The banquet hall in the main house opened at the ninth bell.
The courtyard celebration was still going for those who preferred the open air, but the formal dinner was being held inside, in the same grand hall where the morning briefing had taken place.
Long tables had been arranged in a wide horseshoe, with Lord Edmund's seat at the head. The suitors and their main representatives occupied the two sides, while family members and other guests filled the curved section at the back.
Alex sat about halfway down the left side.
Lucy and Riya were seated along the curved section, close enough to keep an eye on him but too far away for any real conversation. Nathan had somehow managed to find himself a spot near the base as well.
As tradition required, Lord Edmund was the last to enter.
He wore a formal coat of deep blue silk, the McCoy crest embroidered in gold over his chest.
And walking beside him was Evelyn.
She looked nothing like the woman Alex had seen at the morning briefing.
