As it was a delightfully mild October, the reception was held in the great hall with the doors leading to the park fully open, with pavilions outside, so guests could be inside the house or out on thelawn.
Mark and Emily stationed themselves in one of the outdoor pavilions to greet well-wishers. Mark’s attention was taken with many of his colleagues from the House of Lords congratulating him and inserting discussions of upcominglegislation.
Emily was surrounded mostly by her family, with her mother crying, her father beaming, and her sisters and brother-in-law all talking at once—asking innumerable questions about her new life at Linfield Hall, her upcoming career, and how many children she planned tohave.
Emily looked up and saw Trent and Fanny holding back, but obviously wanting to chat with her. After many of Mark’s friends had wished them well, the crowd began to fall away, as an orchestra began playing, the champagne began flowing freely, and the generous buffet table was opened for the guests to starteating.
“How are you holding up, my dear wife?” Mark asked Emily after the first wave of well-wishers movedaway.
“I could not behappier.”
Mark stepped back and holding Emily’s hands, said, “How beautiful you look! I should very much like to have your portrait painted just as you look at this verymoment.”
She blushed slightly. And as they finally had a quiet moment, she reached into her bodice and pulled out an object, and taking Mark’s hand, opened it and placed the object in hispalm.
He studied it for a moment. “Is that my luckypenny?”
“It most certainly is. I just wanted to give it back to you since it has worked so very well for me. I will soon have my career, but most importantly, and even better, I haveyou.”
He leaned in and gave her a long and savored kiss. “Thank you, my darling Emily, the magic has already worked for me, aswell.”
The Duchess and Baggs came over and claimed Mark’s attention, and in that opening, Trent and Fanny inserted themselves. Each taking one of Emily’s arms as they pulled heraside.
Fanny immediately began crying. “I am never going to see you again,” she wailed. “You are now some hoity-toity Duchess, and all your minions will be shopping at Harrods for you, and you will never visit me and will forget all aboutus.”
“She gets emotional when we talk about you,” Trentsaid.
“I think not. I may be a duchess, but I am also a working concert pianist. I will be traveling everywhere and coming and going through London all the time. I will visit my family and you and Giles and never forget any ofyou.”
“Really, and truly, cross yourheart?”
“Double cross,” Emily said, before she realized that did not sound so reassuring. “I mean I am not going to change all thatmuch.”
“Until you become famous, and all regal, and then start having children,” Fannyinsisted.
“Well, what about you? What happens when you meet just the right young man? What will keep you from going all gooey and start drooling and forget all aboutme?”
Fanny laughed. “Well…actually…”
“You have not? You met someone special?” Emily askedgleefully.
Fanny became all coy andblushing.
“He is a fireman. How about that?” Trent said, giving the surpriseaway.
“How did you meet? Did something burn down that I do not know about?” Emilyasked.
“No-o-o… He came to buy a nightdress for his mother, and we got to talkingand…”
“Soon she and Thomas were having tea in the restaurant,” Trent said, helping the storyalong.
Fanny turned to her brother. “Whose story is this anyway? Keep the tale to yourself,” sheadmonished.
He held his hands in the air and took a step back in self-defense. “Whatever yousay.”
Emily could see Mark was looking her way. He was probably expecting her to rejoinhim.
Emily reached out and put her hand on Fanny’s arm. “You must excuse me. I really want to hear more. You are going to stay the night,yes?”
