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A king’s wedding reception was a very formal affair. We danced once for them. And then sat and watched them enjoy our party. Basically, we were the opening act, and then we were to eat, drink, and watch our guests dance. We only came down when we wanted to dance once more; those would be formal dances, too. So, there was no electric slide or macarena. There was no DJ or party lights. Instead, the very first people to come out to entertain us as we had our dinner were a group of classic ballerinas. I would have thought I had been transported back into the Regency era. I couldn’t even have people come to speak to me. If we wanted to speak to anyone, I would have to summon them.
I couldn’t even say thank you to the butlers as they set food in front of me. And they would not even meet my gaze. They served and bowed as they backed away.
It was so weird. So different than I was used to.
The only person I could really talk to…the only person on my level now…was the king. And when I turned to him, he was already staring back at me. “Yes?” I asked him.
He leaned in and whispered, “I hope all this protocol isn’t boring you.”
“I’m still too dazed to be bored,” I replied.
“Tell me whenever you need anything. Really,” he whispered.
“I’m fine. Thank you.” Could I kiss his hand? Because honestly, I kind of wanted to. He was all that was keeping me going.
He pulled back and handed me a glass of wine. I took it, but I didn’t want to drink too much. I didn’t even really want to eat too much. I just wanted to survive and live up to this grand new life I was in. But as I watched the ballerinas perform in the center of the hall, I found myself wondering…how do I live up to this?
It made me anxious to think of.
So, I stopped thinking.
I sort of allowed myself to just exist next to him.
I watched her all night. Her face was a wonder of emotions, joy, excitement, amazement, calm, and slight terror. It was a lot to take in, even for me. But worrying about her actually made me care less about myself for some reason. Which was why I couldn’t wait for the night to end. So we could be real. We could stop being Their Majesties and be Gale and Odette.
We had to first get through dinner, then speeches from my cousin and her mother.
Another dance.
Then the cake.
Followed by another dance before we were free to leave and it be “respectable.”
Yet still, she felt worried about leaving. “Are you sure?” she whispered to me.
“This is for them. We’ve done our roles for the play; they won’t even be comfortable until we disappear. Come on,” I said, taking her hand and rising from the chair.
When we stood, the whole room rose to attention… I was not used to that, at least not at this level. But again, I ignored all my thoughts about it and led her with me out of the ballroom, back up the very steps we had come down from.
When the footmen opened it for us to exit and closed it behind us, I did what I had wanted to do since I had watched her walk toward me in that church this morning. I grabbed her and lifted her away.
“Gale!” she exclaimed, holding her crown as I started to run with her up the stairs.
“Freedom at last!” I laughed.
“Careful.” She giggled when I nearly tripped.
Thank God I recovered. The maids in the hall giggled, too, but I didn’t care; I ran until I finally made it into our rooms, closing the door with my foot.
“Mrs. Monterey, let’s have a real reception!” I exclaimed as I set her down and kissed her. “Go put away the crown, and join me on the balcony.”
“What?”
“Go! Or I will rip the dress off you,” I said, already reaching out to her.
She jumped back, holding her dress. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’m waiting.”
