"Long engagements have always struck me as a little silly. Unless there are dire life or death reasons to delay a marriage, of course." She looked over at the ducks, who looked very fat and happy indeed. She wondered idly if they picked up some of her emotional vibe. Could she affect animals?

She had questions, even in her happiness-addled mind, deeply pertinent ones about Alexander, about Brooke's readiness to marry. But they weren't really appropriate to bring up now, even if she'd felt like it. Alexander had never been anything but an absolute gentleman as far as Stephanie had ever seen. And he was quite a prospect from most perspectives.

And how could she refuse that request? She couldn't. There was no way.

"Of course. I'd be honored." Stephanie replied with a warm smile. She laughed slightly. "It's strange to hear myself be referred to as a 'matron' of any sort."

But she hadn't been a 'maid' for some considerable time, either.