Chapter 29
Elizabeth wasasleep on Susan’s lap as they headed back toward Haverford. John was holding Susan’s hand and even he was fighting noddingoff.
Mamma had persuaded them to say for dinner and had managed to send word to Jacob and Louisa to bring their families to meet the newly engagedcouple.
Now, as the carriage rocked, all three weretired.
“How did it go with Katherine?” John asked when he had briefly shaken off histiredness.
“Well enough. I left it for her to tell her parents about our engagement. And we both agreed to be each other’s bridesmaids. So it was not adisaster.”
“Christmas is coming rapidly upon us. I’d like to announce our engagement Christmas day. Would that be fine with you?” Johnasked.
Susan nodded. “Seems like a good time to do it. But won’t we need to set a wedding day before weannounce?”
John nodded. “If you like. And what are your thoughts aboutthat?”
“It would be nice to hold the wedding outdoors in warm weather. April—May? How does thatsound?”
John smiled. “I’m not sure I want to wait thatlong.”
“Oh… Then what are you thinking?” sheasked.
“Sometime before the sheering starts up inMarch.”
“Not in the church where Simon and I were to be married, please. That would not be comfortable—for any ofus.”
“I was thinking of the Haverfordchapel.”
“Oh, that’s a sweet place. Perfect. Then you set the date to your liking. But let me know because I want to invite my cousin Jessica and her husband and they are so booked ahead they’ll need to knowearly.”
“And I was thinking of inviting Annabel’s parents too. It’s been a long time since they’ve seen theirgranddaughter.”
“Very good idea,” Susananswered.
“Oh, and speaking about engagements, Simon told me he’d found our Christmas treeandannounced right afterward that he’d asked Fitz to marryhim.”
“Gracious… were you expectingthat?”
John laughed. “Simon mentioned the possibility to me a few daysbefore.”
“And how do you feel about that?” sheasked.
“Ambiguous, at best. But it’s hislife.”
“But does that mean they’ll be living at Haverford with us in perpetuity?” Susan almostgiggled.
“I’ve given that somethought.”
“And?”
“I thought they might be able to reside at the school when it’s completed, but if it becomes a boarding school, I don’t think it would be very comfortable living with dozens of students runningabout.”
“Oh,no.”
“So I think it’s best to wait and see if their wedding actually happens, and if it does, we’ll evaluate the situationthen.”
“Have they set a date for their wedding?” Susanasked.