Delia was so shocked by what she heard that she nearly dropped her wine glass. "What?" she asked, her voice a small, bewildered sound in the quiet drawing room.
Eric leaned forward, his playful expression gone, replaced by the look of a serious businessman. "We need to expand our plans," he said, his voice low and firm. "As you can see from today, there are a lot of circumstances aligned against our marriage. My mother's disapproval, your family's scheming, the social gossip… Our status and our social differences are the main factors everyone will use against us. So, we need to try another angle."
He moved from his armchair, coming around the table to stand before her. "A man and a woman who love each other so much that they cannot bear to be apart. A love story so powerful that it overcomes all obstacles. That is the only narrative that will get our families to approve this marriage without further interference. It's the only story they will have no defense against."
