Anne is too shy to flirt.

"Please, don't say such things," Anne says quietly. "I'm - I'm not..." she breaks off, smiling helplessly, and looks away, embarrassed. She can practically feel Rebecca bristling, next to her, as much as if her sister were shouting in her ear: Why aren't you doing something?

"Er. Yes. Well," Twilwell says awkwardly. He smiles charmingly at Anne, and she giggles slightly.

"Yes. Well," she says, flustered.

There's an awkward pause, then Mr. Vickery sighs loudly. "Extraordinary and invigorating conversation out here in Wiltshire," he says dryly.

Rebecca glares at him, hackles up. "Oh? And where have you come to us from, Mr. Vickery, may I ask?"

"The West Riding," he responds sharply.

"Oh, is that so?" Rebecca asks tartly. "And the horses out there offer a great deal of compelling conversation, do they?"

"I would far rather have no conversation than a silly and pointless one," Vickery says sternly.

"Well that's rather presumptuous of you," Rebecca retorts. "What one person deems silly may be the very lifeblood of another. Many men spend hours in conversation about...about horseflesh, or ladyflesh, or the Exchange, when there are so many higher things to talk about. One could discuss poetry, or music, the arts...all of which are things that are surely of more deep importance than what such men want to discuss, but are often relegated to second status as 'women's interests.'"

Vickery's eyebrow is raised at Rebecca's forwardness, but there's a gleam of interest in his eye. "I see what you mean," he says. "I apologize for my bluntness - rest assured that I did not mean to denigrate any of your interests."

Twilwell coughs awkwardly, and both Vickery and Rebecca look over at him sharply. "Ah! Well, that was a bit...frightening. I was just going to say that I'm going to go over and, er, get some punch. I'm afraid the conversation has moved beyond me, a bit..."

"I have to go welcome Annalise back," Anne adds. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Vickery. Mr. Twilwell...." she gives each a slight curtsy, then hurries off. Twilwell trails after her for a moment, then pulls away to get his punch.

"Right..." Vickery stares off after the two of them, puzzled, then returns his gaze to Rebecca. "Er. What were we saying?"

Just as Rebecca is about to respond, she spots something across the room. Oh, dear. Alice has found the punch, and appears to be going for a second cup already. Rebecca is pretty sure they haven't been here at the ball long enough for that to be a good idea - but on the other hand, she is now having a conversation with Mr. Vickery...