"Bonjour, Papa," Jacques replied, rather sardonically. "How lovely to see you too. Frankly, I would have no idea. The aristocratic excesses of Versailles do not particularly interest me."
In the name of the Supreme Being, what was it with his father? Jacques downed his cup of punch in one go and coughed. He did not usually drink and he was furious with himself for forgetting how alcohol burned on the way down. "I wonder that you-" never tire in pointing out the goddamn obvious "-should think it odd they only invited aristos. The invitation specified court society. Aristocratic pretension, all of it. Oh. On that score, you will be glad to know I danced with Lady Patience Hurst."