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Caitlyn wondered what the people would be doing that night while the royals were at the ball. Would they have their own dance that evening? A raucous street party?
Emrys squeezed her hand just as they began to approach a crowd of people on the street, sitting and waiting. Children waved little flags in exactly the same way kids did at Fourth of July parades in the States. One family held a full-sized flag, and they stood with it, two of the children jumping up and down. Caitlyn laughed and waved and blew the children a kiss.
“You’re a natural,” Emrys said.
“At least I don’t have to walk the whole parade. That would be exhausting.”
Just then, a band struck up with the anthem with a large, brassy sound. They were too far away to hear it clearly, but Emrys had mentioned that the anthem would play at some point, and he had played her a bit of it on the piano. Around them, the voices of the people grew along with their numbers. Caitlyn wished she had some candy to throw to the children. Would that be undignified? Probably.
The horses didn’t walk fast, and the procession’s route wound through much of the city. Caitlyn arched her back, starting to feel stiff. It was less fun now that they were half an hour into it. Emrys gave her an apologetic smile and then turned to wave to a new crowd. Caitlyn stifled a yawn.
Wickedly, she looked over to Emrys. He was devastatingly handsome in his outfit for the ball. Underneath his black suit jacket was a snug, double-breasted waistcoat that emphasized his well-cut abs and developed pectoral muscles. Just below the line of sight of the carriage’s windows, Caitlyn moved her hand down his abdomen, slowly.
“Stop,” he instructed her.
“I’m sorry. Was that not appropriate?” Caitlyn teased. She kept her gaze out on the crowd and a smile on her fa
ce.
“No. It isn’t appropriate.”
“Then this definitely won’t be.”
With a deft motion, she unbuckled his pants and slipped her hand inside.
“Cait!”
“Keep smiling, your highness!” She said brightly.
“A smile is not going to be a problem.”
Chapter Eight
When the procession finally returned to the palace, over two hundred people were already in the expansive ballroom dancing to a lively waltz played by the string orchestra. Emrys kept Caitlyn on his arm and watched her eyes shining as she took in the towering walls lined with gold filigree molding, the chandeliers that sparkled over the dancers, and the dancers themselves gliding in their gowns and tuxedos around and around the room. Her expression reminded him of the time he’d taken her to Giverny to see Monet’s gardens. She’d never been terribly overwhelmed by art. Her reaction to the museums had been gently appreciative. But when they’d stood in front of those gardens, she’d lit up, bouncing on her toes, and grabbed his hand excitedly.
She was doing the same now, even though it was impossible for her to bounce properly in her heels, and she seemed to be trying to restrain herself in the presence of his mother. Eliana was looking at them, in fact, and giving Emrys a knowing look. They would be having a formal conversation quite soon.
The waltz ended abruptly, and the king led the way through the ballroom. The dancers parted for the royal family to pass, with many bowing or, in the case of military officers, saluting. Emrys gave nods and waves to the people as they made their way across the tremendous length of the room. At the other end, a pair of thrones waited, as well as several other chairs on either side. Imelda and her family would sit on the king’s right and the rest of them on the left. They each stood in front of their chairs and waited for the king to speak. The lighting in the room adjusted, highlighting the head of state.
“Good people of Cabeau, it is good to be home,” he began in a booming voice. “Our country, our home, has done well in this year past.”
The king spoke for several minutes, detailing gains in certain economic sectors, work that he and the parliament had been doing to improve infrastructure, and the pride the country should feel at their hard work this year. He made a similar speech every year during the Autumn Festival. The speech was prepared rather than extemporaneous, and an unobtrusively placed microphone and camera recorded him as he spoke, which allowed those not invited to the ball itself the chance to hear the king’s words. Most would be watching the broadcast that very evening, but some would be out enjoying the festival.
At the end of the king’s speech, he spread his hands and encouraged everyone to enjoy themselves. He then took Eliana’s hand and walked out into the middle of the ballroom. The music began to play again, and the people watched for several minutes as they danced alone. Imelda joined with her husband, and finally, the rest of the guests began to dance as well.
“We could dance,” Emrys suggested.
“Oh, God. I don’t have to know how to do that, do I?” Caitlyn looked horrified.
“It’s not that terribly difficult. I will lead, and you just follow my movements.”
“I’ll trip all over you!”
“I won’t let you fall,” Emrys promised. Caitlyn still seemed hesitant, so he took her hand and helped her into her seat. “Maybe later. How about a drink?”
Emrys spoke to one of the servants nearby about drinks and then returned to Caitlyn’s side. He spoke to her in low tones, telling her bits and pieces about the people they were seeing as she sipped her champagne and watched with large eyes.
At long last, the king and queen returned to their seats, hand in hand, and Emrys prepared himself. His mother looked to him, and so he rose, smoothed the front of his suit jacket and waistcoat, and offered Caitlyn his hand.
