Madeline followed along. She noted that Duncan was walking rather slow. Was he delaying the inevitable? She wondered that much. Anyway, she looked at him when he spoke to her. The lady in waiting heard his apology. She nodded once at that. Then, she heard his promise to make it up to her later, when her Majesty, and her closest friend, did not need her anymore for the evening. She nodded once to that as well. The young woman noted the hopeful look that Duncan seemed to have in his eyes. She took a breath and finally spoke. 
"..very well."
She managed not to blush, frown, or anything like that. Instead, she faintly smiled at him again. She fought the urge to hold his hand as they walked. 

......

Annabelle was waiting for more suitors to arrive. However, she was starting to doubt if any others would show up. She sighed a bit. She frowned and moved a loose strand of hair out from in front of her face. She looked lonely at this point. She didn't regret her decision to dismiss Madeline for a while though. She knew Madeline, her lady in waiting and closest friend, would need a little time from her current duties and such. Annabelle was soon lost in her own thoughts.