A man dressed in green and gray silks, his mask painted to match, offered her his hand. Mabil blushed beneath her mask, not quiet knowing what to do. Yes, she had daydreamed about it, but surely he was jesting. She was not any Lady Johanna. But she had to keep to pretenses and accept. If she declined it would be suspicious and she might have to exit and no longer be able to tend to His Highness. And his wrath was something she did not wish to evoke. It was only one dance. Surely she'd be safe after only one dance.

Hesitantly she took his hand, curtsying deeply gracefully. His voice sounded so familiar and she sent up a silent prayer that she would not be dancing with a dangerously powerful man. Mabil was no innocent. This dance was something akin to a dance that required closeness between partners. She did not speak, knowing her hint of an accent might give her away. She'd play the role of Baron's daughter like she had been taught. Be kind and gracious, but distant and refine. If she was not memorable, he would lose interest. Maybe. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her hand from trembling.

What if he found out she was merely a servant, in disguised service for the King? Of course he'd be repulsed and angered, but she sincerely hoped he'd take it out on her and not His Highness. If any problems were to arise because of her... Well, she'd probably lose more than her dignity. This dance was dangerous, but she steeled herself, resorting herself to an old technique many women commonly used when playing dangerous games. Mabil became calm and almost dignified, gliding next to her new dance partner as if she floated on the air. Gracefully she curtsied to her mysterious dance partner, keeping herself a mystery. She spoke with her eyes instead, her dark lashes lowering when she curtsied at the beginning of her dance, but gently meeting his eyes when they took the beginning position of the dance. Mabil displayed herself as humble yet gracious, serene yet refined. Hopefully he get his kicks after dancing with the plainest lady in the room and move on to someone more suited to his breeding and stature. Whomever he might be.