"I like it," Hazel replied. "I've had similar before, and I'm fond of teas like this one."

Kaladin nodded. "Good. Maybe we can come back sometime then?"

Hazel smiled and nodded.

"I'd like that," she said.

"Good." Kaladin smiled. That was very good. It meant he was doing something right, at least. And next he'd ask about taking her to dinner sometime.

Hazel continued to sip her tea slowly, enjoying the tea and more than enjoying the company. Now, if only she could sort out her own tangled feelings long enough to acknowledge the courtship she knew was happening, things would go a little smoother.

Kaladin took his time enjoying his tea, trying to spend as long as he could with her while he still had an excuse.

Even trying to stretch it out a bit, it didn't take Hazel all that long to finish her tea. Finally, she ended up putting her cup down gently on the table.

Kaladin looked at her, debating whether to take things slow with this courtship or whether to just go full speed ahead.

"Do you have any plans for tomorrow night?"

"None of which I'm aware," Hazel replied, mentally going over her schedule. "I was invited to tea in a few days by one of the other ladies, but that is the last of my social schedule for a while."

Kaladin nodded. "Good." He finished up his tea and set it down, looking at her briefly. "Is there anything else you wanted to do while we're out?"

"I had nothing else planned," Hazel replied, looking back at him. "Unless you did?"

Kaladin shook his head a little. "Not at the moment," he said quietly. "But we'll see for later on." He smiled at her and paid the bill when it arrived.

Hazel smiled back and waited for him to be ready to leave. She didn't want the outing to end yet, though.

Kaladin was quiet for a few moments, trying to think of some reason they could stay out for a little while longer. And then the stroke of brilliance hit.

"If you want, I can show you where my mother used to take Seamus and I on her days off."

Hazel looked at him curiously, but nodded.

"Alright," she said.

Kaladin grinned and got up, leading the way back to the carriage. He held the door for her while he told the driver where he wanted to go, and then he settled in for the short trip, looking pleased.

Hazel let him help her into the carriage, and arranged her skirts once she sat down.

"So where are we going?" she asked once the carriage started to move.

"You'll see." Kaladin grinned and waited for the carriage to stop before he got out and let her out as well. The carriage had stopped in front of a public park and garden, out of the way and quiet.

"My mother used to bring us here when we were kids. She said that my father always used to bring her here." He smiled a little. "And his father did the same with his mother. Apparently it's something of a family tradition."

Hazel didn't miss the implication. Hesitantly, she reached out and took his hand.

"It's very pretty here," she said.

Kaladin smiled and held her hand a little tighter, starting over towards the garden.

"You ever seen black roses?"

"I've heard of them," Hazel replied. "But I've never seen them. They're supposed to be very rare and expensive."

Kaladin nodded, easily making his way through the labyrinthine garden, leading her to the very back where a small gazebo had been built. "Yeah. They're hard to find." He led her into the gazebo to the back of it, where a small climbing rose wound around a post. Three black buds sprouted off the vine, one of them just beginning to bloom.

"Oh wow," Hazel breathed, letting go of his hand for a moment to go look at the roses. She gently touched one of the buds with a fingertip. "They're beautiful."

Kaladin smiled. "My great-great-great grandfather planted those, before ranches had really become popular and people were still discovering most of the animals we take for granted now," he said quietly, watching her. "This whole property used to be his, actually. He gave it all to the government with the provision that no one touch this gazebo and that his wife's garden was tended to."

"That's so wonderful," Hazel said softly, looking around and then back at him. "It's so romantic that he wanted the garden tended to."