"Expectations" (Book 2), by Gratiana Lovelace (2018-2019), (Completed)

Ch. 31: Weddings Planning Negotiations

"Expectations" (Book 2)--Ch. 31: Weddings Planning Negotiations, 
August 05, 2019 by Gratiana Lovelace (Post #1253; & on Wattpad)

[an original Regency romance copyrighted by Gratiana Lovelace, 2018 - 2019; all rights reserved); [(1) story cover art, top left]

[As is my custom, from time to time I will illustrate my story with my ideal cast consisting of (in order of importance/mention in this chapter): Lord Christian Blount, the Earl of Sussex (portrayed by Richard Armitage); Lord Robert Knightsbridge of Lancashire, the Marquess of Wyre (portrayed by Hugh Grant); Lord Alfred Lindsay of York, the Marquess of Malten (portrayed by David Oakes); Lord Duncan of York, the Viscount Lindsay (portrayed by Rupert Penry-Jones); Lord Harold Blount of Sussex (portrayed by Crispin Bonham Carter); ; Lady Madeline Sinclair Blount Countess of Sussex (portrayed by Kate Winslet); Lady Elizabeth Blount of Sussex (portrayed by Jessica Brown Findlay); Lady Penelope Winston Blount, Lord Harold's new bride (portrayed by Lily Travers); Lady Gwendolyn Lindsay of York (portrayed by Emma Thompson); Lady Tamsin Knightsbridge Lindsay (portrayed by Francesca Capaldi) and Lady Constance Knightsbridge Lindsay of York and the Marchioness of Malten (portrayed by Margaret Clunie)]

Author's story content and serializing scheduling notes: For the most part, my ratings for the chapters will be PG-13—for romantic interludes and dramatic moments. If you are unable or unwilling to attend a movie with these ratings, then please do not read that chapter. This is my disclaimer. And I always put the previous chapter's brief recap at the top of the next chapter. Also, I hope to post new chapters weekly on Sundays or Mondays. I hope that you enjoy this chapter.

Ch. 31:  Weddings Planning Negotiations

After their morning estate ride, Lord Christian Earl of Sussex and Lord Duncan Viscount Lindsay were informed by their ladies that the parents, grandmothers, and aunts were to dine en famille up at Sussex Hall, whilst the brides are having their own younger ladies luncheon in the Sussex Hall Dower House Conservatory.

Hence the gentleman have a light picnic food buffet prepared for them in the Sussex Hall Billiards Room [(2) top middle] for the younger gentlemen husbands and the soon to be bride grooms.

Lord Christian has only recently had this room to be repurposed into a Billiards Room, due to the abundant natural light from the French doors leading onto the terrace that makes playing easier during the day—without the need for the expense nor the possibility of drippings upon the billiards table by wax candle illumination. And though Lord Christian has yet to masculinize the existing furnishings—him having only had the furniture seating groupings pushed to the walls for ease of movement around the table—he will soon rectify that with larger man sized chairs and such.

The gathering of the young gentlemen for luncheon and weddings planning discussions should be a convivial affair, but for the obvious discomfort of Lord Robert Knightsbridge of Lancashire the Marquess of Wyre—with his soon to be brothers-in-laws of Lord Duncan the Viscount Lindsay of York and Lord Alfred Lindsay of York the Marquess of Malten scowling at him.

However, Lord Christian hopes to intercede and smooth over any difficulties between the soon to be York and Lancashire brothers-in-law—not the least of which is that they will all become family relations to him when Lord Duncan the Viscount Lindsay of York marries Lord Christian's younger sister Lady Elizabeth Blount of Sussex in a fortnight.

Lord Christian: "Gentleman, welcome to our family weddings planning ... discussions." Lord Christian slightly dissembles, for he surmises as well as anyone that with Lord Robert having proposed to Lady Gwendolyn Lindsay of York--that complicates matters—and their engagement is a relatively new circumstance. The gentlemen's responses range from curt nods to hostile glaring—at Lord Robert.