As Emily finished her second Danish, there was a light knock on the door, and the two men she had seen earlier entered the room.
“Good day, Lady Jergens,” the slightly shorter, but still tall, man in the lead said politely.
Emily knew him.
“Raymond,” Emily greeted, standing up and extending her right hand.
Raymond took it gently, clasping her hand in his, not really a handshake.
“Oh, please, don’t rise on my behalf!” he remarked pleasantly, gesturing for her to sit as he released her hand.
Her eyes moved to the other man – Ashley’s company at the launch.
The young man was indeed a commoner.
His head was bowed in that lower-class way, not something from deference or respect, but rather from something that stemmed from knowing one's place.
His eyes were hooded, and he stood behind
