He did not seem particularly enthused about primroses in general, which might have been a mark in his favor since it was a sentiment Henrietta quite agreed with. In the context of the conversation, though, she couldn't help but be a little annoyed. He knew that this was her debut, since she'd just told him, and he could have guessed from the abundance of primroses that she liked them. It was the only logical assumption, for all that it was incorrect. He could have mustered up just a slight hint of appreciation for the flowers, even if it was insincere — it was what was expected of guests at a party like this. This was just another sign of how superior he wanted to appear, she supposed.
"Perhaps what a casual observer mistakes for naivety is only a disguise for something more interesting," she replied archly. Between the disdain for the decor and his comment about failed debutantes, her ability to muster up a pleasant tone was wearing thin. On a whim, she continued without putting much thought into the words, "And perhaps gentlemen who fail to recognize it are in danger of their sleeves catching fire."
Hopefully whoever had caught fire wasn't a very influential fellow, or a particularly eligible one, or else Henrietta might be ruining her prospects by making such a cavalier remark where anyone might overhear her. Regardless, she was sure she would hear about it from her mother later — her mother seemed to hear everything.
"But you can make any interpretation you like," she continued after a slight pause. "I believe I am in need of another glass of champagne." This was offered as a way to begin her exit from this conversation, though her tone was perhaps too neutral to make that intention clear. She had made at least enough of an impression that he was unlikely to forget whose ball he was at for the rest of the evening, she thought, and thinking of how her mother would react to these comments had put her off the idea of making very many more of them.
"Perhaps what a casual observer mistakes for naivety is only a disguise for something more interesting," she replied archly. Between the disdain for the decor and his comment about failed debutantes, her ability to muster up a pleasant tone was wearing thin. On a whim, she continued without putting much thought into the words, "And perhaps gentlemen who fail to recognize it are in danger of their sleeves catching fire."
Hopefully whoever had caught fire wasn't a very influential fellow, or a particularly eligible one, or else Henrietta might be ruining her prospects by making such a cavalier remark where anyone might overhear her. Regardless, she was sure she would hear about it from her mother later — her mother seemed to hear everything.
"But you can make any interpretation you like," she continued after a slight pause. "I believe I am in need of another glass of champagne." This was offered as a way to begin her exit from this conversation, though her tone was perhaps too neutral to make that intention clear. She had made at least enough of an impression that he was unlikely to forget whose ball he was at for the rest of the evening, she thought, and thinking of how her mother would react to these comments had put her off the idea of making very many more of them.
