Rowan nodded his head slowly in polite recognition. The Moore family was an old, highly respected, and very wealthy noble family in England.
Lady Moore took a tiny step closer to him. She looked directly into his eyes, using her family history to form a personal connection.
"My father and your father served the country together many years ago in the military," Lady Moore explained softly, her voice taking on a deeply sympathetic, gentle tone. "They were very good friends during the war. But, unfortunately, your father did not make it back home to you."
She lowered her eyes for a brief second, deeply moved by the old, tragic loss of the late Duke.
Rowan's polite smile faltered just a tiny fraction at the sudden mention of his dead father, but he quickly maintained his perfect, composed aristocratic mask. He did not like strangers using his family tragedies for polite conversation, but he was a gentleman and a host.
