Alden had been instructed to be exceedingly liberal with the guests’ champagne, as they supposed that might assist in the matter.
Rosalind had presumed the queen would not stay long, and yet she still remained. Perhaps Conbatten should not have arranged so much food!
The queen seemed particularly enamored of the pineapple slices. The center of each ring was decorated with a delightful miniature marzipan pineapple. The marzipan was divine and there was much talk about where it had come from. Apparently, along with the tremendous wedding cake, the baker was another one of Henri’s discoveries and the secret would never be told.
At least all the guests would leave with their own charming quartz boxes decorated with the duke’s arms and filled with marzipan shaped in pineapples, roses, and thyme leaves.
Never in Rosalind’s life had she imagined that the queen might be at one of her parties, and that she would wish the lady gone.
As she and Conbatten held hands under the table, a sudden dinging on glass caught their attention.
Juliet had stood and she called for the table’s attention.
“I’ll wager she’s going to read her poem,” she said to Conbatten.
He bit his lip and whispered, “I wish I could bet against you.”
“Esteemed guests,” Juliet said loudly, “I have composed a poem as a wedding present for Rosalind and Conbatten.”
The earl had leapt up. “Ah, Juliet, perhaps let us leave it for just the family.”
Juliet seemed confused by the idea, as Rosalind was herself. Certainly, she must hear the poem dedicated to her marriage.
“I would be interested in hearing it,” the queen said.
The earl bowed. “Your majesty.” He sat down with rather a resigned look.
Juliet curtsied in the queen’s direction. “It is calledWhen the Love is True.”
When the love is true, one cannot be blue
One girds one’s loins and races ahead on cue
Though frightening danger circles all around
It is the truest love that’s always found.
The silence that followed was indicative of the inspiration Juliet’s poetry always did produce. Conbatten stood and led the applause, the rest of the party soon following.
Rosalind even heard the queen say, “Extraordinary.”
That royal lady was good enough to leave very soon after.
*
Balthazar had stolenhis bride away as soon as the queen departed, leaving the revelers to enjoy his ever-flowing champagne and ever-arriving food. It was perhaps not the most proper way to do things, but then there were some advantages to being a duke. The only person who could really challenge him on it was the queen and he had dutifully stayed while she was present.
He did not escape the party without a few comments though.
The queen had been as gracious as she could be, considering a queen is never accustomed to keeping her thoughts to herself.
As Rosalind curtsied, Queen Charlotte said, “Very charming wedding, Conbatten. Now, Duchess, do inform Lady Juliet that poetry is not her forte. We do not wish to hear of her frightening off suitors with it when it is her turn.”
His dear wife seemed entirely confused by it. Balthazar only wished to roar with laughter.
Lady Hightower snorted as she took her leave. She leaned toward him and said quietly, “I will remember this day for the rest of my life. The poetry alone has burned it into my memory. You are in for an exciting sort of life, I think.”
She’d laughed all the way out to her carriage.
