Possible Clues:

• Successive notes intended for Opposition
• Resistance from French bridegroom-to-be
• Refusal to comply
• Aggressiveness lower classes intended
• Extremely debatable - intended to make a challenge
• Journalist's taken back intended hostile challenge
• Disregard half-dead boyfriend
• Opposition of French fellow coming up for match?
• What a challenge it is to break the engagement, perhaps
• Challenge