A Right Royal Mix-up – Uncut!

Numero diez! Mother dearest has relaxed her guard – I think she's realised it's futile to try and tear me away from my beloved fanfiction… Anyhoo, here's the next chappy – hope it goes down OK…

Disclaimer – If in doubt, it's not mine. Don't sue me, I have nothing worth taking except my signed Harry Potter books, and I will lay down my life before surrendering them…

Chapter 10

In contrast to Lily, Ariadne was having a wonderful time. She was besieged with attention from a lot of the young single men, which was flattering, but she preferred Remus's company. He danced with her often, so he seemed to share the attraction.

            "I hope you'll come to visit Gabrielle after she and the prince are married," he remarked.

            "It's possible," she answered noncommittally.

"I find it strange that we never ran across each other before this. At the Quidditch World Cup in Lithuania or the opening of a new night-club in Paris or Rome. Gabrielle never misses those things."

"Yes, she's quite the jet-setter," Ariadne said brightly.

"Meaning, you're not? What are you interested in?"

"My tastes are simpler. I love elegant parties like this, but I don't think I could take them every night."

Remus arched an eyebrow. "How did you and Gabrielle get to be such close friends?"

"They say opposites attract."

"I've always considered that a cliché. I've found that people prefer to be with other people who share their interests."

"Then James and Gabrielle should be wildly happy together," Ariadne observed dryly. "They both like to party til dawn."

"James suffers from a bad press. He takes his responsibilities much more seriously than you're led to believe."

"I'm sure he does," Ariadne replied politely.

Remus sighed. "I can tell you don't believe me, but you'll see. He'll be a loyal and faithful husband after he and Gabrielle are married."

Ariadne noticed that Remus omitted "loving," but she wasn't supposed to know that James was a reluctant bridegroom. She changed the subject. "You're his very good friend. You go everywhere with him. Is that why you've never married? At least, I assume you're single."

"That's right, but it isn't because of James. Neither of us has ever found the right girl – until he discovered Gabrielle was the one for him," Remus corrected himself quickly.

"That should leave you with a lot of free evenings."

"Maybe you'll help me fill them." He smiled. "Have you ever been to Grandalia?"

            "No, this is just my first visit to Beaumarre."

            "I thought you and Gabrielle were such good friends. You went to school together?"

            "Yes, but we sort of lost track of each other for a while."

            "Do you live very far from here?"

            "Quite a distance." Ariadne glanced away to give herself time to think in case he tried to pin her down, as he probably would. They hadn't thought to invent a background for her. Old school chum had seemed enough. Her glance was caught by activity at the end of the ballroom. "Oh, look, they put out a buffet. Shall we go over and get something to eat? I'm starving."

            The buffet was as lavish as the rest of the party. Large bowls with mounds of crushed ice were covered with every kind of seafood, including lobster, giant prawns and oysters on the half shell. Caviar was in a separate crystal bowl, the largest amount Ariadne had ever seen.

            Farther down the table were salads of every variety, and then giant silver chafing dishes filled with hot food like tortellini stuffed with walnuts and mushrooms, crepes in a Mornay sauce and much more. Servants were spaced along the back of the table to serve the guests, and one man's sole job was to carve thin slices of rare roast beef and arrange them on small rounds of French bread,

            "I've never seen so much food!" Ariadne exclaimed. "They ought to give out doggy bags."

            "I don't think I've ever heard that expression," Remus remarked.

            "I doubt if you'd have any occasion to ask for one." She grinned. "People who live in castles don't eat leftovers."

            Ariadne took the plate he offered her and eyed the buffet happily. The men were heaping their plates, while the women took little dabs of things. Not Ariadne. When she reached the end of the table her plate was loaded.

            Remus gave it an amused look. "It's refreshing to see a woman enjoy her food. Most of them only nibble at raw carrots or celery to stay thin."

            "Life is too short to live on rabbit food," she said dismissively. "Besides, neither Lily nor I have ever had a weight problem."

            "Who is Lily?"

            "She… uh... she's a friend of Gabrielle's and mine." Ariadne was appalled at herself for becoming so comfortable with Remus she got careless. "Where shall we sit?" she asked, to distract him.

            "Would you like to go outside? It will be less crowded."

            As they crossed the room, Remus was still greeting people he hadn't seen in the throng.

            A distinguished looking older man nodded to him. "Good evening, Count. Lovely party, isn't it?"

            "It certainly is. Nice to see you again, sir."

            As they continued on, Ariadne exclaimed, "I didn't know you were a count!"

            "Does it make a difference?"

            "Sort of. I would have tried to be more dignified."

            "Then I'm glad you didn't know. I think you're delightful just the way you are." He led her along a garden path to a white wrought-iron bench beside a tulip garden. "I hope this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

            "That would be nice. I liked you from the beginning," she said frankly. "But you might as well know up front. I'm not from a titled family."

            "Is that supposed to matter to me?"

            "Well, those are the people you run around with."

            "Same with Gabrielle, but you don't hold it against her," he teased.

            "Okay, I'll overlook your shortcomings if you'll overlook mine." She laughed.

            "We'll have to spend an entire day together before I can find out if you have any," he said, gazing at her admiringly.

            "Let's see when I can fit you into my busy schedule," she mused. "How does tomorrow sound?"

            He frowned slightly. "It sounds great to me, but perhaps I'd better check with James first. If he needs me for something, could we make it the next day?"

            Ariadne hesitated before saying, "Sure, that would be fine."

            "Did you have anything planned?"

            "No, it's just that I don't know how long I'll be here."

            Henri had people scouting everywhere for Gabrielle, and it would be just Ariadne's luck if the missing woman was found, she thought ruefully. Now that she and Lily had both met fascinating men.

            "You can't leave so soon!" Remus exclaimed. "There are all sorts of festivities planned, and then Gabrielle is going Gabrielle is going to Grandalia for more celebrations."

            "I can't very well tag along. I'm just a friend, not a relative."

            "I'm sure the king and queen would be delighted to have you."

            "Well, we'll see," Ariadne said vaguely.

            "I'll have James extend the invitation personally."

            "Let's see how you and I get along after spending the day together," she joked.

            He took both her hands. "I don't think one day with you will be nearly enough," he said in a melting voice.

            Later, after saying good-night to Remus, Ariadne rushed to Lily's suite, anxious to discuss the party with her friend. She was sure Lily had had an equally smashing time. It was a surprise to find her slamming drawers and closet doors, and blasting vases apart with violent jerks of her wand.

            "Why are you in such a bad mood?" Ariadne asked, repairing the vases with a flick of her own wand. "It's been a fantastic evening."

            "For you, maybe," Lily answered curtly.

            "Forgive me if I don't sympathise with you for wearing a fabulous gown and a million Galleons worth of jewellery. Or for having to dance with a prince who acted like he was in love with you."

            "That's exactly what it was – an act! He used that same look on all the other women there."

            "Aren't you exaggerating? He was only being charming, the way he was expected to be."

            "Does that include making love to one of the guests? A married woman, I might add."

            "Is this a joke?"

            "Do you see me laughing?" Lily asked grimly.

            She told Ariadne how she'd seen James take Noelle upstairs, and everything that had happened afterwards.

            "It's possible he was telling the truth," Ariadne said hesitantly. "I saw that woman in action. She's trouble waiting to happen."

            "Oh please! As though he isn't. You read the celebrity magazines. You know what he's like. I didn't think he'd be that shameless at our engagement party, though."

            "At Gabrielle's engagement party," Ariadne corrected gently.

            "Whatever," Lily said irritably. "He's still a womanising rat!"

            "I can't believe Remus could be so loyal if James is really as unprincipled as you say."

            "He's probably just like him."

            "They're not a bit alike," Ariadne protested. "I spent a good part of the evening with Remus. I know."

            "Just this afternoon you were telling me not to be so gullible. It was good advice. You should take it. The two of them have that sincere act down pat. They can make a woman feel she's really special, different from all the others they were only superficially interested in. I believed James the way you believed Remus."

            Ariadne's face sobered. "I'd hate to think you were right about Remus. There was an instant rapport between us. I felt comfortable with him, yet there was an undercurrent of excitement, a sexual awareness and anticipation. I kept wondering what it would be like if he kissed me."

            "I'm sure he'd be very competent at it. All that practice pays off in any sport."

            "I guess you're right." Ariadne's soft mouth drooped. "I heard what I wanted to hear."

            When she looked at her friend's unhappy face, Lily regretted including Remus in her denunciation of James. "Hey, I've been wrong before. Remus is probably every bit as nice as you think he is."

            "You don't have to make me feel better. I only spent a few hours with the guy. Nothing could have developed between us anyway. Even if he wasn't a count, which is something I found out tonight. It's unimportant because I doubt if we'll be here much longer. When Gabrielle hears she got engaged in absentia, she's bound to get in touch."

            "I certainly hope so. I've had enough of royalty to last me the rest of my life!" Lily turned to look curiously at Ariadne. "It's funny that Remus never mentioned being a member of the peerage."

            "He's very unassuming. I only found out by accident, and then he played it down." Ariadne sighed. "At least he doesn't use rank to impress women."

            "I'm sorry I dumped on him. I was really aiming for James. Enjoy Remus's company for as long as it lasts. You're right, we might not be here much longer."

            Ariadne stood and started for the door. "Maybe it's just as well," she remarked. "We're both getting a little too involved with men we can never have."

Well, there's chapter 10! I've just read over it, and noticed that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENS! I'm sorry! I'll make up for it next chapter –I'll have an engagement gift, a secret uncovered and a life saved! Is that enough for you?

And we'll frolic – oh yes, there'll be frolicking. And then we'll run like billy-oh down to the beach, a beach so calm it makes Des Lynam look like a big scary monster… And there, we'll feed the racoons…