"Thank you," Mr. Ashworth replied coolly, showing no inclination for small talk.
The younger generation who had arrived with their elders went their separate ways. The adults had their own social circles, and the young elites of Aethelburg were no different.
Maurice Ashworth and his friends gathered under an ancient tree not far from the garden. Dappled sunlight filtered through the gaps in its leaves, sprinkling onto the ground and adding a bit of warmth to the gathering.
The young socialites nearby would occasionally steal glances at Maurice Ashworth and his friends. To these young ladies, that group was full of highly eligible bachelors—every one of them a blue-chip prospect.
