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“The real reason for our marriage.”
“That’s not romantic at all.”
“Rose, I just like to have plans laid now so no one is surprised, least of all you and me.I’ve made a list of things we might do for it to seem a natural progression of events.For instance, an announcement in theDaily Informerand some of the gossip papers.”
“TheDaily Informeris a gossip paper.”
“You haven’t said you are opposed to my plan otherwise.”
“Yes, of course I will tell Lady Chester first.”
“I would also like to have a large ball the night after Crestview.”
“What?”She reined her horse to a stop.“Matthew, you can’t be serious.The only message we would send is that we are proud, ungrateful people.The invitation to Crestview is enough to cause heart palpitations throughout theton.I still don’t know how you accomplished that feat.And how would we put a ball together in eleven days, especially when we will be traveling five more days?I won’t be part of a shoddy affair, Matthew.It could ruin us.”
Matthew laughed.“Or it could elevate us to the stratosphere of exclusivetonguests.Something you understand.”
“And something in which you have never expressed an interest.Of all the things—the few things—I have learned of you, this is completely uncharacteristic.”
“I can never be ruined, Rose.”
“How Matthew?We would have to dazzle the most undazzleable people in London.We would have to do it with barely enough time to prepare invitations let alone food and decorations.When the Season is over, everyone is preparing to leave the city.”
“One more day is a wink of time for these people.”
“It would have to be magnificent, perfect, a one-of-a-kind extravaganza,” she said, feeling a rush of dizziness at the thought of being so unprepared.She gripped the saddle horn.
“Rose, do you want to be the premier hostess in London?Do you want to be the fashion leader for all those stuffy grand dames?”
“Oh, Matthew, I don’t even have a suitable new dress.It has to be new.It has to be never-before-seen.By the most exclusive dressmaker in London.It can’t be done.”
“Take a breath, Rose.Who is the one person who must be at our ball for it to be both a success and a crush?”
“There’s only one person, but even Sandhurst wouldn’t be able to get him to a party, had he been so bold to try.”
“The king, you mean?”Matthew had one brow cocked.
“You can’t be serious.”
Matthew clucked and his horse started to move toward Sturry Park again.“Anyone who has ever told me no has been proven wrong.”
“We can’t go on to Dover.We’ll have to go back to London and start planning now.Oh, Matthew, this is an impossible idea.”
“My dear wife, I’m not sure how to tell you this, but the planning has been going on since the day I confirmed with Easterling we were invited to Crestview.And the king has already accepted my invitation.”
“Oh, Matthew.Oh, Matthew.To what end?I expect you thought I would be overjoyed by this news.I am not!”
Matthew’s brow pulled, a look of anger he rarely directed toward her.“I thought you, of all people, would understand.You are hanging on the precipice of societal rejection.Why would I not try to ride the tide of sentiment and intrigue and exclusivity to lift our boats?”
“This seems very delusional to me.”
“Delusional, madam?You are traipsing along the fine line of insult.”
“Matthew, be reasonable.Why would the king travel to Islington to attend a ball where the sponsor is virtually unknown?Why would anyone come except a few curiosity seekers and low-born gossips?”
“Do you think I have not planned for every possibility?”
“Except time?”
