"She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me"

His words echoed in your head for most of the dance, and it didn't hurt. Mr. Wick was arrogant, proud, cold and distant, you assumed it was because of the money itself. But that didn't matter too much to yo; the night was young, the dancing continued and the joy was contagious.

At some point, your mother was talking to Mr. Wick's best friend, who had also asked your sister to dance. The three of them chatted happily, while you and John stood in silence listening attentively. It was when your mother began to tell of your sister's youth with some young man who sent her letters that you interrupted by saying that poetry keeps love away.

"So, what do you recommend to encourage affection?" Mr. Wick asks, staring at you with those dark, nonchalant eyes that characterised him.