They sat. Tea was served. The social pleasantries were exchanged with the efficiency of people who knew they were all performing a ritual before getting to the actual purpose.
Lady Matilda looked at Jake with the directness of desperation.
"I'll be blunt, Master Raikarndel. I want you to marry my daughter."
Jake kept his expression neutral, though internally he was recalibrating his assessment of this conversation.
"That's certainly direct."
"I'm aware this is unusual. We haven't been introduced socially, you don't know my family, and there's no courtship tradition between our houses."
Lady Matilda's words came faster, her composure cracking at the edges.
"But I have wealth, a significant one at that. I can provide financial support to your endeavors, funding for whatever ventures you're pursuing, and political backing from the merchant guilds where my family has influence."
Jake said nothing, waiting.
