Masquerade [Kuskovo Estate]

[Colette Moreau]

Colette's laughter was light, bubbling up like champagne as Adrian approached, her eyes sparkling with mischief beneath the soft light of the lobby bar.  "Adrian, you've uncovered my little riddle with such diligence,” she teased, her voice a melody that danced around him, pulling him closer without a touch. She slid from her perch, the fluid movement of her dress a testament to her grace. Standing now, she took his offered arm, her grip light but confident.  "Stunning, you say? Well, you've not seen anything yet. Wait until we step into the ball; Moscow won't know what hit it.” She wrapped her mask around her face, tying it behind her hair with a ribbon, and they left.

The ride in Adrian's town car was filled with the soft hum of the city outside and the quieter, yet infinitely more captivating, cadence of their conversation. Colette’s flirtation wove compliments and playful teases with the skill of someone who understood the game but chose to play by her own rules. She laughed at Adrian's observations, her hand occasionally brushing against his leg as if by accident, her interest clear yet wrapped in the politeness of someone well-versed in the language of high society.

"Tell me, Adrian,” Colette mused as they neared their destination, her gaze catching his in the dim light,  "what are you most looking forward to tonight?"

Before he could answer, the car slowed, signaling their arrival. The grandeur of the Kuskovo Estate was immediately apparent, a spectacle of lights, music, and an array of guests dressed in their finest.

Helped out of the car, Colette's transformation was instantaneous. The playful, flirty companion of the ride over was now a vision of elegance and poise, her demeanor shifting as she took in the scene before her. It was as if she had returned to her natural habitat, the grandeur and opulence of the event no match for her innate grace. Her arm remained looped through Adrian's, but now it was not just an arm she offered but a statement of her belonging.

Colette posed for pictures on the grand stairs. Her hair was swept up elegantly and diamonds swung from her ears. Her gown was as tasteful as it was beautiful, but it was her smile that lit up the room.

"Adrian,” she whispered as they made their way through the throngs of guests, leaning in as if to share a secret, her eyes alight with excitement,  “is that who I think it is?”