She was dressed as Morticia Adams. Not a tall and regal Morticia, but a delightful one nevertheless. Like her character, her smiles were slight, almost sardonic; but the twinkle in her eyes hinted that there was a hidden mirth to her.
I saw that her glass was almost empty. From a passing waiter, I took another fruit punch, and made my way to her, presenting the glass while I bowed slightly.
"Milady."
She favored me with her slight smile, and accepted the glass, while handling the other one back to me. We exchanged glasses, and I managed to take her hand and lightly kissing her fingers, before leaving to search for some place where I could put the empty glass.
A slightly harried waiter accepted it, and I wanted to hurry back to engage in conversation, but I was pleased to notice that she was nearby. I smiled at her, and she said:
"Let me guess... Don Quixote?"
I bowed again, with a slight flourish. "The Knight of the Woeful Countenance, at your service, milady."
She laughed at that, and now I could see that the mirth was indeed there.
"Well, Sir Knight, why don't we repair to the balcony? It's a bit stuffy in here."
"Gladly, milady."
The big room was indeed stuffy, and packed. I was just an associate, high enough in the faculty pecking order to warrant an invitation to the party, but low enough that I had no further commitments, once I had greeted the host and my department head. I gladly escorted her to one of the balconies, where a few other revelers were getting some fresh air.
Soon, we were chatting as if we were old friends. I told her about moving there, and my enthusiasm for my new projects. She talked very little about herself, and I didn't press. At some point, she even asked me about that.
"I noticed that you haven't asked many questions about me."
"That's right."
"And why is that?"
"I don't do that. I'm keenly aware that women are often at risk in our society, when giving out personal information to strangers."
"Thank you. I appreciate that." She turned to face the garden below, and gazed upward, at a full Moon in a clear sky. I had thought that the full Moon had been a few days early, but her voice did not allow me to linger on that puzzle. She kept staring at the Moon while she talked to me, allowing me to study her delicate profile.
"You are quite fetching, and it is clear that you are interested in me. I'm sorry, but I'm not available."
"I don't care, milady. You rescued me from a dreary fate, and I'm glad to just be your escort for the night, or while you will have me."