"Thanks," Hazel said. She paused. "We need to let the kitchen staff and the serving staff know to bring them each out a plate, since they won't be able to join the main table or the servants in the kitchen."

"Already got that done." Kaladin grinned. "I told one of the waitstaff on my way back over here, and he agreed. They'll be fed, don't worry."

"Alright," Hazel said, slightly surprised. "Thank you."

"My pleasure. I hope I didn't overstep. I mean, I figured you'd want to feed them since they're here, so..." Kaladin trailed off. Animals he was good with. Social niceties and rules and crap, not so much. Although he was getting better.

"No, no, it's fine," Hazel reassured. "I'm just surprised you got to it before I did." And to be honest, she was glad he did. Partially because she'd forgotten about it, and partially because it proved to her, in a subtle way, that he was capable of running a household.

Kaladin nodded, looking relieved he hadn't done some unspeakably bad thing. "Alright. I think the first guests are arriving. Where do you want me?" Because this was her house and her shindig, so he could take orders.

Gently, Hazel slipped her arm through his.

"Right here," she said, giving him a small smile. "You'll get to mingle in a little bit."

Kaladin grinned briefly and nodded, staying next to her to wait for the guests to arrive.

Once they started arriving, things got busy again, but this was easier to deal with. People were arriving and knew to mingle before dinner, so there wasn't nearly as much herding and directing of people at Kaladin thought there might be.

Hazel mingled, as well, moving from one group to the next casually. She didn't flit between people like some of the other ladies did; rather, she flowed easily from group to group.

Kaladin followed her lead, since he was her escort. He knew he didn't have to stay with her the whole time, but he was still learning some things, and he knew Hazel wouldn't mind.

Once Hazel was sure everyone had arrived, she gave people a little while to talk and mingle and relax before announcing dinner. Rather than a long table, like some other socials had done, Hazel had several smaller ones set up. It would be easier for people to talk and enjoy themselves if everyone else wasn't too far away.

Kaladin slipped away only briefly to let Brit and Seamus know that they were going to be displaying the sheep soon, and then he returned to Hazel, sitting where he was supposed to.

"Just tell them when you're ready," he said quietly, nodding at a door that led towards the kitchen.

Hazel nodded. She would send word to them through a servant just before dinner was over, so they would have enough time to get the sheep ready to show.

"Let them eat, first," she said. "Dinner will take a little while on its own."

Kaladin nodded and settled down to dinner, keeping track of everything and trying to keep up with the conversation. Really, he was getting better at all this social stuff.

Hazel easily kept up with the flow of conversation. This was something she was familiar with, and it was comforting, in a way. Eventually, though the conversation inevitably turned to the subject everyone was anticipating: the pets.

"So you mentioned you were going to debut a new pet tonight?" one of the other ladies broached the topic. Hazel nodded.

"I plan to," she replied. "After dinner is finished."

Kaladin smiled faintly at that. Really, that was going to be the best part of the social. Although he had to admit he was curious to see if anyone would recognize or remember Brit out of all the finery. He was betting not.

All of the ladies broke out into excited murmurs and whispers. They all wanted to see these pygmy sheep for themselves. Hazel could tell that they were getting anxious, but she didn't end dinner early. She wouldn't do that to Seamus and Brit. She would wait and let people speculate until she was sure the display was ready.

Brit and Seamus were ready a little before dinner was over, but they waited until Hazel told them to to come out and display the sheep. They'd been separated into pairs, to show off the colors best; the lime green next to the black, the ivory next to the white, and so on. Brit glanced at Hazel, keeping the sheep from wandering anywhere but around her feet.

Hazel stayed a little off to the side, letting the other ladies ooh and ahh and coo over the sheep. Only one or two were brave enough to get closer, and only one bold enough to get close enough to the sheep to pet one.

"It's soft!" she exclaimed, delighted. This prompted a few of the other ladies to get closer, as well.

Brit moved off to one side, letting the ladies form two groups around the sets of sheep. She knew Seamus didn't much like this part, that or he was really amused. She shot him a quick grin, letting the ladies coo over the sheep. One of the sheep was busy sniffing them all, while another just stared up at them with big, adoring eyes.

Kaladin grinned briefly. "I told you they'd go over well," he said quietly to Hazel.

Seamus was, predictably, bored. All he was doing was standing there holding a few leashes as a gaggle of ladies fawned over the sheep. Not exactly exciting. But he did smile back at Brit, though.

"You were right," Hazel replied just as softly. "This is good. Hopefully, we'll be able to make some sales, and take requests next year for breeding."

Brit grinned briefly, already thinking of ways she could reward him for being so patient. At least until one of her sheep decided that it wanted to go see one of the sheep Seamus had. Then she had to keep the little thing from escaping and wreaking havok.

"Oh I don't think that will be a problem," Kaladin said, looking amused as he watched a few women coo over the blue one. "We may have trouble keeping enough to have a decent-sized group to breed from."

"I can always limit sales for the moment," Hazel pointed out. "It's a new herd, it's understandable we would need time to build up sell-able stock."

Seamus grinned a bit when one of Brit's sheep started to misbehave a bit.

"Having fun with that?" he teased her.

Kaladin nodded. "It'll be easier in a few years, when we know approximately how many we get a year, how many colors we can get, and when we have more colors available."

Brit gave him a look, since she couldn't quite stick her tongue out at him, and gently corralled the sheep back into line. And then grinned (rather evilly) when one of his started acting up.

Hazel nodded.

"I'll let everyone know that," she said. "It isn't as if they can make me sell."

Seamus rolled his eyes and herded the lamb back into line. At least it wasn't the overly-snuggly orange one. That one was still on the ranch.