Archie waited politely, because Mason's discomfort was evident on his face, and he didn't want to do anything that might make Mason even more on edge. Still, a frown knitted Archie's brow when another introduction was offered, something cold settling in his stomach-
And then he stared, confused. No, not confused. He wasn't confused. Archie understood a good lot of that because it had been the life laid out for him. He had been from a wealthy family - not the child of a Lord, no, but a landowner, a respected member of society - he had been expected to marry and have children. Sure, he was the spare in this scenario, but it didn't change the fact that he was supposed to be a 'real man'.
Mason was from that stock. An aristocrat. He should be sitting in parliament, scoffing at poor people.
Archie nodded. "So this is where you've exiled yourself to?" He knew it was easier to keep track of people these days. There were pros and cons to both of their time periods. When Archie was out, away from his family estate, he was hard to track, his parents wouldn't know where he was unless by word of mouth. But being gay then was even more frowned upon than it was today. Mason would have people in his corner very easily. But that wasn't to dismiss what he was going through. "Do your family know where you are?"