A ripple went through the hall as the girl appeared at the top of the ballroom staircase.* She was stunning, dressed in a deep green gown totally deprived of adornments aside from a single, sliver chain around her slender neck.
[ *All properly dramatic ballrooms have sweeping staircases so that the unknown maiden may make a suitably recognized entrance.]
Is that her?
Who else could it be?
They always said that Havelock had excellent taste.
Who said?
Well, you know…they. And his mother.
Ah.
I hear she comes from an excellent line.
Do tell.
Yes, something about a mysterious Countess, I heard.
Oh, there's Havelock – doesn't he look dashing?
Vetinari waited at the bottom of the stairs for the girl to descend. Once she had done so, he offered her his arm. Several of the assembled young ladies swooned. The young Countess appeared to hesitate a moment before accepting his arm, but smiled – perhaps a little more coolly than was strictly proper – and took it after a whispered word. The two proceeded onto the dance floor.
A few of the more cynical guests may have noted that the apparently affectionate hand Vetinari had placed on top of the girl's wrist was, in reality, keeping her from turning around. They might also have noticed the whispered argument.
***
"Don't be ridiculous," hissed Vetinari through his smile.
"I'm not being ridiculous!," answered Ienska, trying very hard not to jerk away.
"It's not hard, just follow my movements."
This had not occurred to Ienska. She was at a party, the guest of honor at said party, and as such it was required she dance a waltz with Vetinari, whom the world currently and cruelly saw as her fiancée. To make things worse, they were being watched by every minor noble within leagues of the Vetinari Manor, all of whom expected her to be a Lady.
The music started.
"Oh, gods."
"Relax," Vetinari ordered, firmly holding her right hand and placing his other hand on her waist. "Put your hand on my shoulder and smile."
"Smile?"
"They won't notice anything else if you smile."
They started to move.
***
Don't they look lovely together?
My, that young lady certainly can dance.
They seem to be quite happy together, don't they?
***
Vetinari had attended countless social gathering such as the party currently in progress, but found it quite different to be the center of attention. He could not sneak off after the first few dances, for example.
"Come now, lad," said one of the local lords. "Have another one, we'll make a man out of you yet."
Vetinari accepted the glass of alcohol. "Thank you, my lord."
The man beamed. "Looks like you got yourself quite a catch there, lad. Lovely young maiden."
"Yeah," leered a younger lord, no more than a year or two older than Vetinari himself. "I do wish they had cut her dress lower, though. You know?"
"Indeed?" said Vetinari, voice very low. The man looked at him, surprised.
"Well, you know…she's a very attractive girl," he floundered.
"Indeed," if possible, Vetinari's voice was even lower than before, and very dangerous. He carefully set the glass down. "If you'll excuse me, gentlemen." And he was gone into the crowds.
***
Did you hear Lords Ion and Cine discussing Havelock's fiancée?
No, I'm afraid I missed that conversation.
Just as well, they were quite rude. A girl your age does not need to hear those sorts of things.
Oh. Did Havelock hear?
Most certainly. And he was quite gallant.
Ah.
***
The Lady Vetinari looked around in pride. It had been a long time since this many of her neighbors had gathered peacefully under one roof.
She politely tapped a spoon against her wine glass, causing those nearest her to fall silent and turn respectfully to face their hostess. Soon, the guests behind them got the idea and went quiet as well, until, in a sort of ripple, the whole room fell silent and the string quartet stopped playing.
"Good evening," said Lady Vetinari in a clear voice. "If I may have but a moment of your time, gentle ladies, good men, I would like to propose a toast." There was a slight pause as the few guests who hadn't had a drink in their hands scrambled to procure one. All the glasses were raised. "Tonight we celebrate the engagement of my son, Havelock Vetinari, and the Lady Ienska Tineshan. I am sure that all of our hopes for them are wonderful and full of our own unrealized dreams and that we all wish them the very best. To a long and loving marriage."
"To a long and loving marriage," chorused the room, raising their glasses higher before taking generous swallows.
It was a good thing that everyone was facing Lady Vetinari, because, at the back of the room, the glare Ienska was directing at her fellow toastee could have killed a troll.
***
Sarah looked down at the notes coating her small desk. They had been arriving since early that morning, each a request for a new dress in "the latest style." And they were offering more for the unadorned gowns than Sarah usually made in five months.
She carefully stacked the orders and set them on one side of her desk, pulling her notebook toward her. There would be plenty of time for those later, after she had finished with her masterpiece. She flipped open the sketchpad. There, staring back at her, were the haunting eyes of the Lady Tineshan and the design for her piece de resistance – although she wasn't exactly sure what that meant, one of her friends had assured her that it had nothing to do with pie.
She would have to hurry if she wanted to finish this work of art before Lady Vetinari's appointed deadline in two days. She reached for a pair of scissors.