Hazel blinked in surprise. Had she really been that transparent?

"You would do that?" she asked.

"I would." Kaladin smiled. "Really, it's not that hard. I remember we talked about this before, a month or so back, so I figured I might as well offer. Since you still look like you want to jump in with them." He grinned.

"I was thinking it might be nice," Hazel admitted. "Especially when the weather gets hot. But without knowing how to swim..." She trailed off and looked at him.

Kaladin shrugged. "Like I said, it's not that hard," he said quietly. "I'll show you how. But first maybe you should look into that bathing suit. Next time you go into town, maybe?"

Hazel nodded.

"I have to go in a couple of days, anyways," she said. "I need to talk to my seamstress about a gown."

Kaladin nodded. That worked. "Alright. Go then, and see what she says." He smiled a little at her. "If nothing else, you'll at least be able to sit in the shallow end with them."

Hazel nodded and smiled a little in return. Then she tucked herself gently into his side and made herself comfortable there for the moment.

Kaladin held her there, watching the selkies playing for a while longer. Already he was thinking how he was going to do this, and he was looking forward to it.

After a while, Hazel reluctantly stepped away again. It was time for her to get back to the paperwork, and she couldn't very well keep Kaladin all day.

Kaladin let go of her reluctantly, kissing her cheek again before he let her go back to working. He knew things were fairly lazy today, and everyone had already been fed, so he wasn't too worried about having taken time off to do nothing.

Hazel only had a few days to relax before she had to start planning for the formal she was hosting. So there was actually a stretch of four or five days where she was barely at the ranch at all; instead, she was running around coordinating everything so that she could make a proper re-debut at the manor.

Kaladin wasn't worried. He knew she had a lot to do, and he didn't want to disturb her, so he didn't bother her. Instead, he kept track of what she was doing, stopping by the house at least once every day she didn't show up at the ranch, to drop off a brief report about the progress of the little ones and who still had yet to drop their young.

Hazel appreciated the reports, and always made sure to spare at least a few minutes for Kaladin. It didn't matter he brought the reports, really; she just liked that he visited.

"It feels like a madhouse around here," she said on the fourth day of preparations.

Kaladin chuckled. "That's because it is," he said quietly. "But that's okay. You're doing very well so far, and once you get this event over with, things can return to a more normal state."

"I hope so," Hazel replied. "I still have to oversee decorations, meal plans, an orchestra... Not to mention check the progress of my gown. At least formal invitations have been sent out."

Kaladin nodded. "Is there anything I can do to help? You sound like you're pretty swamped here."

"I can handle it," Hazel said. She smiled a bit. "But thanks. I know everything will come together at the last minute, just getting there is the problem."

Kaladin nodded. He knew that feeling. He smiled a little and kissed her cheek again. "Be sure to let me know if there's anything I can do to help."

"I will," Hazel promised. After a moment, she turned and gave him a soft, shy kiss.

Kaladin returned it, smiling when she pulled away. "I'll see you tomorrow, then," he said quietly, brushing a finger against her cheek.

"I look forward to it," Hazel replied softly. She tilted her head towards his hand a bit, much like a cat would do.

Kaladin smiled and brushed his fingers across her cheek again before stepping away reluctantly. He had to get back to work, and he knew she had many things to do still.

That didn't mean he wanted to leave, though.

Hazel didn't want him to leave, either, and watched him as he left.

Finally, everything fell into place just in time for the social. The day of the event, she made her way to the ranch a little early to see which sheep they would be able to bring to the manor for the 'display.' Since the social was more of a gathering and less of a party, most of the ladies wouldn't dress up too far, which made it alright for Hazel to test-run the sheep.

Kaladin was walking with Hazel, holding collars and leashes. He figured it was the easiest way to get the sheep from the ranch to her manor and back again. It would be easier than carrying them, certainly.

"Which ones do you want brought along?" Kaladin moved over into the pen, ignoring the swarm of sheep.

Hazel looked out over the herd.

"An ivory one," she said. "The pink one. Lilac. Black. Gray." She paused for a moment, thinking. "The light green. Perhaps the blue, as well?" She looked at him.