over, too, she dropped a curtsy again. "I'm a little thirsty now, mylord.", she said and used her fan again.

"Oh already? What a shame. It surely would have been fun to tease the lords a little longer by dancing with the most beautiful woman at this little party." He teased her as he guided her away from the dancefloor and ordered a drink for each of them which followed quickly after, much to his liking. "I hope it´s to your taste. Otherwise of course I will bring you another one right away."

She laughed. "Maybe you will have the chance again later.", she answered. They got their drinks really fast and she wondered why his father always needs so much time.. except for talking to other people. She nipped at her glass. "Tastes good!", she smiled and looked up to him. Taking a sip again. "So, Lord Stuart... where are you from if I may ask?"

"Oh that surely would give the evening a satisfying end." Taking a sip of his glass as well he smiled to her liking of the drink. "What a relief to hear mylady." Getting asked about his home though made him silent for a short while. What could he tell her? Should he make a completely new story up? Should he adapt one? His true story though of course was out of question. "England. A country quite far away from here. Though I grew up in Germany, to be specific in Bavaria which is more or less part of Germany depending on politics and such, another country with quite the distance from here but it´s not that far away from England."

When he mentioned Germany, her eyes began to glow. "You grew up in Germany?", she swiched to German, "In welchem Fürstentum? Wie Ihr wahrscheinlich wisst, regiert mein Vater über das Fürstentum von Rothburg. Wie mein Name schon sagt.", she chuckled. If he grew up in Germany, he should definitely had heard about her. Or at least her father. So maybe that was the reason why he addressed to her? She looked at him waiting for an answer.

"Das war mir in der Tat bereits bewusst. Nun ja, was mich angeht ich stamme aus dem Kurfürstentum Bayern, wie bereits erwähnt." Coughing a little because his rosted German he continued. "Verzeiht mir bitte mein ... leicht eingerostetes Deutsch wie ihr vielleicht hören könnt ist es bereits eine Weile her seit ich mich dieser Sprache bedient habe." To his luck the part about Germany was at least partly true. Indeed he did have spend some time every now and then and learned the language though indeed he didn´t get the chance speaking it quite that often.

She laughed softly. "Es sei Ihnen verziehen. Wäre es Euch angenehmer, wir würden wieder in Englisch sprechen? Oder wollt Ihr Euch in Deutsch üben?", she asked with a wink and took a few sips. This drink really was tasty. Just like the man in front of her. She was a little shocked about her own thoughts. Maybe it was the drink... She looked into her glass. But it tasted so good. She looked back at Lukas. His glass was almost empty, but he seemed to be completely clear. Maybe there wasn't as much alcohol in it as she though before.

"Ehm ich denke ein wenig Deutsch würde mir gut tun allerdings sollten wir uns dazu vielleicht etwas zurückziehen bevor man noch denkt wir wären dreist genug um diverse Anschläge in unserer, den meisten anderen nicht bekannten Sprache zu bereden." As she was finished with her drink, like Ryan some minutes ago he took both of their glasses to put them away before he returned offering her his arm once again. "Shall we take some fresh air mylady?"

"Wie Ihr wünscht." She laughed. "Das wäre wahrlich nicht von Vorteil!"

"Well, why not", she said with a smile and took his arm. When they left the room, she nodded shortly to her father, who was looking for her.

As they finally got outside the party hall Ryan was quite relieved and happy. Now all that was left to do for today was to kidnap the girl and take her to his waiting ship. How hard could that be? When they have made some steps outside he started talking again, distracting her enough until they were far enough to be completely out sight for the other guests and the guards. "Nun wieso erzählt ihr mir nicht ein wenig über eure Heimat?"

She didn't even recognize that they were going so far, she was just listening to his Voice. The night was warm and clear, so you could see all the stars in the sky.
"Über mich?", she smiled. "Nun... Was wollt Ihr denn wissen? Ich bin in Rothburg aufgewachsen und habe immer dort gelebt. Diese Reise ist das erste Mal, dass ich etwas anderes sehe als den Palast meines Vaters oder anderer wohlhabender Leute aus Rothburg. Oh, und natürlich das Innere einer Kutsche.  ", she said with a bitter smile. Somehow she felt like she could tell him the truth..

He chuckled at her remark while undoing his cloak. "Nunja ich hoffe das dies für euch nicht der einzige Ausflug sein wird." With the cloak now undone he gently placed it on Louise. "Ich hoffe es stört euch nicht aber als Gentleman kann ich es einfach nicht riskieren das ihr euch erkältet." Just as he finished his line though he quickly also put the cloaks cape over her head and before she could even scream she already was on his shoulder as he escaped the place.

"Das hoffe ich auch", she said. "Oh, uhm..dank-eeehhhhh-!!", she was interrupted by him putting the cape over her head. She didn't even realize what was happening as he threw her over his shoulder. "Was zum-?!!", she screamed in the cloth and struggled with her legs. He didn't seem to even recognize her fighting against his grip. "Lass mich sofort runter du mieser kleiner Bastard!!", she went on insulting him, but all one could hear through the cape was a little mumbeling. "HILFEE!!! HEEEEELLLPPPP!!!"