Baylor’s gaze turned contemplative as Belle remarked on the hidden lessons his father had taught him. Her words resonated deeply, and he nodded in agreement. “You’re absolutely right, Mademoiselle Fleur,” he said, a touch of melancholy in his voice. He believed Belle had been quite spot on in understanding the underlying messages of what he was saying. “My father’s teachings were often wrapped in complexities and unspoken wisdom. It was not the path I expected, but it did shape who I am today.” Her observation had touched upon a sensitive subject, one that Baylor had spent years coming to terms with. “As for growing bigger than his shoes, indeed that is what I desire.” he admitted, “I desire to become an improved version of my father. And I am most thankful for your luck in those desires, for I do not expect it shall be an easy road to grow bigger than my father.” Truthfully however, Baylor had already proven himself a better man that his father, yet he was far from convinced about that himself. One thing he was convinced of however, is that he enjoyed Belle’s bluntness and directness, yet a certain gracefulness with which she delivered such statements. He enjoyed how she seemed to have a bright mind. He in fact quite enjoyed Belle’s company in general, even if she somewhat intimidated her.
Baylor gave a faint, appreciative smile and replied, “Your words are kind, Mademoiselle Fleur. I do my best to make thoughtful choices and avoid repeating past errors, though the path ahead remains uncertain. I shall remain cautious and endeavor to find a way forward.” His expression conveyed a sense of hope for a better future and the determination to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. “To create a beautiful family for myself, with a respectful lady by my side.” he sighed a bit, “And I suppose at least one child. It aligns with societal expectations for someone in my position, and I’ll strive to make choices that benefit not only myself but any future family I may have.”
Baylor raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Belle’s comment. “Indeed, Maisie is a blessing, and I’m grateful to have her as my sister. She brings a unique light to my life. But, Mademoiselle Fleur, you’ve piqued my interest with your observation. What do you mean by ‘not in the way I think I do’? Could you elaborate?” There was a deep curiosity and desire in his voice to understand what Belle meant by her statement. Him needing her sister, it confused him. What about her was Belle convinced he needed in his life?
As she agreed to his sentiment regarding how much people can face, Baylor could not help but nod and agree at her words, “I believe that captures a fundamental truth about the human spirit indeed.” he said, “Simply not all can carry the same amount of hardships as others. It’s a reminder of the importance of understanding and supporting one another in our journeys.” he maintained a warm and friendly expression, “Life, in all its complexities, tests us in different ways, and it’s how we respond to those tests that truly matters. Some may possess a remarkable resilience, drawing strength from adversity and using it to grow. Others might need more time or assistance to overcome their challenges. It’s a testament to the richness of the human spirit that we each have our own path to navigate, our own lessons to learn, and our own unique ways of facing the trials that come our way.” He found this subject quite intriguing, while Baylor knew he always approached situations very logically and was relatively resilient, he respected people were different, and others might have different matters and routes of coping with hardships. Especially people with a logical mind were prone to forgetting not everything thought and dealt with things in the most rational way, but Baylor had learned to not judge others for such, simply see it as different ways a brain could function.
To her inquiry where the Mehtas are from, Baylor replied factually, “The Mehtas are originally from India, a country rich in culture and history. I am under the impression they bring a unique and vibrant flavor to our society.” he gave Belle a brief smile before continuing, “I do believe Lady Metha does enjoy tea, though I am afraid you shall have to confirm with the lady in question herself.” He then added thoughtfully, realising she had probably asked as she was considering inviting her for tea too, “If you wish to each invite my sister and lady Metha for a tea party, I would be most delighted to provide transportation for the ladies to the British Fleur estate.” During the conversation with Belle he had realised it might not be a bad thing to strengthen relationships with the Fleur family. Whether that was through himself, his sister, or another family he was closely tied to. He happily sacrificed his own access to a carriage for such meetings.
He studied the lady as she said she had agreed with him surrounding his views on love. He saw her in a slightly different light now than at the start of the conversation. She was a stunning lady, that could not be denied. But mostly he found her brain fascinating, the way she viewed and talked about society, it was not often one found a lady who was so outspoken about her thoughts regarding these matters as love and marriage, more specifically the downsides of it. He found her quite a wise women in fact, and truth be told, he felt like she outsmarted him and he had to overcompensate for that in their conversation. Once again in the following words Baylor replied thoughtfully, “You make an astute observation, Mademoiselle Fleur. Indeed, the concept of living solely for oneself is a complex one. Our lives are intertwined with those we care about, and our choices often have far-reaching impacts. While it’s essential to maintain our independence and personal goals, we find fulfillment and purpose in the connections we forge with others, be it family, friends, or the responsibilities we shoulder. It’s a delicate balance between self-discovery and the interconnectedness of life.”
“Very well then, Mademoiselle Fleur.” he gave her a nod, “I shall be in contact with your staff to arrange your visit to our stables. We are truly honoured to be hosting you.” he gave her a bow as he spoke. If he would manage to have Belle interested in the Rutherford stables, the Fleur family was a powerful family so it might do his business good. He needed to make a mental note to arrange everything was organised to perfection at her visit. He might even spend some of the money in the bank on adding a stable hand to the staff team to assist him in the process of preparing the horses and stables for her visit. Baylor had mostly been dealing with the horses, sure he received help from those living at the estate, but most of the day-to-day responsibilities were his. Therefore the stables were not flawless, they worked for him and most of his clients, but he knew they needed to be improved before her visit, and he knew it would be stupid not to invest in some extra help.
He knew he might have gone overboard on his business strategies in his mind however, and them sharing a fondness for horse riding was something that was just as important to focus in on, “And I’m delighted to hear that you have an interest in horse riding. Horses can indeed provide a unique sense of freedom and connection with nature. It’s a pursuit that allows one to escape the constraints of daily life and find solace in the outdoors. When you asked whether I am truly happy, horse riding is one of those rare moments I found myself having a taste of happiness.” he tried to connect with her more by sharing this quite personal revelation.
Suddenly, the ports had caught up with his bladder, and he knew it would be a wise idea to quickly pay the restrooms a visit before sharing a dance with Aurelia. “Mademoiselle Fleur, it truly was my pleasure to share this conversation and make your acquaintance. You are most welcomed here, and I hope you shall enjoy the rest of the season in London.” he gave her a bow once he finished speaking.
After his dance with Aurelia, he noticed Abigail Brantley standing on her own. He thought it might be a good idea to quickly go introduce himself to her, for he had invited her to her stables alongside her brother. He also had felt that maybe Bainbridge had an underlying desire to set Abigail up with him, so it would be interesting to get to know her himself a bit through a conversation. He approached Abigail, taking into account what he had learned about her through the conversation with Bainbridge, that she was quite introverted and on the shy side. “Lady Abigail Brantley, if I am correct?” he confirmed as he did not want a situation as the one with Belle “I hope you’re having a pleasant evening. Above all, allow me to convey my warmest felicitations on your successful introduction into society.” he hoped some kind words would make her feel somewhat more at ease.
“Earlier this evening, I shared a conversation with your brother in which he expressed interest in our horses, at the Rutherford stables. I invited him to visit the stables, and expressed you were most welcome to join. I wanted to personally extend an invitation for you to visit our stables next Wednesday alongside your brother, if you please and find yourself available.” he explained the situation to her, to show he was not just randomly approaching her, but had already spoken with her brother before about this. Yet also show he found it important enough to invite her personally, not just through her brother.
He gave her a smile before going into the next part, “I have understood you might be more on the introverted side, and I want to assure you that you’re more than welcome to join us at your own pace. There’s no pressure, and we’d be delighted to have you whenever you feel comfortable. Horses can be quite calming and wonderful companions for those quieter moments. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to share them with me.” He maintained a friendly but gentle eye contact, showing that he respected her boundaries and wanted to make the experience as pleasant as possible for her.
@Kristi - Belle
@LunaticLeviTheSecond - Abigail (and Bainbridge mentioned)
@Littlefeets - Maisie (sorry, this will hopefully be the last mentioned for now!!)
@Caticorn - Priti (mentioned)
@benitz786 - Aurelia (briefly mentioned)