A Kentucky Belle in an Isekai World

7: Introductions

Lady Stella was one of the women who was just floating from spot to spot. She didn't seem to have one particular group of friends here.

I'm sure she was known for having odd ideas and that was why, but that just made me all the more eager to make her acquaintance, as those fancy folks would say.

She smiled at Reg and curtsied.

How did everyone's knees not give out doing that all the time? Maybe ballerinas were on to something.

"Lady Stella, may I present my new acquaintance, Lady Hope Laurel?" Reg said grandly. "Lady  Hope, this is Lady Stella Tulane."

I attempted to curtsy to her.

"I think you'll get along," Reg added. "She shares your conviction that women should know what goes on in their kingdom."

Stella brightened. "Is that so?"

I liked her at once.

She was not as dazzlingly pretty as some of the obviously more high class women there were, but she was pretty in a more natural way that I'd expect someone in the real world to have been--still with that too perfect skin though.

She also had reading glasses sticking out of her pocket in her skirt, which was a positive sign.

And she didn't look at me like I was an insect, so I was inclined to like her anyway.

She spoke less fancy than some of the others, though still with a slightly polished tone.

"Reginald told me about ya-you," I said. "It's nice to meet someone else with a brain."

Stella seemed surprised at my bluntness but not displeased. "Well, I'm sure we should be allies. So few ladies agree with me."

Reg stepped aside as if to give us room.

"I'm new around here,"  I explained to her. "You probably already knew that."

"I heard about your elation," she said. "The Duke is very kind to his loyal subjects."

I thought the way she said that was strange. Almost like she meant two things by it.

I lowered my voice. "Do you mean he's not so kind to his non-loyal ones?"

Stella raised an eyebrow at me. And then cast a worried look toward the Duke's sons.

I realized my mistake. I forgot. Free speech was not a thing here.

"I was only joking," I said, trying to sound light.

"Of course," Stella said lightly. "I knew that. But not everyone is so quick to see the humor in things as I am.... Perhaps you are not used to the way things are here, in the Duke's own home city."

From most people, I would have thought that was a patronizing thing to say, but she seemed to actually be trying to warn me.

I reddened again from embarrassment and nodded meekly.

I hated having to curb myself. I was used to saying whatever I wanted of whoever I wanted and no one being able to do a thing to stop me other than hurl insults. 

It chapped my hide to hold back, but I would much rather do that then lose my head, literally, for a poorly thought out remark.

"Perhaps later you would like to tour the rose garden with me," Stella changed the subject. "If you have not seen it at night, you simply must. The fountain is exquisite out there."

I didn't care about that, but any chance to get out of this room would suit me.

"That sounds nice," I said.