He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 40

40. Royal Invitation

Townhouse in London

It was lunchtime, and the engagement ceremony of Lord Louis Palmer and Miss Ashley Clifford was underway.

Though their courtship had been brief, Baron Hazel Palmer’s enthusiastic support led to a swift engagement ceremony.

The modest ceremony was held in a four-story townhouse in London, owned by Baron Palmer.

While Baron Palmer’s primary residence was in Hampstead, he reserved this luxurious townhouse, complete with a spacious terrace, for special occasions.

Ashley’s relatives and friends were visibly impressed by the Palmer family’s wealth.

Theo shared their astonishment.

The grand chandeliers, elaborate decorations, and the collection of porcelain and artworks displayed throughout the house were all valuable enough to be considered family heirlooms.

He could directly sense the extent of their wealth, accumulated through trade.

The food served was equally impressive.

Venison, beef, pheasant, and turkey were abundant, and a side table overflowed with exotic spices, fruits, and liquors that Baron Palmer had imported through his trade network. These were delicacies that even noble families of modest means could only dream of.

A beautifully decorated three-tiered cake stood at the center of the large table, enhancing the celebratory atmosphere.

Shortly after, the engagement ceremony formally commenced.

Louis, beaming with happiness, wore a handsome suit adorned with luxurious embroidery. Ashley looked radiant in a top-quality white silk dress, complemented by elegant jewelry and a feather headdress.

In an engagement between a less affluent noble family and a wealthy commoner family, a marriage contract and a thorough examination of the noble family’s genealogy would be standard procedure. However, such formalities were unnecessary for Louis and Ashley, who both came from respectable backgrounds.

“Wow-”

As Louis Palmer carefully presented a sparkling diamond ring, a collective gasp of admiration filled the room.

Traditionally, European engagement rings often featured blue or red gemstones like sapphires or rubies.

However, in the late 15th century, Archduke Maximilian of Austria gifted a diamond ring to his fiancée as a symbol of ‘eternal love,’ popularizing the diamond as the gemstone of choice for engagement rings.

As Louis Palmer placed the diamond ring on Ashley’s finger with a tender expression, a palpable sense of joy seemed to illuminate the entire hall.

* * *

“Joanna! Joanna!”

As the engagement ceremony concluded and the guests began to dine, Baroness Palmer urgently summoned the food attendant maid.

“Yes, madam. You called?”

The Baroness pointed to the soup and asked in a sharp tone.

“What spices did you put in the sea turtle soup?”

“Yes? I put them in as you instructed… Why do you ask?”

The Baroness glared at the maid, her expression fierce.

“I specifically told you to use saffron. Did you definitely use saffron?”

“…”

“You didn’t use annatto [a reddish-orange food coloring and flavoring], did you?”

The maid’s face fell.

“What? Did you actually use annatto?”

“…Ma…Madam. That’s…”

Ashley approached the Baroness, noticing her rising agitation.

“Mother? What’s wrong?”

The Baroness struggled to contain her anger and replied.

“Oh, darling, you see, I instructed them to put saffron in the soup, but these careless girls used cheap spices instead! It’s such a disgrace with so many important guests here!”

Ashley quickly took a spoonful of the soup and said with a bright smile.

“Wow, this sea turtle soup has such a unique flavor! I’ve never tasted anything so delicious. Did you prepare it yourself, Mother?”

The maid, Joanna, seized the opportunity and quickly added.

“Yes, miss. Everyone knows how wonderful the Madam’s sea turtle soup is.”

Ashley nodded, feigning understanding.

“If you’re upset because you don’t like such a delicious dish, imagine how incredible the soup you originally envisioned must have been!”

“…”

“Even I think you have every right to be angry, Mother. I know how much effort you put into preparing for our engagement ceremony. But even this food is already so wonderful. It’s truly the best soup I’ve ever had.”

“…Is that so? But if I had used saffron…”

“Of course, Mother. It would have been even more delicious. I definitely want to try the saffron soup at my upcoming wedding.”

The Baroness’s anger visibly dissipated at Ashley’s soothing words.

“Oh… well… yes. You’re right, it would be more meaningful to serve the better soup at the wedding.”

“Of course, Mother.”

Joanna, who had been dreading a severe reprimand, breathed a sigh of relief and gave Ashley a grateful look.

A faint smile touched Theo’s lips as he observed the scene.

‘Ashley possesses remarkable emotional intelligence and situational awareness, qualities that would make her a success even in the 21st century. The Palmer family is fortunate to have such an excellent daughter-in-law.’

The timid and insecure Baroness Palmer and her three daughters were no match for Ashley Clifford from the start.

As time passed, the Baroness and the Palmer sisters would inevitably come to rely on Ashley’s confidence and wisdom.

* * *

Hampstead, London.

Theo’s study.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

Theo, who was engrossed in reading the letters piled high on his desk, looked up.

Lucy entered, carrying a basket overflowing with letters.

“Ha, more of these?”

“Yes.”

A wry smile appeared on Theo’s face.

Inquiries about matchmaking had been steadily increasing, and after the Count Anthony Burns case, the number of letters had exploded.

It seemed that Theo’s reputation for identifying the murderer, Gavin Murray, had spread through word of mouth.

“Goodness, at this rate, they’ll be worth the price of a carriage!”

He appreciated the support, but postal service in England at the time was quite expensive.

Fees were typically calculated based on distance, and since letters were folded and sealed with wax rather than placed in envelopes, the cost increased significantly with multiple pages.

Moreover, the recipient was responsible for paying the postage, making it a considerable expense.

After handing over the basket of letters, Lucy carefully retrieved another letter from her bosom, her face flushed.

“Master, there’s one more piece of mail.”

“…?”

Theo was puzzled. He wondered why she hadn’t simply included it with the others.

“What kind of letter requires such special handling?”

“That’s… because it’s a letter from the royal family. Someone arrived in a royal carriage to deliver it a little while ago.”

“The royal family?”

Lucy, despite being a maid, was literate.

Theo took the letter from Lucy. It was written on luxurious paper.

‘…!’

Theo’s eyes widened in surprise.

The letter bore the emblem of the British royal family.

‘Why would the royal family send me a letter?’

Theo quickly broke the wax seal and unfolded the letter.

The letter contained a brief message.

It was an invitation.

It stated that the King would be holding a meeting with senior government officials in a few days to gather opinions from outside sources, and he wished for Theo to attend.

At this time, George III often invited prominent nobles or intellectuals with expertise in political matters to Windsor Castle to discuss national affairs and social conditions.

‘I suppose I was invited because I helped Duke David Manners, who is friends with George III… George III in 1776…’

It was an unexpected invitation.

Theo rose from his seat and paced around the study, deep in thought.

He was trying to recall everything he knew about King George III and the historical context of the time.

Since the previous year, England had been at war with its North American colonies.

Despite facing more resistance than anticipated, there was a widespread belief that England would soon subdue the colonial forces and restore the previous relationship.

However, the Declaration of Independence of the North American colonies was imminent, and their resistance, led by Commander George Washington, would become a significant challenge for England.

‘It seems that around this time, the North American colonists began to lose faith in King George III… and George III will be under considerable stress as a result.’

When looking back at the American Revolutionary War, it’s often assumed that the North American colonists were strongly opposed to both England and the King.

However, the reality was more nuanced.

While there was certainly distrust and dissatisfaction with England, its officials, and its government, the colonists generally held King George III in high regard.

For example, immediately after the Stamp Act was repealed by order of the King in March 1766, George III’s popularity in North America soared.

Grand banquets were held throughout North America to celebrate George III’s birthday, and celebration parties were held to praise the King. In some places, statues were even erected in his honor.

However, the ‘Boston Tea Party’ in December 1773 dramatically changed the situation.

The British Prime Minister, Frederick North, implemented strict sanctions against North America, arguing that the colonists had been treated too leniently.

The North American colonial representatives protested, and in response, they convened a ‘Continental Congress’ and formed a ‘Continental Army’ to protect their rights and freedoms.

Even at this point, the North American colonists still maintained faith in George III as their king.

However, when George III declared them rebels and attempted to bring in foreign mercenaries and dispatch troops, their belief in him was shattered.

‘Now it’s May 1776, so they will declare independence in July. Then they will completely break ties with George III. The news will be a shock to him.’

If he was invited to a meeting in this context, the North American colonial issue would undoubtedly be a major topic of discussion.

He knew the historical facts well, which could be an advantage, but Theo was also concerned.

If England won the war, he might be able to impress George III. However, history dictated a different outcome.

The North American colonies had been acquired at great cost after the Seven Years’ War with France had drained the national treasury.

Now, they were fighting another war with the colonists, a conflict that would ultimately end in England’s humiliating defeat, a result that King George would never accept.

‘This is a good opportunity to build a relationship with George III, but the American Revolutionary War is a war that ends in the worst possible outcome for England.

It’s not just a casual discussion; it could be a problem that greatly offends King George, who is leading the war.’

Theo’s life as Theo Sanderson had changed, but he couldn’t be sure if he could alter major historical events.

Moreover, the American Revolutionary War was influenced by complex international relations.

He worried that rashly predicting the war’s outcome in front of the King could have unforeseen consequences.

‘If George III has heard about my reputation from the Intelligence Club… he might ask about the future of the war. If he asks, I don’t know what to say.’

It was a dangerous historical moment.

And he was standing precariously in the middle of it.

Theo couldn’t guarantee what kind of trouble he would cause if he pretended to know and made a mistake he couldn’t undo.