Stelmaria licked her fur. Asriel was irritated, his daemon always seemed distracted these days.
"You're the one who isn't concentrating" She muttered to him one day at a meeting with the kings council.
She was right. Edward Coulter had just put an eloquent defence of raising taxes on the poor that, had Asriel been listening, he would have been outraged about.
Infuriatingly his mind was preoccupied with Edwards Coulter's wife. Mrs Coulter seemed to be everywhere these days: at parties, though in truth he only went to parties that he was sure she would attend and constantly in the paper, maybe he only read articles that discussed her.
"I despise that woman." He muttered to his daemon. It wasn't a lie. He felt more unhinged than he ever had in his life. Mrs Coulter was beautiful but he could have dealt with that. She was powerful and independent, he could have dealt with that also. His problem stemmed from the fact he didn't make any recognisable impression on her. She was an equal. It was disturbing. Dangerous. But at the same time maddeningly irresistible. Stelmaria merely looked amused at his protests.
The next time he saw her was at Westminster. She was murmuring something to Mr Coulter in low and rushed tones. Some kind of urgent political advice Asriel supposed. He wandered over to the two of them.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything" He said, ignoring the fact he was clearly interrupting something. Asriel felt vindicated by the look of pure outrage on Edward Coulter's face. Mrs Coulter merely raised an eyebrow. The Golden Monkey flashed a toothy grin.
"We were talking about Gyptians. Specifically, whether they should be allowed to make port anywhere in England." Edward began unhappily.
"Of course they should" Asriel muttered, barely bothered to partake in the age old debate.
"Yes my wife recently changed her mind about the subject. I certainly know I never will"
Asriel raised an eyebrow. Could Mrs Coulter have changed her political views due to him? It almost seemed too much to hope for. Then again, why should that matter to him at all, Stelmaria reminded him.
"Oh don't look so hopeful Asriel" Mrs Coulter began with a laugh. "If Gyptians are in England more frequently they have to spend money in England more frequently. My only concern is taxation."
"And here I though you had developed a moral compass"
Edward looked worried. "Well obviously the well being of the Gyptian population is at the forefront of all of our concerns. I don't find the possession of a moral compass something to joke about." He said earnestly.
Mrs Coulter caught Lord Asriels eye. It took all her self control to refrain from laughing.
"By the bye Asriel" She began, ignoring Edwards wide eyed shock at the informality with which she addressed him "we're having a party on Saturday. Just our closest friends. We would love it if you could join us."
"Yes. It would be a pleasure." Edward Coulter muttered though his teeth were clenched and he stared at his wife with incredulity.
Lord Asriel smiled. At this moment he felt unreasonably pleased that Mr Coulter was strained by the bonds of polite society.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." He addressed only Mrs Coulter. There was some unspoken agreement that they would never mention but they both understood. Whatever happened at the Coulters party on Saturday would change everything between them. That much was clear. Neither of them realised that Saturday would start the chain of reactions that would change the entire world. More than that, it would change every single world in existence and every single world that would ever exist. Maybe it was fate.