Courting officials required a lot of money, so I needed to create a business that catered to the elite. I decided to open a luxurious establishment that would attract the wealthiest of London.
I spared no expense in renovating Goldenrose Hall, hiring the finest musicians and the most beautiful performers.
It was around this time that an unexpected visitor arrived at the Duke's estate.
More precisely, a servant from the House of Leigh.
When Simon entered the courtyard, holding a letter, I was deep in thought, planning the next steps for Goldenrose Hall.
"Eliza, Lady Ann Leigh has written to me," he said as I looked up.
Over the past few days, Simon had changed a little.
"What does she say?" I asked calmly, though I already had a good idea.
Sure enough, his expression became tense. "She's invited me to a poetry gathering. She says our families have always been close, and she wants to clear up any misunderstandings."
Close? I almost laughed.
There had been some friendship between our families, but when we went to the Leighs for help, only to have a letter of rejection thrown in our faces, that so-called bond ended.