Ma Cherie, Raine

Raine couldn't believe her Grandma forced her to attend this party with Armand whom she didn't fancy at all. Worst still she was forced dance with him when what she wanted so badly was to run into her lover's arms. She never understood why her mom and Grandma didn't fancy her beloved. She noticed Armand kept asking her questions about her life and family and she answered indifferently. As they continued to dance slow waltz, he began to tell her about the top floor of the old monastery, which had once been a corridor of monks' cells and which the Comtesse was now rebuilding, turning them into guestrooms. It became obvious to Raine that Armand was an enthusiast absorbed in his work, which is why Raine supposed her Grandma liked him. She has always been a patroness of the genuine artist. Raine also became aware, faintly but definitely that Armand had an attractive personality. And his face, pale and sculptured with large serious eyes, very dark and thickly lashed. He had rather rough brown hair, worn shorter than young men of his race and inclined to curl. A Galahad of a man, a romantic, gentle and courteous. One had to like him. But she longed to change places with the girl in yellow who was dancing with Cliff. What a completely different person was Cliff from Armand! So much more worldly, not at all shy. And often gentle (for he had a streak of hardness which fascinated Raine). Her own femininity responded to it. The waltz ended and Armand thanked her while she said with sincerity: "it was awfully nice. You waltz well". And he bowed, pleased with the compliment, happy that he had come to London this evening because in this single hour and for the first time in his life, he had fallen in love.