Chapter 6 by Belle (8)

The evening was going as well as Emily might have expected.  One by one the gentlemen emerged from the limousines.  Each one was very nice looking, fit, and had a winsome smile.  There was no doubt they were pleased to meet her.  She was getting a pleasant buzz from the champagne she'd been sipping, but didn't have a worry.  She greeted each man with her little speech, and if her mind appeared to wander even the least bit, there was a cute little mouse or bird right there to prompt her what to do and say.

Emily wasn't keeping count of the men, but now she was getting a bit concerned that she hadn't yet seen her intended.  Of course, she wasn't about to give him away by making any sign of recognition, but she would feel so reassured once she knew he was safely in the house.

The limos came and went.  Now a different looking automobile pulled into the driveway.  Instead of yet another Lincoln Continental, this one looked to Emily like one of those luxury English cars--oh, what was it?  A Rolls Royce?  There was something slightly different about it.  And it had an odd hood ornament--almost like a serpent in a figure 8, with wings.  She knew a little about cars and was trying to figure it out when a well-coiffed, distinguished looking man with a confident smile and energetic stride alighted from the car and approached her.

"Hello, Emily," he said in a soothing baritone voice.  "You have no idea how long I have been waiting to meet you.  And I must say, I'm not at all disappointed."

Emily completely forgot her little speech, and the only bird in sight was a crow perched on a nearby tree limb with what looked for all like the world like one of her white raisins in its mouth.  Emily was easily distracted.  Hearing the man quietly clear his throat, she turned her attention back to him.  "What did you say your name was?"  Emily asked.

"I didn't," said the man.  "I am the Lupine Ovine."

"The . . . the . . . what?  The lew-pahn oh-vahn?  Shut up!  I never heard of that!"

"Well . . . " began the stranger.

Emily interrupted, "Ah don't even know what that is, and Ah'll never learn to say it!"

Then her attention returned to the car, and her question about it answered itself.  "Ah'll just call you after your car.  Is that all right?"

"Bentley it is!" said the man.  He gave Emily another smile, a wink, and a firm but affectionate handshake.  Then he glided toward the house, thinking that he was going to have a very nice time indeed in Care-A-Lion.