Kaladin nodded, stifling another yawn. "Sorry," he mumbled, getting settled in. "Not used to staying up this late."

"Parties are rough sometimes," Hazel replied, nodding. "It takes some getting used-to." She settled her skirts around her and sat back to wait out the ride. It didn't take long to get there, since there wasn't anyone else out on the streets so late, and Hazel felt a little bad waking Kaladin so soon.

Kaladin blinked a few times blearily when they stopped at the ranch. The good thing was he could just strip and go collapse in bed. The bad thing was he had to be mobile to get there. But he managed to get out of the carriage, turning briefly so he could say good night to Hazel.

Hazel had stepped out of the carriage as well when she noticed one of the lights in the main house still on.

"Is someone still awake?" she asked rhetorically.

Kaladin shrugged. "Dunno. I can go check, if you want." He glanced back at her to see what her answer was.

Brit, meanwhile, was still up and silently cooing over her little baby phoenixes, getting them used to her.

"I can go check," Hazel replied, lifting the hem of her skirts a little. It was really no different than wearing her day dresses, so for the moment, she was alright. Carefully, she picked her way up to the main building and went inside. She grinned when she saw Brit.

"I'm surprised you're still awake," she said.

Brit grinned briefly and wordlessly pointed at the little birds. One of them cheeped and tried to see if her finger was edible. She tapped its beak gently in reprimand.

"Aww, they're so cute," Hazel said, leaning in slightly to get a better look. She held her skirts out of the way even as the gems on the material sparkled in the light.

Brit grinned and nodded. The two got briefly distracted by the sparkling lights they could see, but neither made a move out of the nest yet. One of them cheeped at Brit again.

Hazel picked at one of the gems on her dress, and then stood up straight again.

"I should go back to the manor and get out of this gown," she said, smoothing out her skirts. "I've been wearing it and dancing in it all evening."

Brit nodded and scrambled about for a bit of paper before scribbling something and handing it over. I hope you had a good time. You can come in late tomorrow, I've got everything covered.

"Are you sure?" Hazel asked as she glanced at the note. "I can still bere here at a reasonable hour. And I think Kaladin might sleep in, as much as he'll try not to. An event-schedule is rough if one is not used to it."

Brit flapped her hand. We'll be fine. I can do his chores in the morning and I'll make sure everything's running smoothly. Don't worry about getting here early, just whenever you get up.

"I hate foisting that all off on you," Hazel replied, still a bit uncertain. Put her in the middle of a high-class social gathering and she was fine. Face her with her responsiblities at the ranch and suddenly she wasn't so sure.

I did all the work around here for years. Don't worry about that. We'll be fine. Go rest now, before you realize how tired you are. Brit grinned a little.

"My feet are already complaining," Hazel replied dryly. She held up her hands. "I'm going, alright? I'll see you tomorrow."

Brit nodded and waved, making sure she left before going back to cooing over the little ones. And really she didn't mind covering for them to let them sleep a while. It was nothing she wasn't used to, at any rate.

With that, Hazel went back out to the carriage to go back home for the night.

Seamus noticed when his brother came back.

"Long night, I take it," he said as Kaladin undressed. It wasn't anything he hadn't seen before. "Was the party any good?"

"Better than the last one." Kaladin yawned again. "Dancing was fun. And no one bugged either of us, so it was good." He stretched briefly before heading over to his bed.

"Dancing?" Seamus asked. "How many girls did you dance with?" Because if he knew anything about society girls, they were probably trying to flock to his brother.

"Half a dozen or so." Kaladin shrugged. "Mostly during the partner changing dances, though. None of them were quite brave enough to try to get me during a waltz or anything." Which he personally found amusing.

"Aww, was your date too intimidating?" Seamus asked. "I bet her dance card was full, though."

"I think every young lord and then some danced with her." Kaladin rolled his eyes. "She's the new big person on the block now."

"You may have your work cut out for you, then," Seamus commented. "She's still single, right? Every lordling around will try to court her soon." And he knew his brother had a crush on Hazel. It was clear as day, at least to Seamus.

Kaladin rolled his eyes. "Well at least she didn't seem enamored with any already," he grumbled. Which was better than the alternative, in his opinion.

"Anything interesting happen while I was gone?"