(A/N: sorry, fellas. This one is for the ladies.)

Banquets. Philip loved banquets. They were opportunities to share his experience of poetry, literature, and, of course, politics. But what he didn’t exactly love was his parents, especially his mother, teasing him about taking a bride.

He was fresh out of college and he was already being introduced to debutantes and other fair ladies. But none of them caught his interest. Some were too swoony, some were too... less fortunate visually.

Until one banquet, he saw a lady uncomfortable with a particular gentleman. And Philip saw her running out of excuses to get away from him. The gentleman kept on insisting, too close, too pushy. He had to intervene.