James sat in his study, having just finished reading a letter written to him by Lily. Winter had turned into early spring and whenever he tried to discuss the matter of his engagement to Lily, his mother ended up having another fainting episode. James was beginning to suspect that though the first episode may have been real, the rest seemed to be delaying tactics on her part.
No matter, he was going to take up the matter at once today. Enough was enough. He could tell from her letters that Duke Max was being stubborn about the whole betrothal and Lily was miserable. He’d even tried sending financial help for Duke Max with his friend Georg, hoping the old man would take it as a truce offering. But Duke Max had sent the money back, telling Georg that Prince James could not buy his approval
