After spending some time with her friends, Elena joined Reginald in greeting the guests. Reginald's heart swelled with pride when he saw the young masters and miss of influential families hanging out with Elena. For so long, he'd worried about Elena's quiet nature and how she seemed to keep to herself or hang out with those lowly people, but seeing her surrounded by respected and influential young people reassured him. He felt certain that these friendships would be valuable for Elena's future, both personally and for the family. Tonight, she was shining in a new light.
Earlier, Reginald had planned to escort Anna around the ballroom, introducing her personally to every prominent guest. After all, she was the eldest daughter, and this was her coming back party. But after the awkwardness of the outfit clash—an incident that had already become the subject of discreet whispers—he found himself feeling disappointed.
