Chapter 2Araminta and Hugh had confirmed their betrothal at the start of February, with the conventional expectation of a three-month engagement. Percy and the groom’s mother, Lady Pamela, Countess of Amersby, each sensing the other to be an organisational ally, had selected St. George’s, Hanover Square, for the church service, the location being both august and extremely stylish.
Deciding on the venue for the wedding breakfast was more problematic. Percy and the countess considered a hotel too exposed to vulgar viewers. Lady Pamela suggested various locations open to the general public, unaware Percy was enduring a repeated nightmare scenario. This consisted of his ghastly brother Clarence emerging from his Kentish estate in a drunken rage to regale his many woes to Araminta’s new and di
