Cecilia adored a good opera, she truly
did. It was not long ago that she would have considered an invitation to attend the opening night of such an opera as this a great excitement, a wonderful opportunity to socialize with her acquaintances and enjoy a good show.
Such was not the case tonight. Such had not been the case for a very long time.
As well as she did to avoid the upper crust crowd of the wizarding world, there came a point when fate--also known as her parents--would simply not have it. Desperate to return their daughter's and family's names to good standing, Mortimor and Eliza Hooke constantly put the pressure on Cecilia to attend events such as this, to get out there, to subject herself to endless behind-the-back whispering and questions about how
was she doing after all of that
awful brouhaha with the youngest Rookwood man, especially after the untimely death and reveal of that
unfortunately misguided Evan Rosier. They spoke to her face with fake compassion, only to turn around and chatter under their breaths about what a spectacle the Hookes had become, how they might
never return to proper respect, what with their youngest daughter, their last saving grace, now a disgraced social recluse as she was.
While Cecilia was certainly a heavy drinker in ninety percent of situations, high class social events were where she drew the line. That said, the show had not even begun and she found herself already at the bar, already on a third glass of champagne. It wasn't as if it mattered anyway, did it? They would gossip about her no matter what she did--she might as well make it so that she cared a little less.
As the crowd began to filter more quickly into the main theatre area, she found herself hanging back in her spot. Damn the circumstances that had ruined such a night for her. She wondered if anyone would notice if she just slipped away and went home---
Just then, her head perked up, a familiar voice uttering a familiar name from somewhere down her left, and her train of thought was entirely lost.
"Cael Gray?" Her brow rose in surprise. What was he doing at something like this? "What is it with you and I and bars?"
