Oh, come now, you two,— Lady Manston said, —surely it can be no surprise that I have long hoped for an alliance between the Rokesbys and Bridgertons.— "Alliance?" Billie echoed, and all George could think was that it was a terrible, clinical word, one that could never encompass all that he had come to feel for her.

At 8:23 there seemed every chance of a lasting alliance starting between Florin and Guilder.At 8:24 the two nations were very close to war.

Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations...entangling alliances with none