Ford felt there was a good deal she wasn't saying about the innocuous-looking bouquet on the table, but if she didn't want to share that was her business. They'd always gotten along well enough when they'd interacted at parties, but they were hardly what one could consider familiar; he didn't have any particular rights to know what had her agitated if she didn't want to share.
"She's well," Ford answered, not because he thought it was true but because this was the stock answer that he gave to everyone who asked the question. Lots of people did ask — some out of genuine interest, some because it was marginally more interesting than remarking on the weather. The ones in the latter half didn't require a more in-depth answer, because they didn't really care. Most of the ones who were interested were probably only interested because they'd heard some bit of gossip, or wanted their own gossip to report later — for them he didn't dare reveal anything that might be used against them. He didn't think Mrs. Grimstone fell into either category, so he briefly considered whether he ought to say something else about it — but he didn't know what to say, and didn't want to presume Jemima would feel comfortable with him sharing anything about her life with Mrs. Grimstone only because Ford had always liked her. He didn't know Jemima well enough yet to trust her judgement in character; why should the opposite be true?
After a slight hesitation, he decided to press on, tone now slightly sheepish. "She said her bedroom would be better with flowers." He had never actually courted anyone before, but even when he'd been faking attachment for Miss Chang buying flowers for women had always left him slightly shy; he always suspected he was doing it wrong.
"She's well," Ford answered, not because he thought it was true but because this was the stock answer that he gave to everyone who asked the question. Lots of people did ask — some out of genuine interest, some because it was marginally more interesting than remarking on the weather. The ones in the latter half didn't require a more in-depth answer, because they didn't really care. Most of the ones who were interested were probably only interested because they'd heard some bit of gossip, or wanted their own gossip to report later — for them he didn't dare reveal anything that might be used against them. He didn't think Mrs. Grimstone fell into either category, so he briefly considered whether he ought to say something else about it — but he didn't know what to say, and didn't want to presume Jemima would feel comfortable with him sharing anything about her life with Mrs. Grimstone only because Ford had always liked her. He didn't know Jemima well enough yet to trust her judgement in character; why should the opposite be true?
After a slight hesitation, he decided to press on, tone now slightly sheepish. "She said her bedroom would be better with flowers." He had never actually courted anyone before, but even when he'd been faking attachment for Miss Chang buying flowers for women had always left him slightly shy; he always suspected he was doing it wrong.
Set by Lady!