Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 142043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 710(@200wpm)___ 568(@250wpm)___ 473(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 710(@200wpm)___ 568(@250wpm)___ 473(@300wpm)
“I have to show my passport, and apparently that’s it, though that’s not what the official government website says.”
Tom’s brow furrows once more. “You think something’s off?”
I nod. “But we’ll find out with Thanas. Will you stick around until then? And… you know, help out?”
“Of course, Trevethick. Wouldn’t miss this high drama for the world.”
“High drama?” My scalp itches. Has he guessed we might abscond?
“You’ve traveled to the back of beyond to save your lady. If that’s not the definition of drama, I don’t know what is.”
I laugh. He has a point. “And, um… will you be my best man?”
Tom is momentarily speechless, and when he finds his voice, it’s gruff. “I’d be honored, Maxim.” He pats me on the back, and we turn to find Thanas and Alessia heading over to us.
“This way,” Thanas says, and we follow him up the stairs to the next floor.
The brass nameplate on his desk reads F. TABAKU. He’s the registrar who will officiate at our civil ceremony. He’s a similar age to Demachi and wears the same dark suit and impenetrable expression. He rises as we enter his office, greets Alessia cordially, gives me a curt nod, then waves us to the small table where the five of us take our seats.
Thanas translates as we quickly establish that he needs to see a copy of Alessia’s birth certificate and ID card, and my passport. I fish mine out of my coat and open it up to the correct page, realizing that I, too, will have to get a new passport. At present, mine is in the name The Hon Maximillian John Frederick Xavier Trevelyan.
We hand over our documents, and he gives Alessia’s a cursory glance. My passport receives a more thorough examination. Tabaku frowns and says something to Thanas. Alessia interjects. “Vëllai i Maksimit ishte Konti. Ai vdiq në fillim të janarit. Maksimi trashëgoi titullin, po nuk ka pasur ende mundësi të ndryshojë pasaportën.”
Tabaku seems satisfied with whatever Alessia has said and rises from the table to a small desktop photocopier. While he makes copies, I ask Alessia, “What did you say?”
“I told him that you have only recently…um…inherited your title.”
He turns and addresses us both. Thanas translates. “Spouses, when entering into marriage, have the right to choose to keep one of their surnames as a common surname or you keep your own. You need to decide.”
I turn to Alessia. “What do you want to do?”
“I would like to take your name.”
I smile, pleased. “Good. For your purposes, Alessia’s name is Alessia Trevelyan. Her formal title will be Alessia, The Right Honorable the Countess of Trevethick.”
“Please write that down,” Thanas translates.
I oblige on the notepaper provided and hand my scribble to Tabaku.
Tabaku responds, and Thanas says, “I will name Alessia as Alessia Demachi-Trevelyan; your passport says nothing about Trevethick.”
“That’s fine,” I grumble and turn to Thanas. “Ask him about the certificate of no-impediment that I’m supposed to provide.”
Thanas does, and Alessia glances anxiously at me.
The registrar’s eyes widen, and he spits an answer back at Thanas, who turns to me as he reels off Tabaku’s response. “He says that because time is an issue,” his eyes dart to Alessia, “he is expediting your marriage. He has the power to do so in special circumstances. Alessia’s father is a close and trusted friend, and that’s why he’s offering this service.”
The registrar continues in his low voice, his eyes not leaving mine, and it dawns on me that he’s doing Demachi, and thereby us, an enormous favor.
“He says the marriage will be legal. It’s all you need,” Thanas translates. “You will have a marriage certificate.”
“And if we want to do it with all the correct paperwork?” I ask.
Tabaku retakes his seat, hands our documents back, and responds to Thanas’s question. “That will take between two to three months.”
“Okay. I see. Thank you.” Even though he’s doing us a favor, I’m still uncomfortable. It feels like a sham and that thought is unsettling.
The registrar says something to Alessia and Thanas. Alessia nods and starts speaking to him in Albanian. I look hopefully at Thanas. “He’s asking for your profession, place of residence, and where you’ll live once you’re married.”
Profession!
I give Thanas my address in Chelsea and tell him that’s where we’ll live when we’re married. Alessia glances at me with a shy smile.
“And profession?” Thanas inquires as the words my father used to adopt when asked this drift conveniently into my head.
“Farmer and photographer,” I state quickly, though it’s not the entire truth. Now, I’m a landowner and a landlord—the CEO of the Trevethick Estate.
“And DJ,” Tom interjects rather unhelpfully, and when I glare at him, adds, “You know, spin the decks.” He mimes the action. “And peer of the realm, of course. Heavy is the head and all that.”
“Thanks, Tom.” I ignore Alessia’s stifled giggle while Tabaku finishes scribbling his notes. He places his biro on his notepad and, leaning back into his chair, says something to Alessia and me.