Empty Office: Felicity, Galad, maybe Gil, their parents, Rafe and possibly Jack
Richard Bainbridge had a long list of reasons why he wanted to keep the betrothal in tact with the Rubinharts. Their connection to the Erlkönig was defnitely a factor, but the title was another. A lot of people who retained titles over the years lacked much of what that title used to have. Having a child who would be the heir and also a title-bearing heir was a perk. He wasn't going to risk losing that now.
"Excellent news," Richard said, "I should be able to smooth things over with the early wedding easy enough. I would prefer not to announce the pregnancy until after the wedding though. Legitimacy is a . . . delicate matter when it comes to our kin." The child for now was a bastard but a marriage should solve that. The sooner the better.
Felicity's head felt a bit light and she exhaled. She'd been holding her breath. She grasped Galad's hand a little tighter now. This was as close to ideal as they would achieve. At least now she could start to figure out how the rest of everything would unfold. The future festivals she was to attend and her plans for another film . . . those were matters for another day. Or perhaps later today. The most pressing threat had past without being fulfilled.
"We will talk more about that another time though," Richard said, "For now, I think we should be celebrate a little. Even if the child came because of folly, it is an elf child and one with blood pure and strong." Felicity felt her father's lips press against her cheek. Despite the affection that usually associated itself with the action, she felt nothing.