Arthur made a mental note to make sure his daughters stayed out of the servants quarters. That chef ought to have lost his job, getting familiar with the daughter of his employer behind her parents' backs and encouraging passions without her parents' discernment and approval. It sounded horrifying to him as a parent. The thought that someone would encourage some of Alex's crazy ideas behind his back... oh, he would have destroyed that man's career.

But the baron showed none of these bitter thoughts, but rather smiled placidly like the experienced politician he was "That is quite an impressive journey indeed." He didn't care if it was someone else's daughter. "Unusual for a young lady, but I suppose it's part of progress." Progress could go to the deuce.

He sipped his drink and watched her quietly. For all her unwomanly ambitions, she was an attractive young thing, and Arthur did enjoy talking to her. "It must have been hard as only lady among all those gentlemen."