Heavenstone 02 - Secret Whispers

ten minutes later, I heard Mrs. Dobson greet Mr. Manglesthorpe. Lucille came down the stairs quickly and introduced him to me.
    “I asked Mr. Manglesthorpe to come now, which will be about the time we begin the reception,” she explained. “It’s the best way to see how it will be.”
    “Let’s hope we have a night as beautiful as this one’s promising to be,” he said, more to me than to Lucille. “However, I have provided for large tents.”
    “It won’t dare rain. Semantha and I won’t permit it, right, Semantha?”
    I nodded. Ordinarily, I’d have thought that was a really silly thing to say, but Lucille sounded and looked as if she actually believed she had the power to control the weather.
    We began the tour. I felt a little silly walking behind Lucille and Mr. Manglesthorpe, even when Lucille would turn around to me and ask, “Don’t you agree?”
    To me, it didn’t seem to make much difference ifthe soft-drink kiosk was just down from the second bar or not. I certainly wasn’t going to disagree with their decision to form a U with the tables so that more people could actually view the dais, and what was so complicated about where the altar should be so as not to have the guests looking into the sun?
    She surprised me, however, when she told Mr. Manglesthorpe that the dance floor should be in front of the dais so I could feel more involved in the activity.
    “I don’t want any of us shoved off to the side, especially the younger people at this wedding. We want to be right in the thick of it, right, Semantha?”
    “Yes,” I said quickly, even though I had no idea how I would be in the thick of it. She smiled at me as if she knew something I didn’t.
    Afterward, at dinner, Lucille described the wedding arrangements to my father, again making it seem as if I had been an integral part of the decisions. Daddy was in a much better mood and applauded every decision Lucille had made. The only moment that gave him any hesitation was when she asked if he was certain he wanted my uncle Perry to be his best man.
    “Of course I do. He’s my brother,” he said, holding his smile. He glanced at me. I was sure I looked quite shocked that she would even think to ask.
    “Well, I was just thinking . . . I know how close you have been with Senator Brice. Just imagine what it would look like, how impressive it would be.”
    “What? You mean to have Captain Brice be my best man?”
    “He was a war hero, and I know he would wear his uniform for the occasion,” she said. “What a picture that would make in the newspapers.”
    Again, he glanced at me, and then he smiled. “It sounds as if you’ve already broached the subject with him.”
    “Not him, exactly. You know I’ve been friends with Meg Brice for years.”
    He was silent. I said nothing, but I was sure he could feel my eyes on him.
    “I wouldn’t want to hurt Perry’s feelings,” Daddy said.
    I was grateful for that and stopped holding my breath. I didn’t think Lucille would go on with it, but she surprised me.
    “Perry is a pretty astute man. He would certainly see the political benefits, I’m sure.”
    “Political?” I asked. The word just shot out of my mouth, as if Cassie had propelled it. “I mean, it’s a wedding, not an election.”
    Lucille smiled that smile she gave when she wanted me to feel like a much younger girl, someone who needed doors and windows opened so she could see what was going on in the real world.
    “When you reach your father’s and my social level, Semantha, everything we do has political implications.” She turned back to Daddy and gazed at him with admiration as she slipped her right hand into his left. “Your father knows I have secret ambitions for him.”
    “What secret ambitions?”
    “Oh, Lucille,” he said. “Let’s not talk about any of that now.”
    “No, Teddy, she should know. She’s a grown woman now, and besides, she should be part of every important family decision.” Lucille turned back to me. “There’s been some serious talk about your father running for governor at the end of the present governor’s term. He has a little more than two years left, and he’s made it clear that he won’t run again.”
    “But . . .” I turned to Daddy. “How can you be governor and still run the Heaven-stone Corporation?”
    Lucille looked to him for his answer, too.
    “Well . . . Lucille is coming aboard to assume, assist, and take on some of my executive responsibilities,”