"I don't think anyone is ever truly comfortable in these situations. I have simply adapted through the years." She smiled at him. "A man navigates through a battlefield while a woman navigates through a ball. We each wear our armor and wage a war, mine just happens to be prettier and subtle."

Her eyes scanned over the crowd, her face registering a measure of disinterest and bemusement.

"At least here I have less fear of the daggers in the dark."