“Allow me all to introduce you to my dearest friend, Miss Flora Sedley. She is visiting us after the London Season.”
“Ah yes,” Mrs Rhee said. “The Season.” Her eyes sparkled as they turned to Flora. “Were you successful?”
The flush on Flora’s cheeks deepened. She had just met this woman, and she did not expect that she would ask such a question.
“I was successful in enjoying myself,” Flora said. “I was able to engage in a variety of activities that I believe helped to make me a more well-rounded individual.”
Mrs Rhee sniffed slightly, and Flora suspected that the other woman took her words for what they were—an admittance of failure.
Thankfully, Abigail rushed in to save Flora from any further humiliation, “Shall we all take our seats?”
There was a shuffle as they all took their seats.
“How are you enjoying Kent?” Mr Rhee asked. Flora already suspected that he had a kinder demeanour than his wife. His face was round and large, and his cheeks were ruddy from the spirits he had already imbibed. Flora decided that she liked him. There was something open about his face.
“I just arrived this afternoon,” Flora said. “Though so far, I am enjoying my time here.”
“I am surprised,” he said.
“Oh?”
He chuckled and looked over at his wife. Now that Flora was sitting, she could examine their new guests. Mr Rhee was large, round, and looked as though he appreciated a jolly time. Mrs Rhee was the opposite. She was icily gorgeous. Her bright blonde hair was expertly coifed, and she wore a diamond necklace on her neck, which Flora felt was a little much for dinner.
She also seemed to be at least ten years younger than her husband.
“I thought all young ladies wanted to be in the city,” Mr Rhee said.
“That is not true,” Abigail interjected. “I have not been to London in the last year, and I have made no complaint over the fact.”
Anthony made a small snort, which drew his wife’s attention. “The first thing that you did was pull Flora aside for the gossip of this last Season,” he teased. “You missed London, but I will say you were a good sport about the entire thing.”
Flora bit her lip as she brought her glass to her lips. Anthony had not been able to leave the estate for the Season, and Abigail decided to stay with him. Flora did not see the issue with it. There was no reason for them to go to London.
They were both married, and they did not yet have children for the marriage market. But Abigail had been sour about the entire thing. Flora suspected that she had been looking forward to engaging in the social scene as a married woman.
“Normally, I do not mind the countryside,” Abigail said congenially. “But when everyone leaves, it becomes quite boring.”
“Quite,” Mrs Rhee agreed. “Plus, the modiste on Mayflower always has the best fabrics. I was sad that we were unable to make a visit to her this Season. I was hoping to have a few more dresses made.”
Flora did not say much. The London Season went well enough, but she had hoped that this dinner would be about something more than the Season. After all, she had just lived through it.
“Flora enjoys the country,” Abigail interceded. “Why, when we were children, she was always with the horses.”
Flora looked down at the bowl that had been placed in front of her.
“Do you ride?” Lionel spoke for the first time, and Flora swore that every single person at the table turned to look at him.
“Mr Vanden has a great many horses,” Anthony chimed into the conversation. Flora noticed that he allowed Abigail to take the reins of the conversation and hosting, but he spoke up when he had something to say.
“Is that so?” Flora asked. She could not stop herself from being completely enthralled by the man sitting next to her. Maybe it was his silence, but she found Lionel to be the most interesting person at the table.
There was something enigmatic about him, and she could not stop herself from wanting to uncover the parts that he was hiding.
The thought made her squirm in her seat. She did not understand why she desired such a thing. She did not even know this man.
“I have several horses,” Lionel told her.
“More than several. I think you have enough to outfit a small militia.”