Amid the introductions, he glanced back toward Alice, who was now mingling with other guests.
Despite the appearance of new faces and the pressure of high-society etiquette, he couldn't shake the feeling that her presence and their brief interaction held more significance than he realized.
After a while, the crowd began to thin out, and David found a moment to catch his breath. Jack approached him, after watching David from the side, "You handled that well, young master."
David nodded, though his mind was still partly on the enigmatic Alice. "Thank you, Jack. It seems the introduction is paying off."
Jack gave a slight smile. "Indeed. And remember, this is just the beginning. It's important to steer these social waters with patience and grace."
David took a deep breath, preparing himself for the rest of the night. "Got it."
...
As David and Jack continued to mingle with the crowd, David's thoughts drifted back to Alice.
