Ohhh, bittersweet chapter! I really felt pulled in with your descriptions of the ball. I love that Lois essentially dismissed Alexander, not only by refusing his dress by also by refusing to apologize for refusing his dress! I had been assuming that she would be somehow encouraged to marry him, but I'm less certain now ... she's not indifferent to him; she truly dislikes him, and that's great!
But Clarkent's disappointment at the end of the evening was palatable ... I could feel him crashing back to earth after his dance. He shouldn't have thrown the necklace away, but I'm glad that Loisette saw him drop it and that she picked it up.
So she's seen the Black Knight with only his eyes (and mouth?) visible, and now she's seen her mysterious dance partner the same way ... will she put them both together with her favorite stableboy when she sees him tonight? Perhaps if he favors his injured side again in front of her? Hoping, hoping, hoping!
Kathy
