The Arrangement

by Mary Balogh

“I am firmly of the opinion,” he said to her one afternoon when they were sitting together in the formal parterre gardens before the house despite a rather strong breeze, “that the scientific world has been in a wicked conspiracy against the masses for the past number of centuries, Miss Dean, in order to convince us that the earth is round. It is, of course, quite undeniably flat. Even a fool could see that. If one were to walk to the edge of it, one would fall off and never be heard of again. What is your opinion?”

Vincent is right up there with Colin and Wulfric for my favourite of Balogh's male leads. He's such a fun smartass

Sophia sat on the edge of the bed. Her feet dangled a few inches above the floor.

I have such an intense love of short protagonists

May I please lend you a dress to wear this evening? You are smaller than I am, but not hopelessly so. My maid is very skilled at making hasty and temporary adjustments. Will you be offended?”

Seems a bit late to ask about causing offense at the end of things