10-17-2021, 09:53 AM
Of course Arthur was there with his wife Elaine and two of his daughters, Florence and Isobel, two blonde, slender young ladies of eighteen and seventeen who looked alternately proud and daunted. He had left Alexandra at home. He had given his eldest daughter up as a hopeless case. His new objective was to keep her out of sight, so that she wouldn't attract gossip and ruin her younger sisters' prospects as well. At least Florence and Isobel were sensible. They had spent the full day preparing themselves, helped by their maids and mother-in-law. Even though this was nothing more than a country dance compared to court (Florence had been presented last year, and this would be Isobel's season), there were a few eligible bachelors in the neighbourhood and they knew what they had to do, unlike his eldest. Arthur was looking into colleges on the continent.
He looked around. Some people of interest. Sir Quentin North among them. But he was accompanied by a young woman. Arthur should have acted quicker and have found a way to be introduced to the gentleman, so that he could have introduced Florence. Then there was that Scottish Earl, Lord Gordon. He was always surrounded by parents and young ladies alike. But he hadn't shown interest in any of them yet, and his Florence was both more beautiful and more refined than the lot of them. It was an opportunity that could not be missed. Not to mention he could use the lord's support or patronage of his new project. He had to make sure to be introduced to the Earl tonight.
Arthur looked around for people he knew who could form an opening in the ranks. He turned to Elaine. "I have to go talk to some people. Take the girls for a walk around the room." Elaine was a fair and delicate creature. Not yet twenty-five, she was closer in age to her stepdaughters than to her husband, yet she turned to the girls authoritatively, and hooking arms with each, she said: "Come on, girls," and led them away to parade them front of potential suitors. Arthur, meanwhile, went to talk to some friends to slowly work his way up to the Earl.
He looked around. Some people of interest. Sir Quentin North among them. But he was accompanied by a young woman. Arthur should have acted quicker and have found a way to be introduced to the gentleman, so that he could have introduced Florence. Then there was that Scottish Earl, Lord Gordon. He was always surrounded by parents and young ladies alike. But he hadn't shown interest in any of them yet, and his Florence was both more beautiful and more refined than the lot of them. It was an opportunity that could not be missed. Not to mention he could use the lord's support or patronage of his new project. He had to make sure to be introduced to the Earl tonight.
Arthur looked around for people he knew who could form an opening in the ranks. He turned to Elaine. "I have to go talk to some people. Take the girls for a walk around the room." Elaine was a fair and delicate creature. Not yet twenty-five, she was closer in age to her stepdaughters than to her husband, yet she turned to the girls authoritatively, and hooking arms with each, she said: "Come on, girls," and led them away to parade them front of potential suitors. Arthur, meanwhile, went to talk to some friends to slowly work his way up to the Earl.
