(This chapter was written in collaboration with my online life-partner PixieHoff. We have a lot of fun bouncing story ideas between us. In this chapter we role-play the first professional date of Pixie, played by PixieHoff while I play the part of her client Vijaya. We hope that you, our dear reader, will enjoy it as much as we do)
At breakfast, as has become usual, the mobiles announce the arrival, every five minutes or so, of a text message from Michelle. For the first time, there is no booking message for me.
There is a letter for me from James Innes, Alisa's solicitor, and excusing myself go into the lounge for privacy. It says that her complete estate, including property, is valued at Β£37,507,385.47. Inheritance Tax is 0% for the first Β£325,000 and 40% on the remainder, i.e. on Β£37,182,385.47 which means the inheritance tax is Β£14,872,954 and his fee is Β£2,000. He asks me to call and advise how I require the Β£22,634,431.47 to be paid. I call him immediately to thank him for his letter and ask him to transfer the funds to my bank account and give him the details necessary for the transfer to be made. Our business completed, the call ends.
I call my bank and ask to be put through to the manager. After explaining who I am and the purpose of my call, he picks up the call and asks how he may help. I advise him of the imminent transfer due to arrive from James Innes, a solicitor and say that I wish the whole amount of Β£22,634,431.47 to be immediately transferred to my 'special' high interest account. He confirms my identity by asking me some security questions and then advises that he will make the transfer for me and send confirmation by email. I thank him for his assistance and the call ends. I return to the kitchen.
Pixie's client is Vijaya, a junior minister in the government of India which requires her to visit her political counterpart in London on a regular basis. The appointment is 7:30 p.m. at the Savoy hotel on The Strand. Given her sensitive situation, she is to ask for 'Genevieve' at Reception and she will be escorted to her suite. In celebration, I decide to buy Pixie a new sari gown for her date.
Having finished breakfast Piti takes me aside and, begging my pardon, says that there is no need for secrecy because they can all see our love for each other in our faces. I thank her and say that we are planning to announce something later in the day. She kisses me with a sparkle in her eye. As always, I respond. I ask her advice on buying Pixie some sari gowns and she tells me of the Sari Emporium in Southall. In need of a car, she suggests Inika drives us in the older BMW as Inika knows the Sari Emporium, having briefly lived nearby.
On our drive to Chelsea Old Town Hall, I tell Pixie that our secret is known. She merely smiles: "Whatever will be, will be!"
In the Registry Office, Pixie's name replaces Alisa's in the booking as my wife-to-be. The necessary forms are completed on the production of Pixie's birth, and Alisa's death, certificates. There being more than a month to our wedding on Wednesday the 20th of October, we are officially engaged to be married! I pay the modest fee required for the change.
The next destination is the World Travel Club, where I show Alisa's death certificate and Pixie's name is substituted for Alisa's for our flights to Delhi. There is no charge made.
Our next stop is The Diamond Store to collect our engagement rings. The inside of Pixie's ring is now engraved: Sansa β€οΈ Emily. The work is perfect with no evidence of the former engraving or of any platinum in-fill and it fits beautifully. My ring is now engraved: Emily β€οΈ Sansa and again the work is perfect.
Our time sensitive business completed, Inika drives us to Southall.
In the Sari Emporium both of us are overwhelmed by the generous displays of opulent, yet beautiful sari gowns, basically a gown that is designed to look like a sari but is more of an evening gown. The first to seize our attention is a laurel green satin with floral print, ready pleated, sari gown with spaghetti straps. It features a six inch high band of sequin frills around the hemline and a realistic pallu.
I enquire if such dresses are available in India, we are informed that they are and they cost much less there. With just over a month to go before our wedding and subsequent honeymoon in Delhi, we agree to wait for our main shopping spree but add another 3 sari gowns to give Pixie a workable wardrobe for the time being. I decide to buy the same lovely sari gowns in my size. The arduous task of trying them on and modelling for each other keeps us busy and happy for over half an hour. After which I pay the bill.
We return home in time for a light lunch. With the family and servants assembled, I don't beat about the bush: "You all helped me through my grief at losing Alisa and for that I am eternally grateful. Pixie devoted herself completely to caring for my every need as might be expected of a servant, but she went way beyond the call of duty and took me into her loving care. The short version of the story is that we fell in love, I asked her to marry me and she accepted my proposal."
"This morning Inika drove us to the Registry Office where, on production of Alisa's death, and Pixie's birth, certificates, her name was substituted for Alisa's for our wedding on Wednesday the 20th of October. We then went to the jewellers to collect our engagement rings, altered accordingly. Pixie is now my fiancΓ©e, and I am hers ... forever!"
"We hope you will be happy for us and embrace us with your usual love and affection. However, if you decide you would prefer not to share your wedding with us then we will be distraught, but will understand and accept your decision. There will be no question of repercussions, that just isn't Pixie's style or mine!"
We take out our rings and with a kiss we slide them onto each other's left ring finger. As ever, my ladies rise to the occasion and congratulate us with enthusiastic hugs and kisses. I've become used to their love and family commitment but notice Pixie's eyes fill with tears of happiness. I pass her some tissues and smiling, she rapidly recovers. Pixie is instantly an official member of the family, and we can stop worrying about the pull-down studio bed.
Piti asks if we will model our purchases for them and we happily agree. Jokingly, Java suggests a trip to Southall and laughing it is dismissed because they have sufficient clothes until the honeymoon, when we all plan a huge shopping spree in Delhi. What they don't know is that I plan to pay for them all.
"We hope you will be happy for us and embrace us with your usual love and affection. However, if you decide you would prefer that you don't want to share your wedding with us then, I will be distraught, but will understand and accept your decision. There will be no question of repercussions, that just isn't Pixie's style or mine!"
Piti stands and smiling says: "When I spoke privately to Belle this morning, I informed her that there is no need for secrecy because everyone can all see their love for each other in their faces." Everyone agrees and Piti continues: "We all love you Belle and want the best for you. We all saw your grief and grieved with you, now we can see your joy, and that of Pixie, and I for one share that joy with you both and look forward to our quadruple wedding and honeymoon." Lali, Sooni, Riya, Inika and Java join her standing up and one by one express the same sentiment. The 6 servants stand and smile but being uninvolved, say nothing. All of a sudden pandemonium breaks out then Pixie and I are smothered in hugs and kisses to the lips. We feel so relieved.
Lali has a word with the servants, and they leave the room briefly. They return bearing a lovely afternoon tea with cakes, clearly organised before the meeting. Our engagement rings are inspected and admired, raising the question: "Who are Emily and Sansa?"