Page 109 of May I Have the Pleasure
“Not you too! I will not abide it!I get enoughPrincessandYour Royal Highnessfrom the courtiers.”
“HAH!!Kitty owes me a crown. She thought it might take you two sentences to correct me.”
“You know me well, my friend.”
“I am sorry I could not come with Kitty and Anne in April. As you well know, the winter of sixteen was terrible.”
“Yes, and you had seven estates to care for, did you not?”
“You have caught me out, I see.”
“I appreciate it, Fitzwilliam. It nearly killed me not to be there. I truly would like to get rid of every single estate I own.”
“Would it be intemperate for me to say I am happy the prince is dead.”
“Intemperate, perhaps, but both accurate and in accordance with my thoughts.”
“We rarely disagree on anything of substance… well, only the once.”
“Do not look so sad. We are two of the most consequential people in the world. We should be happy.”
“I imagine so.”
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“Fitzwilliam, I have been reviewing our long history, and I have painstakingly determined that you are theonlyperson of my acquaintance who has sufficient exposure, sense, and education to answer a most important question. Everyone else has missed an essential time of my life. May I ask your opinion on a matter of some importance?”
“Consider me at your disposal, princess.”
“Insufferable Man!”
“Impertinent Princess!”
“Ask your question, Elizabeth.”
“I shall indeed, good sir.Is this,in fact, the most god-awful-hideous mourning dress I have ever worn? It has all the worst attributes of formal court dress and horrid widow’s weeds.”
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“Fitzwilliam?”
“My pardon. I fear my levity is not quite up to seeing you in mourning again… and—”
“And—”
“And that dress might look awful on anyone else, but I just think you look wonderful.”
“Why thank you. I do not know what to say.”
“You need say nothing. We both know the world is as it is.”
“Yes, we certainly both know that. We are two of the luckiest people in Europe, and have not the slightest thing to repine, and yet …”
“… and yet, we do.”
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“I am so sorry I could not make it to Georgiana’s wedding. You would think a princess could do anything she wants, but I fear that is a myth.”
