Perhaps it was because it was the first meeting between the two and they were not well acquainted with each other.
Therefore, the topic of conversation naturally started with reminiscing about the ancestors of the Hastings family. Fortunately, Arthur had a solid foundation in history, and several ancestors of the Hastings family were noteworthy figures in British history, so the conversation flowed smoothly without any awkward pauses.
In fact, Arthur politely corrected this "distant cousin" he met for the first time on a few historical inaccuracies about their ancestors.
The wood in the fireplace crackled, and the servants timely served tea and delicate French cream pastries.
The Marquis of Hastings raised his hand to point at the portrait above the fireplace. It was an oil painting of a middle-aged military man, holding a saber and dressed in a red and blue uniform, with a blue ribbon symbolizing membership in the St. George Knight Order draped over his right shoulder.
