It had not occurred to the man, truly, that Samantha had no real knowledge of the way things had once been, the way Dorian still believed they were, in at least some regards. Her query in regards to marrying someone she had never met seeing his own features frown once more. To be betrothed from birth, especially within royal households, was not unusual. Marriage after all, was a political alliance. Love had very little to do with it and yet from her reaction to such a notion the Fae is left considering that such customs, it seemed, had changed since he had last considered them himself. Perhaps that was for the better and yet without the duty of marriage forced upon the young Dorian wonders truly how it is any monarchy sustains itself nor how any marriages happen at all! It seems to him, in the least, that they simply do not. His shoulders lift in the faintest of shrugs by way of response to her words, despite himself, the man hardly found he disliked speaking to her about the world he had known once.

"Love had little to do with it. If you were lucky you might one day find yourself married to someone you became fond of in time- that is the best that could surely be hoped for. Marriage was not a choice, it was a duty. As such it was my duty to marry whomever my parents selected."

One that was, perhaps, somewhat easier on the man- after all it was the woman whom gave up her family, her estates, her possessions- all such things became the property of her husband. Women maintained appearances and carried children- there was little to it, especially for those of wealthy families whom had no need to toil or carry out housework. Fondness, in a marriage, was considered the best of outcomes. To be able to tolerate ones partner was a blessing most women prayed for, in the least, to be married to a man whom had some kindness towards them- or ignored them. Love....did not exist. If it did it was so truly rare that Dorian had never witnessed it beyond the mothers love for her children. It is his mention of his vampire partner from the evening before that seems to draw a look of surprise from Samantha and yet Dorian had hardly anticipated little else, his admittance of it hesitant all the same and yet some part of him, perhaps, was curious as to the modern way of things. The care with which the offered the words of her answer not unnoticed and yet Dorian merely allows the faintest of chuckles to vibrate within his chest.

"It was more common than most believe in my day though it was heavily frowned upon and thusly of a secretive nature. I.... was afforded some immunity, because of my position, though others were not as fortunate. The punishment for such a thing was to be burnt alive. Is this...still so?"

It is an unusual question perhaps and yet, if as Samantha had suggested, that she too valued the touch of either male or female then he suspects that surely she must know the answer to such a thing. Within his own time much of his activities had been decidedly secret, carried out entirely away from prying eyes and he wonders still if the world had changed as it had in so many other ways. The gentleness with which her own words were offered assuring him her knowledge of his own preferences was surely acceptable. Dancing however, is an entirely different matter and one Dorian remains determined to impress upon the woman if only because social standard dictated it. A woman unable to dance was akin to a bird that could not sing or a hunting dog that would not hunt- it was simply unacceptable in every sense of the word! Dorian, in this, is utterly unwilling to take no for an answer, moving to grasp the woman gently all the same and pull her towards him and atop their makeshift dance floor.

"You will not step upon my toes and even if you do, neither of us are wearing shoes so it shall not matter to terribly much."

Her form seems to relax, at last, the Fae man guiding her more easily now that she allowed herself to be led. A capable partner, after all, could hide the flaws of his partner with ease. The more willing she was to follow, the easier she would find it to fall into the rhythm he set. Her words however, see a return of a simper to his lips. Ah, but all the ways she might flirt!

"There is no talking done during dance, as such, you must say everything with your body alone. Let us imagine for a moment that I desire to court you. I have asked you to dance and you have agreed."

He shifts, quickening their pace if only ever so slightly, guiding her neatly across the floor before softly, gently, allowing his hand to move slightly higher and towards the small of her back, easing her just that bit closer to him until she brushes against him with every other move.

"I can invite you closer, just like that, in which instance you might dance a little slower, a little more intimately- like so."

He simply slows his pace, each movement closer, softer than it had been before until he can feel the heat of her against him.

"Eye contact too, is important, your eyes should be on your partner- if you are interested in him- and nowhere else. Much can be said with eyes."

His gaze lifts easily until those slate-hued eyes rest firmly upon her own, a soft smile resting upon his lips all the same as he continues to move about the room.

"Then, you might lace your fingers through my own, allow them brush against the back of my hand, perhaps run your other hand along my shoulder. It is about offering touch, just enough to tease, to suggest more without offering it."

The words are soft now as he steps ever so slightly back, spinning her gently as the music comes to an end, her hand returning to his own as he draws her smoothly against him once more, Samantha's feminine figure near flush against his own now as he stops- head dipping smoothly to brush his lips to her cheek in a chaste yet tender gesture.

"Then we part. Do you realise, Samantha, you completed three laps of the room then? Dancing is natural, if only you allow it to be."

Dorian Aragona