Thus far his plan to avoid attracting too much notice was going well. Despite being the highest-ranked member of the nobility present he was not being inundated with aristocrats looking to earn his good grace. It was a welcome change that he thought might have as much to do with deliberately arriving early as it did with arriving with a young woman already on his arm. Frankly, if all his balls going forward could be like this he wouldn't complain in the slightest.

"Well, once the dancing commences we most certainly can do so my dear."

The big man responded to Claire with a warm smile as she settled down next to him at the table. They were quickly graced with refreshments, wine and appetizers to help pass the time while the dancing troop prepared and the rest of the guests file in. Quentin accepted a glass of white and some canapes both of which were placed on the table and ignored for the moment since he'd just done so to not be rude to the server.

"I must say, Claire, you are looking absolutely radiant in that dress."

Quentin added, there was something a bit different about her today but he couldn't pin it down. A glow about her features, perhaps due to the way her dress complimented her complexion or mayhap it was just the excitement at being at a formal ball with her betrothed?