"It’s perfect, Bette," Martin answered.  He checked himself out in the mirror by the door, "What about my tie, is it ok?"

"It’s fine, Martin," Bette responded, then with a smile at Yves.  "You are both looking very handsome in your tuxes."

Yves straightened up imperceptibly as he took the hand Bette offered.  She turned to Martin to ask again, "Are you sure it’s alright I join you in this Hunt Ball?  I don’t have to be a member of a hunting club or anything?"

"No, Bette," he answered patiently.  He helped her with her coat, then opened the door so that they could all step through.  "Sandrine couldn’t come, so I gave them the head’s up that I was taking you as our guest.  You’ll have fun tonight.  I promise."

"Well, as long as I have two handsome escorts," Bette answered, smiling as Yves caught hold of her hand again, "I suppose I’m bound to have fun, right?"

Later that evening, as Bette was slipping her evening shows back on, after she’d changed them out to the dancing shoes that she’d carried in a draw-string purse before she and Martin took a spin on the floor, she heard a familiar voice from somewhere behind her.

"Why Bette Porter-Kennard I was sure it was you mesmerizing everyone out there in the dance floor!" Peggy Peabody exclaimed as she stepped closer to draw Bette into a hug.

"Hello, Peggy," Bette answered, turning around in the direction of Peggy’s voice.  She smiled warmly at Peggy as she stepped into her friend’s embrace.

"And thank you, again, for letting me ride Gold last week," she added, as she stepped back. 

"Nonsense," Peggy answered, as she held Bette’s hand and led her towards her table at the other end of the floor.  Martin had left to talk to other members of his hunting club, while Yves had joined the table of boys from his school, so Bette figured it would be alright to go with Peggy.  As she walked past Martin’s group, she signaled to him that she was moving to the other side of the dance floor with Peggy.  He nodded his head to indicate he understood and smiled before turning back to listen to something his friend was saying. 

Peggy was continuing, "…. and so I decided to participate in the auction.  Besides this Hunt Ball is a charitable event, also, so I thought it would be fun to come."