"It's really rather high up here isn't it?" asked Ienska, peering down at the ground, which was a good bit further below than usual.
"I thought you enjoyed sleeping on roofs?" said Vetinari beside her.
"Well, yes. Roofs don't move."
"Ah. Is that a hint of nerves I detect?"
"No! I'm not nervous…are you sure this is safe?"
"Quite," he said, easily swinging up into the saddle of his own horse.
Ienska wrinkled her nose at the smell gently wafting off her gray steed. It wasn't unpleasant, that was a word she reserved for sewers and individuals who hadn't bathed in the last several months. But it wasn't particularly pleasant, either, smelling too much of hay and…well, she wasn't really sure what those other odors were. It was, however, quite strong.
"Are they supposed to smell like this?" she asked.
"I'm sure," said Vetinari. "Are you ready?"
"I suppose so."
Vetinari gave his white mount a small kick, urging him forward and the animal began to walk. Ienska steeled herself to set her own horse in motion. Before she could, however, the gray started walking on its own.
"What's it doing?" she asked, worried.
"Following," said Vetinari. "Horses are herd animals."
"Oh."
It wasn't so bad, really, if you just relaxed and let the horse steer.
They rounded a corner of the manor, where the walls swelled outward and left enough room inside for a small, circular track, which Vetinari led his mount onto and continued walking around.
Ienska felt she was starting to get the idea of this. Sit just so, let your legs fall thus, and hold the rope thingies just like that. Of course, her method of relaxed, backseat riding didn't take Vetinari into account. With a quick, amused glance over his shoulder, he urged his mount into a run. The bay, treacherous to the last, increased its stride to match, nearly throwing Ienska off.
It took her a few moments to readjust, but once she had she discovered that she was rather enjoying herself. She leaned forward a little bit and noted with some satisfaction that the horse sped up, drawing nearer to Vetinari.
"That was rather immature, don't you think?" she asked, coming even with him. He merely raised his eyebrows and, a moment later, increased his speed once more. "Hey! I was talking to you!"
A rare laugh floated back as he drew further ahead. Annoyed, Ienska tried to urge her own mount to follow. He was not as quick as the white monster Vetinari rode, but he seemed to be trying so she let him go.
After a lap or so, Vetinari pulled in and waited for the gray to catch up. Instead of stopping, Ienska continued racing around the track. Frowning, he went after her.
"How do I stop it?" she asked breathlessly as he came near.
"Ah," he said. "Pull back on the reins."
"Reins?"
"The ropes."
"Right, I knew that."
The two horses drew to a halt.
"That was…fun," said Ienska.
"Quite. I think, however, it is time for us to go back inside. I believe my mother is in need of your presence this afternoon."
"She would be," Ienska muttered darkly.
The two made their way back to the stables at a walk.
"I think you'll do fine if we take these two with us," said Vetinari, swinging down.
"Thank you," said Ienska, sitting proudly in the saddle. "I have one more question, though."
"Hm?"
"How do I get down?"
***
Lady Vetinari hurried into the third floor, turnwise room, followed by Sarah and another girl, much younger than the others.
"Ienska, dear," she said when she spotted the girl standing by the window. She was dressed in that awful tunic again but, supposed Lady Vetinari, that was better than ruining one of her new dresses by riding in it. "Sarah has come to do some more fittings."
The girl turned. "Fittings?"
"For the wedding gown, dear."
"Oh, of course." Ienska eyed the other girl.
"Oh, how uncivil of me! This is Lily Richens, Rose's daughter. Lily, this is Lady Ienska Tineshan. I'd say you two are about the same age," she said happily. "I'm sure you'll be good friends." It was probably a lucky thing that she turned her back without noticing the look of contempt that Lily leveled at the tunic clad, rather dusty Ienska.
"Come now, Sarah, we haven't got all day!" said Lady Vetinari, clapping her hands.
"Yes, my lady," answered the dress make, draping some material over Ienska and adding some pins. "I should finish it by tomorrow morning."
"Good, good. Oh, that reminds me," said Lady Vetinari. "Rachel! Sarah's card, please."
Rachel appeared, gold edged card in hand, and passed it to Lady Vetinari who in turn relinquished it to Sarah. The woman stopped fussing around at hem level long enough to look at it. Ienska peered over her shoulder, but the woman shoved the card into her pocket before the girl could see.
"I'd be honored, my lady," she said offhandedly.
Lady Vetinari beamed.
"Now, stand very still, this could hurt."
***
Lily stormed into the Richens' Manor. The nerve! How could Havelock marry some one so, so…so dusty! And in breeches, it was disgraceful!
She threw the gold edged card, rather more violently than she had intended to, into her mother's lap. Lady Richens looked up.
"Have a nice time at the Vetinari Manor, dear?" she asked, idly picking up the card. Lily fumed.
Frowning, Lady Richens looked down at the card Lily had brought home with her.
You are cordially invited to the
Marriage of
Lord Havelock Vetinari
And
Lady Ienska Tineshan
To be held at the Vetinari Manor on
June twenty-eighth.
"How sweet, don't you think, dear?" she asked her daughter, a slight edge to her voice.
"I suppose so, Mother," said Lily sulkily, crossing her arms as she sat primly next to her mother. And, she noticed with vindictive triumph, her skirts fluffed out properly. None of that simplicity nonsense that that girl had gone for at the dance. Really, what had Sarah been thinking?
"Whatever is the matter?" asked Lady Richens sharply.
"Oh, Mother! The girl is absolutely horrid!" lamented Lily, eyes narrowing. "She's a perfect peasant!"
"What a thing to say! She is a fine girl, and of good breeding too. You didn't think so poorly of her after last night's party, now did you dear?"
"No, Mother," answered Lily, hating the sound of the words. "But she was wearing breeches! And boots! And I never spoke with her properly last night, anyhow."
"Come now, my dear, don't be ridiculous."
"How could Havelock fall for someone like her?" she wailed, trying to control her sobs enough to keep her face from streaking while still evoking her mother's pity. "She's as common as dirt! And she didn't even know that we were there to fit her wedding gown! No proper lady would ever forget something that important!"
Lady Richens rode out her daughter's tantrum with a sigh. It was a pity, she had always imagined, somewhere in the dark recesses of her mind, that Lily and Havelock would…But, no. It was apparently not to be. As she listened to her daughter's complaints against the Lady Tineshan, her eyes grew hard.
"Are you finished?" she asked as the girl wound down, still shaking shamelessly.
Lily sniffled.
"Now, you listen to me, Lily Richens. Freydis Vetinari is one of my oldest friends, and I will not have you ruin her son's wedding by carrying on so. I do hope you weren't discourteous to Lady Tineshan?"
Lily looked at her in surprise, eyes rimmed in red. "No, Mother," she whispered, wondering what had come over her mother. Lady Richens was usually willing to run to the end of the world for her daughter.
"Well, I'm glad that's settled," said Lady Richens, putting her arms comfortingly around her daughter. "Don't worry, dear. You'll find someone soon enough."
"Yes, mother," Lily's voice was muted in the folds of Lady Richens' dress.
"Now, I wonder if Sarah has enough time to make you a new dress before the wedding…"
***
The news spread across the country side and by the next day the gold edged cards were everywhere. It was whispered amongst the maids, discussed over tea, and toasted in taverns. Everyone went to bed with the same thought on their minds.
Tomorrow, Havelock Vetinari was to be married.