August didn't spend a great deal of time around debutantes; or, the debutantes he'd spent time around were usually related to him, and Echelons tended to be a little feistier than other unmarried women. This is to say that August thought Hannah, even as a debutante, would have probably gotten herself off the stairs by now, and he debated idly whether or not this young lady was being a tad dramatic.

"Oh," August said, "Yes." He turned around and stared down the hallway, feeling fairly awkward.

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