prelude to a kiss`

[allison]

CODE

<sub>"...THAT A SINGLE MAN IN POSSESSION OF A GOOD FORTUNE MUST BE IN WANT OF A WIFE."

AT LEAST, THAT'S HOW THE REST OF THE QUOTE GOES, AS WE ARE ALL
FAMILIAR. CUE CURTAIN AND THE SCENE OPENS ON LONDON, THE YEAR
IS 1811 AND THE SOCIAL SEASON IS JUST ABOUT TO BEGIN. THE WAR
WITH FRANCE IS HEIGHTENING IN TENSION -- MUCH TO THE DELIGHT
OF THE PEERAGE. THE HAUTE TON, OR HIGH SOCIETY, LIVE FOR
NOTHING BUT PLEASURABLE PURSUITS, FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF
THE PRINCE REGENT. LONDON IS TEEMING WITH LORDS AND LADIES,
MATRONS AND PATRONESSES, DEBUTANTES AND THEIR CHAPERONES
-- AND, OF COURSE, DASTARDLY FORTUNE HUNTERS AND LASCIVIOUS
RAKES, FAST LADIES AND GOSSIP MONGERS. LONDON SOCIETY IS AS
GLITTERING AS THE CROWN JEWELS AND AS TREACHEROUS AS THE
BEAUTIFUL CLIFFS OF ENGLAND'S COAST.

THE SEASON, APTLY NICKNAMED THE MARRIAGE MART, IS WHERE
ALLIANCES ARE MADE OF THE DOMESTIC SORT. LOVE IS NOT ALWAYS
A FACTOR -- DESPITE MS. AUSTEN'S NOVELS. HAPPY ENDINGS ARE
A RARITY HERE IN THIS NOBLE INSTITUTION OF SILK AND AND FLICKERING
CANDLELIGHT. THINK YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BRAVE THE TON?

IN THE MARRIAGE MART, IT'S ALL JUST A PRELUDE TO A KISS</sub>


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