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Hilda took it and they returned indoors where they encountered the countess.

“Oh Richard! There you are! I do not know what I am going to do! I have put in this huge order at Gunter’s for the grand tea tomorrow afternoon and now Robert says he is going to a cockfight! Your father says we need to delay the engagement party by a week. Do you think you could go round to Gunter’s and sweet talk him into changing the timing of the order? I vow I cannot afford to pay for the catering twice!”

“There is no need for that, Lady Matlock! Let me talk to your husband,” said Hilda. Giving Richard’s hand a surreptitious squeeze before relinquishing his arm, she sought out the earl.

While Richard admired Hilda’s powers of persuasion, he thought it was Robert rather than the earl whom she had to convince. But Richard had his arms full with his mother, who promptly burst out crying once Hilda left the room. He did his best to calm the countess, but it took him some time. Eventually he persuaded her to take a glass of sherry.

Some forty minutes after Hilda had gone off in search of the earl, Greaves arrived to request Richard’s presence in his father’s study. Giving his mother a kiss and ringing for her maid, Richard got up, wondering if he was to be sent once more to retrieve Robert. He hoped not. All he felt like doing at the moment was giving his selfish brother a bloody nose.

On the stairs, he squeezed past the servants, who were clearing up the wreckage of an expensive console that has once inhabited the landing. He found his father alone in his office, pacing in front of the hearth.

“Come in, Richard, and close the door.”

Richard obeyed but hardly thought there was any need for secrecy—half the house must have heard the fracas, and the other half was probably currently learning the news.

The earl stopped his pacing in front of Richard and rocked up and down on his heels a couple of times.

“Son, what do you think of Hildie?”

Richard was a little puzzled by this line of questioning.

“She’s a very nice lady who certainly deserves better than the treatment she’s been meted out here. If you are asking me if I am willing to accompany her back to Vienna, I will certainly do so. I feel it is the least I could do in the circumstances.”

“Hmm,” said the earl, surveying the tips of his boots for a moment before looking up. “She wants to marry you instead.”

Richard was speechless. He was, after all, the penniless second son.

“I know it’s not pleasant to have a bride who towers over the top of you,” cajoled the earl, “but you cannot say she is not good looking.”

“You mistake my silence, Father,” said Richard cautiously. “You’ve just taken me by surprise.” Then, more determinedly: “I would be honoured to marry the princess, but surely this upsets your plans?”

“Well, not as much as Robert’s crying off does. Will you do it?”

Richard broke into a wide grin.

His father slapped him on his back. “There! Good lad! Hilda proposes that we continue with the festivities as is. Mind, we’ll have to purchase a new Special License, unless you think you can convince the archbishop that you made a mistake when you requested the original one.”

Richard took a deep breath before consulting his watch. “No matter! I’ll pay for the new one!” he said. “I’ll head off to Doctors Commons first thing in the morning!”

“Very good!” said the earl, “and don’t forget your engagement party is tomorrow at three!”

And with that, Richard exited the study speedily and almost ran into Greaves who was hovering just outside the door with a brandy decanter.

“Ah! Greaves!” said the colonel. “Did the princess go back to the drawing room?”

“Yes, sir,” replied the retainer, thankful the colonel was sufficiently distracted not to reprimand him for his eavesdropping. “Your mother has gone off to lie down.”

Richard took the stairs three at a time, but upon entering the drawing room he found it empty. He was about to search elsewhere when he noticed the French doors were ajar. He found the princess back out on the balcony, staring across at Darcy’s townhouse.

“Hilda?” he asked as he approached her slowly.

After a moment’s hesitation, Brunhilda turned around, quickly wiping a tear from her eye. She looked at Richard uncertainly.

“Hilda, is it true you wish to marry me?”

“Yes, if you can contemplate being married to a giantess,” she jested, suppressing a hiccup.

Richard gave a small smile before reaching to take her hand. “Well, now! It will be worse if I get down on one knee, so I think I will remain standing.”