Hazel took the shrug for what it was.

"Are you sure you don't want to go back and at least get out of the gown?" she asked. She could tell just by looking that Brit was crammed into at least a corset, if not a crinoline or two as well.

Brit shrugged again. She could always get Hazel to help her get all the layers off if she needed to. Or she could just borrow a knife and use that to rip the laces of the corset and things. That would work too.

"Alright," Hazel said after a moment of thought. "Come home with me, then. We'll go back to the manor, and my maids can help you with the gown. You can stay with me for the night, and we can go back to the ranch in the morning." It seemed like a sound plan to her.

Brit nodded. That sounded like an excellent plan to her, too. She really, really wanted to go home. And staying with Hazel for a night really wouldn't be a problem.

"Alright, then," Hazel said. Quickly, she went to find the hostess and make their excuses. It was probably the one time she was the most grateful she owned a ranch; she could use it as an excuse to leave the party early. Once she'd done that, she went to find Kaladin and Brit again.

Kaladin had noticed Hazel talking to Brit, so as soon as Brit had been left alone he'd accosted her so no one else could cut in and try to make her dance. He kept her entertained telling her about all the little ones on the ranch, and by the time Hazel got over to them again Brit was smiling and looking much more relaxed.

"I've made our excuses to the hostess," Hazel said as she got closer to them. "We can leave as soon as we please."

Brit nodded and glanced around the room. Her aunt was busy talking to someone else, her back to the door, so Brit looked at Hazel and nodded towards the door. She was definitely ready to go.

Hazel nodded as well, and gestured to the door. Her carriage and driver would be waiting outside, she knew, and while it would be a bit cramped, the three of them would fit in the carriage.

Kaladin held the door for the two of them so they could get outside, and he ended up sort of assisting Brit down the stairs so she didn't trip over her dress again. And then he held the door for the two girls so they could get into the carriage.

Brit looked relieved once she was sitting in the carriage again, relaxing back against the seat. She'd be even happier once she got back to the ranch. Although she did grin when she heard the driver's yelp of surprise as her two phoenixes migrated to sitting on top of that carriage instead.

Once they were all in the carriage, and the driver had recovered from the shock of the phoenixes, the carriage started to move. When it did, Hazel heaved a sigh of relief and relaxed. It seemed like things were going to be back to normal soon.

Once the carriage stopped at the ranch, Kaladin got out.

"Perhaps we should wait here for a minute," he said, glancing between the two ladies. "I'm pretty sure Seamus would like to see you, Brit."

Brit blinked and looked at Hazel, not quite sure what Kaladin was getting at.

Hazel just nodded, smiling a bit.

"I think that's a good idea," she said. "As long as we're not waking him up. I know it's a bit late."

"Nah, he'll be awake. He usually waits up for me so I don't wake him up when I get back. He complained about that the first time, and then he learned." Kaladin grinned. "I'll be back in a minute."

Brit blinked and looked at Hazel, still clearly out of the loop.

Hazel nodded and shook out her skirts a bit as she waited.

Seamus was indeed waiting up for his brother, sitting on the front steps of the dorm building with a lantern and a stick he was absently whittling away to nothing.

Kaladin grinned as he approached Seamus. "Come on. There's something you should see." He motioned to his brother, picking up the lantern.

Seamus blinked.

"If you're dragging me out to see whatever pastry-like dress your lady is wearing, I'm not interested," he said, raising an eyebrow at his brother.

"It's not my lady I want you to see," Kaladin said with a grin, already starting back towards the carriage. "It's yours."

That got Seamus's attention.

"Brit came back?" he asked, already on his feet and following his brother.

"She did. She was at the formal earlier," Kaladin said, heading over to the carriage. "Brit?"

Brit leaned forward, made a face at the layers of clothing in her way, and then scooted forward so she could see Seamus. Then she grinned broadly.

Seamus stopped in his tracks, his brain short-circuiting a bit. Brit looked amazing. He almost hadn't recognized her. Even in the unsteady light of the lantern, she was gorgeous.

"Wow," he managed.

Brit managed to get out of the carriage (with a little help from Kaladin), and she moved over and hugged Seamus tightly. She'd missed him while she'd been gone.

"You know, you might not get her back now," Kaladin joked, leaning against the carriage so he could talk to Hazel.

Seamus wrapped his arms around her and pulled her as close as he could with her skirts getting in the way.

"I missed you," he murmured in her ear. "And you look beautiful."

"She's happy," Hazel replied softly, watching the pair. "You can see it."

Brit smiled and turned pink, staying close to him. Now she really wished she had her normal clothes rather than these poofy things. After a moment she shifted a little and kissed his cheek.

"Yeah. They both are." Kaladin smiled indulgently.

Seamus accepted the little kiss on the cheek, and then shifted slightly to kiss her properly.