No one looks at Martel and thinks there's a man who will accept an invitation to afternoon tea.
--granted, he well might do, but it is a fair assessment to say that there's little about the way he comports himself to suggest as much. So if he is surprised to receive an invitation (not substantially, though neither had he expected one), he is certainly not startled to find it does not fall during the civilized hour of tea service. If it's possible to get to know either of them (debatable), it's unlikely that that's going to happen over china cups.
While he considers declining - he knows something dangerous when he sees it, and he has no desire to be so closely examined by someone who looks capable of picking him apart - he does not. It'll draw more attention he doesn't wish to decline her invitation than it will to accept it, even if the latter feels like the more immediate threat; if he's careful and sensible, an acquaintance with Madame de Fer could stand him in good stead, and there's no analysis of his spurning her overture while courting LeBlanc's friendship that ends well. He'd sought her out in the first place for his proposal, he can't afford to be fickle just because seeking her attention got it.
"My lady," he greets her, mildly, when he arrives, very slightly damp and smelling faintly of the Orlesian soap that he'd promised Adelaide he'd move the earth for her if she shared. (Her duelist training with him had finished shortly before this - he'd no desire to present himself to anyone, least of all Vivienne, still rumpled and smelling of sweat.)
drinks.
--granted, he well might do, but it is a fair assessment to say that there's little about the way he comports himself to suggest as much. So if he is surprised to receive an invitation (not substantially, though neither had he expected one), he is certainly not startled to find it does not fall during the civilized hour of tea service. If it's possible to get to know either of them (debatable), it's unlikely that that's going to happen over china cups.
While he considers declining - he knows something dangerous when he sees it, and he has no desire to be so closely examined by someone who looks capable of picking him apart - he does not. It'll draw more attention he doesn't wish to decline her invitation than it will to accept it, even if the latter feels like the more immediate threat; if he's careful and sensible, an acquaintance with Madame de Fer could stand him in good stead, and there's no analysis of his spurning her overture while courting LeBlanc's friendship that ends well. He'd sought her out in the first place for his proposal, he can't afford to be fickle just because seeking her attention got it.
"My lady," he greets her, mildly, when he arrives, very slightly damp and smelling faintly of the Orlesian soap that he'd promised Adelaide he'd move the earth for her if she shared. (Her duelist training with him had finished shortly before this - he'd no desire to present himself to anyone, least of all Vivienne, still rumpled and smelling of sweat.)