Epilogue: The Swing of Things
Fairy Godmother or royal fiancée,
there was no escaping a fancy dress ball.
"Relax," Jon murmured in
Kate ear. He tightened the arm that was hooked around hers, the closest they
could get to a hug without breaking position. Rupert had just stepped through
the curtain, and once the applause died down they would be next. "You used
to attend these things for a living."
"I was usually hiding out in
the corridor," Kate whispered back, fighting the urge to reach and touch
the complicated upsweep the hairdresser had erected on top of her head. There
was no tiara, thankfully - there'd nearly been a fight over that - but there
were enough jeweled pins in there to let her eat comfortably for a year. It was
mildly terrifying. "If I can do that for *this* ball, I promise you I'll
calm down in no time."
"But then I'd miss you."
Though her eyes were still fixed on the curtain in front of them, Kate could
hear the smile in Jon's voice. "Unless I could hide out in the corridor,
too. Then I'm all for it."
"Don't be ridiculous," the
queen said from behind her. Her own hairstyle was twice as tall, though
thankfully she'd been talked out of the songbirds. "Our fairy princess
looks far too fabulous to even consider running off."
Before Kate could respond to that,
the trumpeting started. Taking a deep breath, she let Jon guide her through the
curtain and to the waiting crowd beyond.
"His Highness Prince Jonathan
Alistair Crispin Lorimer Charming, heir to the throne of Somewhere, and his
bride-to-be Katharine Mary Elizabeth Francesca Harris!"
As the applause started, Kate leaned
close to Jon. "I don't have any
middle name," she whispered fiercely. "How exactly did I end up with three of them!"
Jon sent a narrow-eyed look in the
announcer's direction. The announcer very deliberately refused to meet his gaze.
"I keep meaning to fire him, don't I?"
Kate sighed. "I'll start
reminding you." As they started their slow, dignified walk down the
stairs, the trumpeter started again in preparation for the king and queen's
announcement. Immediately, the gathered guests forgot she existed and turned
their attention back to the curtain.
It was an enormous relief.
"See?" Jon whispered once
they'd been safely swallowed up by the crowd. "You survived it."
"The first five minutes,
yes." Even as the relief uncoiled inside her, Kate tightened her hold on
Jon's arm. "I still have the rest of the night to get through."
"Compliment their hair,"
Lawton offered, suddenly appearing next to them with a glass of ridiculously
pink champagne in his hands. "If they have no hair, compliment their no
doubt hideously expensive dinner jacket."
Jon raised an eyebrow at him.
"And after that?"
Lawton smirked. "Why, she
should stab them with her shoe and flee, of course."
"No, she should dance."
Rellie emerged from between two women with skirts clearly designed to smuggle
dwarf armies, dragging Ned along behind her. Somewhere in the distance, music
started playing. "People aren't moving away like they're supposed to, but
I figure if I step on enough toes we should be fine."
Ned, looking dazed but happy, let
himself be carried along. "I love it when she does that."
Rellie stopped, surveying the patch
of dance floor. "This should work." She smiled at Ned, holding out
her other hand, and they quickly moved into dance position.
"That sounds like an excellent
idea, milady." Jon turned to Kate, holding out his own hand. "Shall
we?"
She felt the corners of her mouth
curve upward. "Shouldn't you be reminding everyone what a wonderful heir
to the throne they have looking out for them?"
His smile was soft. "I'd rather
enjoy how lucky I am that you said yes."
Kate melted. Jon had a rather
alarming talent for doing that. "It's hard to say no to you."
Jon's smile widened into a grin as they
settled into position. "Not that you didn't try."
She returned the grin as he whisked
her into the dance. "Clearly, my heart wasn't in it."
