Marion's Reception is a different affair than the family dinner. Another dress is called for. This one is a bit more like the dresses seen in some episodes of Doctor Who that featured female Time Lords. But I tried to make it see glamorous all the same. The reception introduces Marion to all of the high born aristocrats she is destined to know in future, although few of them are mentioned by name. Lady Arpexia is mentioned in passing. Theta Sigma fans will recall that Kristoph marries Valena Arpexia later in his life. But that is nothing to do with anything just now. Most important are the four women who aren’t going to be her friends, Orianna and Idell, her future sisters in law, and Lady Oakdaene and Lady Ravenswode. Lady Oakdaene, of course, will be the mother of Epsilon, Chrístõ’s nemesis, eventually to call himself The Master. But for now they just form a little huddle of bitchiness, deploring the fact that Kristoph, the heir to an Oldblood House is marrying a foreigner. They get their come-uppance here, but it is obvious that there is going to be trouble in the future from all four of them.

But Marion makes a decision anyway. She wants to get married to Kristoph. That’s her decision and she’s sticking with it. Ten months of life as Mrs De Leon, living on planet Earth. And then she’ll be ready to come back to Gallifrey and be Lady de Lœngbærrow. You can see how these stories are going to go, now!