The golden platter swivels a centimeter counterclockwise when Penelope moves it with her tanned finger of her left hand. Her mother, Queen Ruth, sits eating her meal on the side of the long table in an elaborate pearl-beaded gown next to Lord Fairbanks. They both wait for an answer to Lord Fairbanks's question. Penelope averts her eyes to the center of the table with its floral arrangement of red roses open in bloom.
“Well, I just can’t think of marriage right now,” says Penelope to the two people present after a long silence.
“Darling, it's time you do as a Queen with no husband!” says Queen Ruth throwing her napkin on her gold plate.
“It’s all right. No hurry right?” adds Lord Fairbanks starting at Penelope's brown eyes.
