Chapter Twenty-Four

Ruth sat patiently while the team of makeup and hair professionals primped her to full royal glamour. A tedious process more than anything. And after sitting for an hour with all of that, the team joined with the wardrobe manager to help her into her gown for the evening. It would of course have been easier to put the dress on before her face was slathered with makeup and her hair was coifed into an intricate design she wasn't allowed to touch, but sitting for so long would have made the dress wrinkle. Heaven forbid.

But this was all well-practiced for Ruth. She knew better than to complain or protest or make any sort of fuss. She had no choice in the matter. She was expected to look a certain way at these events, and failing to live up to that expectation would let down the royal family. Even if Ruth wasn't an important royal, she was the king's granddaughter and had to look the part.

At last, when her hair and face were sprayed to set and her shoes and jewelry had been placed on her to match the gown, Ruth was allowed to descend the stairs of her townhouse. And unlike every time she'd ever gotten ready for a state dinner before, she had an escort there waiting.

Harry was pacing back and forth in his tuxedo, probably bored and annoyed from having to wait for her. But he paused when Ruth descended. He smiled at her as he admired her appearance. Tonight she was wearing a floor-length gown of silk. The skirt was a powder blue, which was not a color Ruth usually wore, and the bodice was a lace and crystal-beaded masterpiece. "You really are a princess if I've ever seen one," he praised.

"There's a whole team of people up there who made this happen. Sorry to spoil the magic. Though you know what I look like first thing in the morning, so I can't imagine I'm going to break the spell when I turn into a pumpkin again," she replied.

He chuckled at that and took her hand to pull her towards him. He whispered, "If having you naked and well-shagged makes you a pumpkin, I think you know I much prefer that." He kissed her blushing cheek.

"Yes, so do I," she agreed. "But you're not allowed to ruin the hair and makeup until after the photographers see me," Ruth warned.

"I shall follow your lead, Princess."

Ruth elbowed him in the chest for that remark, making them both laugh. Harry escorted her out to where Tom was waiting with the car.

As they drove through town to the palace, Ruth reminded Harry of what would be happening tonight. "Uncle Edmund and his wife are on the Royal Tour in the southeast, so they won't be there, thank god. So it's just Grandfather and Dad tonight."

"Or King Richard V and Prince James of Leister as they'd be known to anyone but you," Harry teased.

"Yes, about that, just remember that the king is referred to as 'Your Majesty' and his children are 'Your Royal Highness.' I'm just 'Your Highness,'" she explained. "I know no one will make you keep that up anywhere else, but this is a state dinner and it's important we have proper manners when there are others around. We have to set a good example."

Harry took her fidgeting hands in his. "Ruth, please stop worrying. I know that's like telling the earth to stop orbiting the sun, but I mean it. I won't do anything to embarrass you tonight. I'll be on my very best behavior. I promise I'll remember all the rules."

Having him hold her hands like that did make her feel better, but he'd gotten entirely the wrong idea about everything. "I'm not worried about you embarrassing me, Harry. I don't care at all about that, and I don't think you'd ever do anything like that anyway."

"Then what's got you so nervous?"

"I just want everyone to like you. Not just my family but all the nobles and the press and such."

"Why on earth should that matter?" he scoffed.

Ruth paused, trying to choose her words very carefully. "I want you to be well-liked and well-regarded so that there won't be any…unpleasantness. For you or for your children."

"Oh?"

Damn him, he was going to make her spell it out. "If the press and nobles are on your side, it will be a lot nicer for everyone when…if…we get married."

His eyes went wide, but he seemed to process all of that quite quickly. "I suppose it would be best if my children did not have to read newspaper headlines framing me as a villain off to steal the beloved princess."

"Exactly."

He kissed the tips of her fingers, still held securely in his hands. "I'll play nice, Ruth. I'll be on my best behavior."

She smiled. "Just be friendly and polite and for god's sake, don't ever leave me alone."

"No, darling, I'll never leave you."

That tone of his voice was soft and full of importance, and Ruth knew he wasn't just talking about the state dinner that evening.

When they arrived at the palace, a line of press was waiting as Tom opened the door for Harry, who waved with a plastered-on smile and helped Ruth out of the car. She too smiled and waved like she was supposed to. She took Harry's arm and held the pale blue skirt of her gown so she wouldn't trip and fall flat on her face. She hadn't actually done that since she was about eleven, but she was still a rather clumsy person and the regal grace that was befitting of her station was not something that came easily to her at all. Thankfully Harry was with her tonight, ready to keep her from stumbling.

Inside the grand foyer was the royal receiving line. The steward announced the arrival of Princess Louisa of Leister and Sir Harry Pearce. Ruth briefly wondered which he preferred, Sir Harry—using his first name—or Major Pearce—denoting his army rank. She'd have to ask him later.

But then it was time for the greetings. Dad was first. He was looking well tonight. He had a treatment coming up the following day, so this was his last bit of strength for a while, she knew. He embraced her warmly and kissed her cheek.

"And this must be your Major Pearce," Dad greeted, extending his hand to Harry.

Harry shook his hand and bowed his head. "Yes, Your Royal Highness. It is an honor to finally meet you, sir. The princess speaks so highly of you," Harry responded politely. Oh she was so proud!

Dad smiled. "I can see she had you trained up for it," he said quietly. "When we aren't in the circus, it'll be a lot easier for us to get to know each other."

"I look forward to the opportunity, Your Royal Highness."

Ruth watched as Dad nodded approvingly. And they moved on to the king. He, as her father had, hugged and kissed her as was usual between them. "Your Majesty, may I present Sir Harry Pearce," Ruth introduced.

Harry bowed to the king. "It is an honor, Your Majesty."

Grandfather looked quite pleased at Harry's performance. "Thank you, Sir Harry. And in case there was any confusion, this will be one of the only times you'll have to bow to me. My granddaughter has likely told you that we only observe the formalities when there are witnesses."

As Harry straightened up, he spoke in the same low, conspiratorial tone that Dad had a moment earlier. "Well, since there are witnesses, we may as well put on a show."

The king laughed at that, pleasing Ruth to no end. She knew that they'd like Harry. He was a very likable man when he wasn't being stubborn and grumpy. And both Dad and Grandfather knew that she adored Harry beyond words. For her, they'd make an effort. But thankfully, it didn't look as though an effort was needed.

A steward then hurried them along into the dining room, announcing that dinner would be served shortly. Ruth was horrified to see, however, that her place setting was across the table from Harry, rather than beside him. In any other situation, sitting across from one's escort would be perfectly acceptable. But the banquet table in the palace for these state dinners was so large that one would have to shout to speak to the person sitting across the way. And a state dinner was not a shouting sort of setting. Ruth was sure that if she and Harry stretched out their legs under the table, their feet would not even touch. So much for him not leaving her for the evening.

As they all took their seats, however, and the king began his speech welcoming the visiting Prime Minister of Hathara, the arrangements were made clear. Harry was seated across from Ruth but next to her father. Obviously Dad had pulled some strings to ensure that he'd get the opportunity to spend some time with Harry. Ruth was sure they'd like each other, but she hated being isolated like this. She had petty nobles sitting on either side of her, one a countess and one a baron. Both of them had known her most of her life, but she did not particularly like them at all. And it meant that she'd have to carry on polite, inane conversation all evening. Ruth was not very good at small talk. It made her feel awkward. Well, most things made her feel awkward. And no amount of beautiful makeup or perfect hair or crystal-covered gowns could seem to change that.

As everyone toasted to Hathara, Ruth looked past the flower arrangements in the middle of the table to catch Harry's eye. He subtly blew a kiss at her before sipping his champagne and turning back to her father for conversation. Perhaps this evening would turn out alright after all.