“We’re running late,” Shadowheart complained as the carriage bumped along the road toward the Danbury estate. Though she had learned that she had 13 brothers and sisters who were of age, and only three who were currently wed, she was the only one of the Queen’s children who was attending the night’s festivities. Someday, the Queen had said, she was sure they would be married, but some of her children were nearing 25. Shadowheart hadn’t thought this was an issue until she’d overheard some of the Queen’s ladies whispering about how the princesses were well past the age of spinsters. Shadowheart wasn’t sure if that counted the same way for royalty, but she wasn’t about to ask the Queen. Even if she was apparently her mother.
“The Queen is never late,” her mother said in a bored tone, looking out the window at the ton as they passed it by. They had to ride through a slightly less wealthy area to get to the Danbury estate (though not through the middle of town, the coachman had insisted to them both), and her ridiculous hairstyle seemed almost uncouth in comparison. These people were struggling to pay for their estates and their Majesty had chosen to wear a blue besparkled wig that was almost too big to fit into their carriage. The people didn’t seem to mind, though - any who were outside still bowed at the carriage as it passed. “Everyone else is simply early, and the Queen has arrived just on time. And, as you are arriving with me, you are arriving on time as well.”
Shadowheart sat back in her seat, resting against what felt like far too many pillows. She’d actually worn her fair share of dresses growing up, whenever she’d had to speak to a noble as they visited the House of Grief, but she had to admit, the luxury of their outfits and this carriage surpassed even the things she had thought of in her wildest imagination. The Queen was right about the timing, and she knew it. Whenever they had meetings amongst the Sharrans, they never truly started until Viconia had arrived, and she was far less powerful than any member of the royalty. But still, she hated to miss the grand entrance.
After a few more minutes of winding along streets that seemed far too bumpy for a town of this size (if they were to stay, Shadowheart thought that she might need to address that with the Queen. After all, she assumed that she was the one who arranged to fix the roads), the carriage pulled to a stop in front of a large beige mansion. While the outside was huge, it wasn’t particularly grand, save for the vast array of flower arrangements that must have been placed there exclusively for the party. However, those nor the small array of people standing out in front of the manor were what drew her attention. Rather, her focus was solely on the lights and sounds coming through the large windows on either side of the door. From here, she couldn’t see more than the basic shape of people milling about, but she could almost feel the buzz in the air of the excitement.
The carriage door swung open and a rotund gentleman in a servant’s uniform extended his hand to the Queen. “Your Majesty,” he said. The Queen grabbed his hand tightly and used it to balance herself as she hauled herself through the door with what had to be 20 pounds worth of dress. “The music has already begun, but if it should please you, my assistant can run in to stop the band and announce your presence.”
Once she had gotten out, the man extended his hand to Shadowheart as well, although his eyes stayed locked on the Queen. Shadowheart gratefully took it - although her dress was nowhere near as grand as her apparent mother’s dress, it was still a lot to handle.
“No,” the queen said, waving a hand dismissively. “We shall not need an announcement - my presence is announcement enough.”
The Queen was right, of course - she strode toward the doors, followed by Shadowheart, and both were surrounded by enough servants that it would surely triple the number of people in attendance (if most people of high society considered servants to be people which, Shadowheart reminded herself, they did not. She had not, even, before she had started traveling with a bunch of rag-tag strangers. How times had changed, and while they had certainly landed themselves in some unfortunate circumstances, she knew not everything had changed for the worse). As the large entry doors were pulled open by two servants and she and the Queen entered the hall, a hush ran over the crowd for just a heartbeat. Then the music started up again and the rumble of conversation began anew. However, if Shadowheart didn’t know any better, she would have guessed there was some strain on the faces closer to her.
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Not every face closer, though, she realized as she heard a low, feminine voice say “Ah, Your Majesty! I am pleased that you found time in your schedule to make it to the ball.”
“Come now, Lady Danbury,” the Queen said. Shadowheart turned to find an older woman with umber skin and sharp, playful eyes. She must have been a vision in her youth, she thought, because now, even with grey streaks through her dark hair and her weight heavily balanced on her walking cane, she was still rather stunning. But in a “you don’t want to get in her way” sort of manner, she realized. “You know I always strive to attend the first ball. It’s tradition, and carrying on our new traditions is how we’ve gotten as far as we have.” A sly smile passed between the two women, and Shadowheart knew that there must have been some deep history between the two. However curious she was, though, she knew it was not the time to ask. “But I am glad that you saved us the time of finding our hostess for introductions. Lady Danbury, this is my daughter, Princess Shadowheart.”
Lady Danbury dropped into as low of a curtsy as her apparently worn joints would allow. “We have met before, of course, but you were but a small child, Your Highness. It is quite grand to see you in the ton once again.”
Shadowheart opened her mouth to speak, but her mother spoke first. “Yes, it is quite good to have her home again! And it is about time that one of my children decides to enter into the marriage market. Securing my husband’s legacy would be my greatest honor.”
Lady Danbury nodded as though they’d had this conversation time and time again. “I’m sure that will be no issue, Your Majesty. Most young suitors choose to attend the first ball of the season, and there are a great many eligible men this year.”
“And eligible young ladies to take them off the market,” the Queen grumbled.
“True,” Lady Danbury admitted. “However, any man who would forgo one of your children’s affections for that of another is surely to be a fool, and it is my wish for the goodness of England that we will never have a fool wear the crown.”
The Queen sniffed lightly and then nodded - Shadowheart wasn’t sure if there was any offense taken by that, but she assumed not. Lady Danbury might be a close friend, but although she was not used to this world, she was sure that the same rule applied here - you do not offend the Queen without gaining the potential to lose your head, and Lady Danbury didn’t look at all concerned. But she couldn’t help notice as the Queen abruptly changed the topic away from the intelligence of those on the throne. “And where is your niece? I assume she is attending the festivities tonight?”
“She is indeed,” Lady Danbury said, and she pointed a finger that had become quite crooked with age toward the dance floor. Shadowheart looked up and had to suppress a smile. Karlach was at the edge of the dance floor, and though Shadowheart could tell she was trying to stand still, Karlach was still bouncing lightly with the beat. Even though she no longer had her infernal heart, some things never changed, she thought. As though listening to her thoughts, Lady Danbury said “I told her that she would have better luck finding a suitor if she stopped dancing by herself. It seems she did not take my advice.”
The Queen let out a “Hmm” much like she had done upon first seeing Karlach at presentment, but after a beat, she continued. “She will find a fine match in someone, I assure you.”
“I’m sure of it,” Lady Danbury agreed, “but amongst the eligible bachelors, it’s hard to make a determination as to who would be the best fit.”
“Agreed,” the Queen said slowly. “I do have a few guesses, however.”
“And I would love to hear them.” Lady Danbury held out her arm for the Queen, and the Queen took it as they both started to walk through the crowd. The people in front of them parted like mice upon seeing a snake. “For we all know that you’ve never once been wrong about a match, and I fear Miss Danbury will leave me with a lot to prepare for.”
“Indeed,” the Queen said, stopping in her path to turn back to Shadowheart. “There is no need to follow us around, dear child,” she said, and though her words were sweet, her tone was slightly snipped in annoyance. Shadowheart assumed this was less about her and more about the Queen’s annoyance with the lack of an heir. “I suggest you go mingle near the dance floor. You will be overcome by suitors in no time.”
Without looking back at her, the Queen and Lady Danbury walked toward a large group of what had to be chaperones and spinsters near the corner of the room. Shadowheart’s eyes followed them for a short while. She wasn’t particularly in the mood to entertain random men from the ton, especially since they were planning on getting out of this world as soon as possible. To her, all of these men might as well have been fictional. But from where she was standing, she could see Gale at the snack table, and while she wasn’t particularly interested in his companionship at the moment, she felt that she could certainly do with a biscuit.