"My Lords, this way please," one of the younger Abernathys led them to the warmed sitting room. 
Given the time of year, it should have occurred to Alaric that his would not be the only Family using the Abernathys, but the moment he spotted the four Ladies Ram he came to a complete stop. Derbie walked past him without realizing it but Calvin stood at his left and whispered, "would you have preferred Lady Ban for Derbie to get weak kneed over?" 
Sometimes it was easy to overlook Calvin, in a Family of attention grabbing individuals he was the most ordinary looking, and the only one who listened more than he spoke. So, when he did speak up it was always with a purpose. 
"Spare me his immediate infatuation with the one Debutante that fainted," Alaric felt safe confiding in Calvin about his opinion before falling silent to sit with Derbie at a couch. 
"Here are the catalogues of the latest menswear, and I have a selection of fabrics and patterns you can peruse," an Abernathy laid the items out on the table and Alaric thanked him absently. 
Most of the clothes were in the Briggs scarlet, though there were a few options on how to feature their Familial colour. Garden parties allowed for a more casual dress code; men's suits would be broken into a heavier, shorter jacket over a patterned vest, and a proper shirt. Trousers could be matched to shirt or vest, but never the jacket at that was a 'heavier', more formal look than a garden party called for. And to Alaric's surprise, the current men's fashions eschewed the cap entirely.
Given the trends and aesthetic, an entirely scarlet jacket wouldn't suit, so they selected a patterned vest in scarlet and gold filigree, with each brother choosing a different jacket and cravat style. Calvin liked a simple beige jackets with an ivory cravat, shirt, and trousers. Derbie picked a similar shirt and trousers but paired them with a black jacket and cravat. And for all that Alaric wanted to focus on selecting an item for himself, he was too distracted by how noisy the Ram Ladies were at their couches. Lady Aayina Ram was a year older than Alaric, so he hadn't witnessed her Debut, but he'd seen how the Social Market reacted to her chaperoning triplets at this year's. They drew far too much attention, not that he begrudged a Viscounty trying to find suitable Suitors, but it bothered part of Alaric's pride to consider that she may be successful at getting all three of her siblings wed while he still hadn't managed a single one. He respected Lady Aayina's fortitude even as he prepared to compete against her most ardently. 
"Any luck deciding?" Derbie brought Alaric's attention back to his own requirements. 
"Black trousers, white shirt, black cravat, white jacket," Alaric selected almost randomly, noticing how eye catching the sunset orange of the Ram Family was in all the colour swatches at their table.
Since Blair hadn't attended the appointment, none of the women's wear catalogues had been presented. Alaric could only wonder what current fashion trends the triplet Rams would wear to steal the attention at the garden party. He'd failed to establish Blair's future, Calvin hadn't seemed to realize his friend Danilo loved him yet, so Derbie was the one most likely to be the first Briggs sibling to Court and be engaged. Given that the Ram triplets were all sisters, perhaps it was for the best that Blair had no interest in attracting a Suitor. If only Derbie would be willing to accept a marriage of political value instead of asking for a chance to make a love match first; Alaric would have an easier time if he could get Derbie married into the Sikali Dukedom. Ladies Colena and Brissa were both adults and Family friends besides, it seemed inevitable that Gavin Briggs was going to marry Eniola Sikali once they Debuted as they were sweethearts already. 
But for all that Alaric wanted to push for a political engagement, he loved his brother enough to hope he found the love match he desired. Even if it was with the hysterical Lady Ban Ruma. They'd met but once, and still letters flew between the two like clouds across the sky in the week since the Debut.