Madeline gave John her usual seat, allowing him to sit next to Eleanor. It was odd not sitting next to her sister. But after they wed, they would sit next to their husbands. Yet there was no time to consider the changes further. Footmen were carrying around trays, and a pot of tea appeared next to her plate.

“How do you take your morning tea?”

“One lump of sugar and a little milk.” He gave his head an imperceptible shake. “How did you know I might like my morning tea differently?”

“Many people do. In our house, our morning tea is much stronger than what we serve in the afternoon.”

He took a sip. “I hadn’t even noticed how the tea tasted the last time I broke my fast with you.”

That was not surprising. He probably was not thinking about the food at all. “It was your first time with the family.”

“True.” He took two pieces of ham from a plate a footman offered him.

Eleanor dug into a coddled egg. For a short period of time the table was relatively quiet. A very short period of time.

“Have you decided if you will take a wedding trip?” Dotty asked.

John had just taken a bite of toast and Eleanor swallowed her piece of egg. “Yes. We will go to Paris for a few weeks.”

As it had at supper last evening, the talk turned to the wedding, with the children adding their ideas.

“I think we should have the ceremony in the garden. Like we did with Duke and Daisy,” Augusta said. “It was the most beautiful wedding I have been to.”

Mary nodded her head in agreement. “I think so too.”

“Duke and Daisy?” John whispered.

“Our old dogs. Daisy was expecting puppies, and we decided they needed to marry.”

Across from them, Con started coughing, and Charlotte’s eyes sparkled with laughter.

“Con, do you need a glass of water?” Eleanor asked.

“He will be fine.” Charlotte patted her husband’s back. “You do not know that he thought I was marrying someone else and ran out to the garden only to find it was the dogs.”

“Papa.” Elizabeth’s brows drew together. “You said Posy would have puppies this autumn. She will need to be married first.”

“We can help plan the wedding,” Constance said.

Soon all the younger members of the family were planning Posy and Zeus’s wedding.

“It’s almost a relief the focus is no longer on us,” John murmured.

If Eleanor could be certain it would not rain, she would like a garden service. Unfortunately, one could not depend upon the weather. “For the moment.”

Soon everyone was finishing their repast, and Matt stood. “Montagu, Eleanor, please come with me.”