Alright, that was a fair little prod at him, given that he was hiding in the tunnel — even more than she was. August shrugged his shoulders. "Alright, Miss, you've caught me," he said, "I cannot claim to be entirely selfless, and therefor do spend some time thinking about my own plight." At least he had a well-documented excuse to avoid dancing — she likely had a dance card, and a guardian who would want to know who was on it. August had a nosy mother he didn't live with, and a good fortune that was nearly outweighed by his cane. They were not the same.
"I hope that you won't hold it too much against me," he added. It was early in the season for August to tell the newer debutantes that he was a shut-in.
"I hope that you won't hold it too much against me," he added. It was early in the season for August to tell the newer debutantes that he was a shut-in.