Thaddeus did not often attend large social gatherings. Not since his wife had run away from him. But he owed several favours to Lord Hurst, not to mention one hundred and forty pounds worth of gambling debt. But as a fellow Tory, Lord, and Oxford-boy, he felt it only right to attend if old Hursty had taken the trouble to send out an invitation.
Tonight was not an official engagement, of course, because if it was, he would have to go and talk to the sulking French youth from the Embassy, who he could see out of the corner of his eye as he sipped for his glass of wine. And of course, if politics was not on the cards (although old Hursty had promised him a game or two later in the evening)then he wouldn't have to get into long-winded and tiresome debates, but could simply go to the heart of the matter.
Which is what he was about to you. "That dress, Lady Linley, is most splendid. I image it took a team of tailors several weeks to create such a masterpiece."