Chapter 160

She sat looking around at the people who danced, ate or laughed. It was a pleasant enough evening, but it seemed like it was never going to end. She smiled at the people who passed them, certain her face was going to freeze in this position. She felt hot and in desperate need of the water she asked the waiter to bring her, when she spied her husband in a small group of cousins. He was a very gallant man, paying attention to those gathered around him, smiling, laughing and swapping stories. He was a proficient host and seemed relaxed and under control, even the few times Andrew or Clark came over to speak with him.

New Hope’s publicity department released a short statement earlier that afternoon, thanking everyone for their thoughtful gifts and asking that anyone wishing to send more make a donation instead, so they had managed to ward off the majority of gifts or money. So far, there were only about fifty presents received from those who had either already purchased a present or had n