Titus awoke the next morning in a fine mood. The sun was shining, birds sang outside his bedroom window, even his morning coffee tasted better than usual. He smiled to himself as he realised he had come to think of it as his usual when he had been in the Winter household just three days. It was the morning of his fourth day and he was excited to think of the remaining three.

He couldn’t stop thinking about Rose, the way she had smelt, the softness of her skin, the sounds she had made when he had entered her, how content she had looked afterwards, it all swirled around in his mind. He barely heard the front door opening, humming quietly to himself whilst waiting for Rose to join him for breakfast.

When a figure appeared in the doorway, he looked up expecting to find his little love, instead he was greeted by the sight of Mr. and Mrs. Winter, dressed ready to travel.

“Good morning,” Titus said. “Are you two heading out somewhere?”

“Good morning, Mr. Burlingham,” Mr. Winter replied. “We have only just got back.”

“From your evening out, you mean? I did not realise you were out all night.”

“Well, we met up with the Planchett family, do you know them at all? No? Well, they were out for dinner at the same time as us and we ended up spending the night at their house. I do hope Rose wasn’t too much trouble for you while we were gone.”

“No, no trouble at all.”

“Oh, good. Where is she? Not still in bed, I hope.”

The sound of light footsteps on the stairs reached Titus’s ears. A moment later, Rose appeared behind her parents, looking as radiant as ever in her pink frock. “Good morning, Mother,” she said, kissing Mrs. Winter on the cheek. “Good morning, Father.”

“Speak of the devil,” Mr. Winter said, taking a seat at the table and motioning for Rose to join them. “I have some good news.”

“You do?”

“The Planchetts have invited us to join them this evening at their house. They are holding a little gathering and we managed to secure an invite for you, Rose.”

“Oh.”

“Oh? Is that all you can say? Oh? Do you realise the importance of this invitation? The Planchetts are the most important family in the county.”

Rose sighed. “I am grateful, Father, truly I am. But I have been to some of your gatherings before. They are crushingly dull, all that talk of politics and racing tips. I get so bored.”

Rose’s mother put an arm on her daughter’s shoulder. “I don’t think you’ll be bored this time. I have it on good authority that there is a man there who wishes to meet you. We get the impression that he might propose if things go well. Isn’t that exciting?”

“What man?”

“Ah, that would spoil the surprise, wouldn’t it? You just make sure you wear something suitable for the occasion.”

Titus sat upright in his seat, coughing politely to gain their attention. “If I might butt in for a moment.”

“You have some concern?” Mr. Winter asked.

“I am in the midst of teaching your daughter the necessary skills for modern society. The task is not yet finished and I wonder if perhaps it might be better to wait until I am done before presenting her to others.”

“Nonsense. You are doing a fine job, that much is clear.”

“I thank you for that, but I would loathe leaving a job uncompleted.”

“Come with us then,” Rose said, speaking over her father. “That way you can supervise me.”

Titus saw the silent gesture in her eyes, even if her parents did not. “Very well,” he said, nodding towards her. “I believe that will be acceptable.”

“It seems I have lost control of my own daughter,” Mr. Winter said with a half smile. “Where the blazes are the staff? Do I have to go and cook breakfast myself?”

Titus spent the rest of the day worrying. If they wanted her to get married to this fellow, he’d have to work hard to prevent it. It was quite the upset to have the real world intrude on his plans and it jarred him. He was in a foul mood when they rode out to the Planchett house, scowling silently on the back of his horse, having rejected the offer of riding in the family carriage. “I prefer to ride,” he’d told Mr. Winter. The truth was he did not want to sit with them and hear how wonderful this marriage material might be. All he wanted was for the evening to be over, to have Rose back to himself again.

The Planchett house lay in its own grounds beyond the edge of town, surrounded by trees that made it seem as if they were riding to a fairy-tale house hidden in a forest. The effect was lessened by the number of carriages lining the drive. Titus handed his horse over to groom waiting by the front door, before ascending the steps to find the Winters already on their way inside.

He followed them through a crowd of people milling around, jewellery sparkling in the candlelight, laughter and conversation filling the air, mingling with the music coming from further ahead. Around another corner, he found himself in a ballroom. Dancing couples spun about the floor, the fashion for group dancing seemingly forgotten. It was a waltz and Titus had no interest in taking anyone around the floor.

He would have been spoilt for choice if he was in a better mood. The cream of society was there, including several faces he recognised, previous students he had worked with were dotted about, no different to the others.

She was different though. Even watching Rose from across the room, she stood out by a mile, a shining light amongst the dullards that thronged the space around him. Who was that she was talking to? He recognised him despite the change of hairstyle.

A flare of jealously and anger rose up in Titus as he realised who she was talking to. It was Jonathan Carlisle, the man who had assaulted her in the park that night he had first met her. Not that he’d known who she was back then. That couldn’t be the man her parents wanted her to meet, could it?

It was, he realised a moment later. Mr. Winter was shaking Jonathan’s hand, leading him to a side door. What was happening? Rose was refusing to go, shaking her head and stamping her feet. Mrs. Winter was accosting her, Mr. Winter apologising to Jonathan. Rose was still refusing to move; people were starting to look in their direction. Mrs. Winter turned and headed towards him, crossing the dance floor in a few short seconds.

“Oh, Mr. Burlingham, will you please help us?”

“What is the matter? Is something amiss?”

“Rose will not sit with the man we wish her to meet. She is having an enormous tantrum and I don’t know what to do.”

“I suggest you let me take her home. I told you I did not think she was ready for this yet.”

“But what of Mr. Carlisle? What will he think of such a display?”

“Tell him what you like. Leave Rose to me.”