[color=0072bc][b]Adrian[/b][/color]

How should he explain to her that him showing up late was out of tradition and not a lack of manners without telling her that he was the Earl of Summershire? He decided that silence would suffice his intentions. It would give her the false impression of being in the right and dampen the situation. No matter the consequences, he made sure that this evening would not even come remotely close to a disaster. 

Whilst she was discussing their shared future, Adrian, unobtrusively analyzed her body language. After all the secret emails and messages they were finally sitting opposite each other. Almost unbelievable, but not too good to be true. To his astonishment, she didn't bother with small-talk but preferred to come straight to the point. No false flattery or compliments. She did not even pay attention to his dear watch. Her eyes were directed at his face and her hands rested in her lap. Ironically, she reminded him of his own mother when she had one of her angry moments. Forthright, but still managing to couch her words in polite terms. 

"I am not going to pretend that my intentions are honourable." Adrian cleared his throat. "On the contrary, my sole object of interest is your fortune." [i]There, said it.[/i] "The last few months have been less profitable and now it is my duty to save my enterprise from bankruptcy - or even complete ruin." 
He leaned towards her, as if he was about to let her in on something. "Dear Azariah, your threats fall on deaf ears. Do you actually believe the public court would interfere in our affairs'? Trust me, they know me and they know better than to meddle in things that ought not to be meddled in." 
Sitting back, he gave the waiter a small gesture to fill their glasses with champagne, his eyes still resting on Azariah's face. 
"Now tell me, how do you plan to make this, I mean, - [b]us[/b] work?"