Yes

"The truth is, Mr. Twilwell," Rebecca says softly, "I worry for my future - not only my future, but all of my sisters'."

Twilwell chuckles. "What on earth could a group of such gorgeous, charming young women have to fear from the future?"

"Well, with the laws of 1811, sir, every young woman of breeding in the nation is desperate to marry and avoid bondage. There's no more spinsterhood even for those girls who might otherwise enjoy it - one's bound to a man through marriage, or servitude."

"I can't imagine girls as delightful as you all are would have any trouble finding husbands!"

"Ah, but our customs unhappily have not caught up to our laws, Mr. Twilwell," Rebecca says with a crooked smile. "For society still expects each older girl to be married before her younger sisters. In a family with five daughters, that becomes a thorny challenge - and all begins to depend on the older girls." They dance in silence for a few measures. "Were I the eldest, Mr. Twilwell, I would feel secure in myself - and honestly, I would not have such fear for my sisters. But my sister Anne is a lovely girl who will make some man a most excellent wife - yet she does not put herself forward. She's shy, and doesn't make her affections known easily. She's still bound, in her mind, by the conventions under which we grew up. But a girl has to move more aggressively to find a husband today, lest she end up in bondage - and perhaps, all the sisters who come after her."

Twilwell frowns, glancing over to where Anne is standing, speaking quietly with their mother, eyes downcast. "Hmmmm. Your sister's a lovely girl, but I hadn't thought of that."

"I admit, I worry about it, sir," Rebecca says quietly. "I could never think ill of my sister, but she's twenty-three already...and I fear what her inaction may do to us all."

"A reasonable fear," Twilwell says gravely. "It seems to me that she's shirking her duty toward you and your sisters."

The music comes to an end, and Twilwell gives Rebecca a deep bow as she curtsies to him. Rebecca glances at him nervously. Was it right to share so much of her fears with him? He smiles.

"Don't worry, Miss Foxhaven," he says, pressing her hand. "I appreciate your sharing your thoughts with me. I'll keep them close to my chest." He bows and gives her hand the lightest of kisses. "Thank you indeed for the dance."

"The pleasure was mine, Mr. Twilwell," Rebecca says with a smile. "I hope to be able to do so again soon." She grins at Anne as she moves off the dance floor to rejoin her sister. They might not be the most natural pairing, but she feels that she and Mr. Twilwell are getting on just fine...

As the evening winds down, families begin to say their goodbyes and leave the ball. Since Mrs. Foxhaven has had rather a lot to drink and it's getting late for Mr. Foxhaven, the Foxhaven girls must leave rather before they'd otherwise be willing. Still, it's been an exciting night for more than one of them, and all of them are buzzing as they put on their bonnets and shawls to go out into the spring air. All but Esther, who remains in the ballroom, looking around in frustration for Annalise. Why does that girl keep disappearing just when Esther wants to talk to her? (Well, Esther has no interest in talking to anyone else here, but...still!) Just as she's about to give up, she catches sight of Annalise and Percival slipping out of one of the ballroom doors, headed back toward the main body of the house. She hesitates. On the one hand, she very much wants to say good night to Annalise. On the other...Percival makes her uneasy.