[Bethany gave him an arch look - as a look of happiness turned to surprise and then shock and then What the Ever Loving Maker - and she gave him a tart little smile.]

This is what you get for not answering not one of my letters, you know. I invited you to the wedding and everything.

[Then that tartness faded into one of pure happiness.]

Oh Carver, just wait until you meet him - his name is Aleron Darton and he's so good and strong and handsome and smart and you'll just love him I know it you have the same sort of dedication to duty and all that -