"I'm sure it was lovely," Torie was envious. Men always got the luxury of such expeditions. She wished ladies of her station could be afforded the same. There was nothing to be done about if of course. Perhaps someday if she managed to marry, she would convince her husband to take a nice, long honeymoon abroad.

That melancholic feeling was taking over again, and Torie tried to shove it down with as much fervor as she could, but she was getting less and less successful with it these days. Picking up the pieces and carrying on after thinking her life was set was truly more difficult than she would care to admit. She should save Mr. Echelon-Arnost from the worst of her moods, now that she had acquired her drink. "I must thank you for the conversation, it has been most enlightening. My mother beckons from across the room, I beg your pardon." It was a little white lie, but very believable. Mothers were demanding after all. "Enjoy the rest of your evening." She smiled, doing her best to get it to fill her features, but it wasn't her best.