Miss Thane gazed at him with an expression of outrage in her face, and said: 'Tristram, are you daring – actually daring – to choose this out of all other moments to make me an offer?' 'Yes,' replied Sir Tristram. 'I am. Why not?' Miss Thane sat up. 'Have you sense of romance?' she demanded. 'I won't – no, I be proposed to with my hair falling down my back, a bandage round my head, and very likely a black eye as well! It is quite monstrous of you!' He smiled. 'Indeed, you will. You look delightfully. Will you marry me?
In this scene from Georgette Heyer's "The Talisman Ring," Miss Thane confronts Sir Tristram with incredulity and frustration over his proposal at such an inopportune moment. She is disheveled, with her hair down and injuries that add to her outrage. Her reaction reflects her strong sense of romance and the importance she places on the circumstances surrounding a proposal.
Sir Tristram, however, remains unfazed by her appearance and assertively stands by his decision to propose at that moment. He appreciates her beauty despite her condition and insists on asking her to marry him, showcasing a contrast between his straightforwardness and her romantic ideals.
