It's a fine piece of clothing. It will very easily be one of the finest things in his limited wardrobe, though Ellis' instinct is to make sure it's set aside for the times when some disaster of necessity forces him along on a diplomatic mission.

"That's very gallant of you," Ellis tells her. "And solves the question of what I should be wearing to that party, so you've done me a favor."

Because Ellis is still laboring under the illusion that they'll do a few dances together and he'll spend the rest of the evening on the sidelines. He has some passing sense that the matching is part and parcel of being someone's dance partner, even if the most elaborate gatherings he's attended haven't required it of him.

"Should I continue?" he asks, looking sideways at her.