Those gossipmongers and their lack of delicacy. I love the relief in the last line. And I love her awkwardness concerning the unexpected request.

Really nice job evoking the setting and time period with the dialog itself and little bits of description.
LoA

Wow…very reminiscent of the Pride and Prejudice scene in the first part, where Mrs. Bennet and the rest of the women are sitting and gossiping in the ballroom.

That aside, I really smiled when I read the young man’s reaction to Samantha’s answer. Keep up the good work. : )