A Right Royal Mix-up – Uncut!
Here you go, another chapter. This one is very different from the cut version, for reasons that will emerge later ;-) Sorry it's taken a while, I've been horrendously busy with various exams and revision and stuff. My next update should be quicker, and it's a special chapter, only for you guys! I thought I'd better put in something to keep you lot happy, so the cut version blokies are having to wait…
Disclaimer – Unfortunately, I don't own Harry Potter. I do, however, own a large cardboard cutout of a Hippogriff. But that's another story.
Chapter 15
There were only about twenty houseguests, but Claudette had invited more than a hundred outside guests. The ballroom was crowded when Lily and Ariadne went downstairs.
It was like stepping into another world. The huge room was decorated to look like a forest, with live trees in camouflaged pots and green carpeting covering the floor like moss. Only the dance floor in the middle of the room was a concession to the modern age.
The musicians were dressed like minstrels, and the guests looked like a page out of the past. Both men and women had on towering white wigs, and the men wore knee breeches and froths of lace at their wrists and throats.
"I'll never complain about a necktie again," a man muttered, brushing his white lace jabot out of his face.
"Be careful of that," his wife warned. "It has to go back to the costumier on Monday."
Lily looked over the crowd for James, but she couldn't find him. She wasn't alone for long, though. Men came over to ask her to dance and to try and find out who she was.
That meant they were attracted to her, not her title. Lily began to get a glimmering of the doubts that might have plagued Gabrielle and accounted for her outrageous behaviour.
A few moments later she spotted James on the dance floor. His height and superb physique made him instantly recognisable, in spite of the mask and foppish clothes. But unlike some of the other men, he didn't look at all silly. He wore his satin waistcoat and lace cuffs with the same elegance as his custom-tailored suits. James would have looked like a prince in any era.
Lily couldn't help feeling a slight twinge of jealousy at the attention he was giving his partner, but she was determined not to overreact this time. Although it would have been nice if he'd been looking for her, she thought a little forlornly. She watched him go from partner to partner until finally she concentrated on her own partners.
A small shock of awareness went through her when she heard James's voice as she chatted with some people on the sidelines.
"Has anyone told you that you're the most beautiful woman here tonight?" he asked, drawing her aside.
"I wonder how many women you've told that to," she answered lightly.
His eyes gleamed with mischief behind his mask. "You mean in total, or just tonight?"
"Don't bother counting. It isn't important," she said dismissively and changed the subject. "You would have fit right into the French court."
"Because you think I'm insincere?" he teased, leading her onto the dance floor and taking her in his arms.
"I wouldn't know about that. I was referring to the way you look in that outfit. You seem quite comfortable."
"I am, although I wouldn't want to wear it on a daily basis. The lack of a zipper could get to be a problem." He chuckled.
"Women weren't much better off in those days. I could never get in or out of this gown without help."
"I'm sure you'd never lack for volunteers," he murmured, gazing at the creamy skin revealed by her deep décolletage.
The pressure of his close embrace was making her breasts swell even more over the low-cut gown. Lily was afraid they would break free at any moment. She drew away slightly, but that only gave him a better view.
"I've never known anyone like you," he said in a husky voice. "You're utterly bewitching."
"You must be very susceptible. We just met."
"I've been searching for you all my life."
"You don't know anything about me. You can't even tell if I'm a blond or a brunette under this wig."
He brushed his knuckles gently against her cheek. "This creamy skin could only belong to someone with deep brown hair the colour of copper."
"Do you prefer brunettes?"
"I wouldn't care what colour your hair was." He inclined his head to kiss the corner of her mouth where she'd pencilled a small black beauty mark.
Lily wanted to turn her face so their lips met, but she laughed breathlessly instead. "You'd better not get too amorous. What if I have a jealous husband or boyfriend watching?"
"I'm the one who's jealous – of every other man you've ever known. But you're mine now, and nobody else matters."
She looked at him uncertainly. "Do you know who I am?"
Instead of answering, he took her hand and led her off the dance floor and through the make-believe forest to the French windows beyond.
The terrace was brightly lit, so he continued on into a small grove of trees bordering the lawn. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, making James's tanned face appear pale. But even in the semidarkness his eyes were brilliant as he gazed at her.
"Darling Gabrielle, I'd know you in a pitch-black room. By the perfume of your skin, the graceful way you move, so many different things. I enjoy just watching you."
"Not tonight, you didn't," she pouted. "You were too busy to care where I was."
"Not true. I saw you dancing with the young dandy in purple satin, and the handsome fellow in damask. The men were lined up waiting to dance with you."
"Didn't that bother you?"
He shrugged. "You seemed to be enjoying yourself. I didn't want to be too possessive and spoil your fun."
Lily felt guilty over her own possessiveness. "That was very thoughtful of you, but I'm glad you finally got around to me."
"I wasn't trying to qualify for sainthood." He grinned. "Besides, I couldn't stay away from you any longer."
His expression changed as he drew her into his arms and kissed her – gently at first, then with growing passion. Lily flamed to instant life. This was where she longed to be. How could she deny what she wanted so desperately?
James's embrace tightened at her response and he parted her lips for a deep exploration that left her clinging to him. She made a soft sound of satisfaction as his tongue tantalised her with its symbolic possession.
Dragging his mouth away, James said in a thickened voice, "I've never wanted anyone as much as I want you." His lips trailed a path of fire down her neck to her deep cleavage.
Lily's muscles were taut as she tried to resist the hot tide of passion that was urging her to listen to her heart, not the voice of reason.
"I want to kiss every inch of your beautiful body," he murmured, sliding his lips along her bodice.
"Not here," she whispered.
"No, someplace completely private where I can undress you slowly and gaze at the perfection of your body. You're like a work of art that deserves appreciation."
She shivered at the thought of being naked in his arms and having his eyes wander over her, discovering her intimate secrets. It would be unbearably arousing even before he touched her. Like he was doing now.
His teeth gently tugged at her bodice, pulling it down so one nipple was exposed. Lily drew in her breath sharply as his lips closed around the hardened little bud.
"James, you mustn't," she protested, although she didn't have the will to pull away.
"Why not, little angel?" His warm tongue circled her nipple, sending a thrill through her. "Don't you like it?"
"Yes, I… But this isn't the…" Lily couldn't think straight with his mouth driving her to distraction.
"This isn't the place?" He finished her sentence. "We could go upstairs."
His hand had slipped inside her bodice, cupping her breast while his mouth suckled on the nipple that was exposed. Lily's legs were trembling. They felt as liquid as the rest of her.
"You want me, too, don't you, darling?" he murmured.
She couldn't have denied it convincingly. All of her cried out for him. As she was about to admit it, there were voices along the path. James put his arm around her and drew her deeper into the shadows so she could straighten her gown.
When the voices had receded down the path, he stroked her cheek and said in a smoky voice, "Shall we go in now?"
She nodded silently, letting him take her hand as they started back into the house. But the interruption had given Lily a chance to think clearly. Making love with James under false pretences was dishonest. A man who did that would be taking unfair advantage of a woman, and it wasn't any more acceptable when the sexes were reversed. Her problem was how to tell him that she'd changed her mind, after evidencing a desire as strong as his own.
As they approached the house he said, "Perhaps you'd prefer to go up first. I'll join you in a few minutes."
"I don't think we should," she said, avoiding his eyes.
"I don't understand." He gave her a puzzled look.
She explained with difficulty. "This ball is being given in our honour. It wouldn't be right for us to leave early."
"Do you honestly think anyone would miss us in that crowd of people? They don't even know who we are in these getups."
"Claudette would know. She supplied our costumes. Besides, everyone's going to unmask at midnight."
The fond impatience in James's eyes turned to coolness. "I could say we'd make sure to be back by midnight, but I imagine you'd find another excuse," he said evenly.
"This is your obligation as much as mine. You don't have to sulk like a little boy." Lily's tone was sharper than she intended, because she shared his disappointment.
"My emotions at this moment are far from juvenile," he answered with a wintry smile.
When they had returned to the crowded ballroom James asked with cool courtesy, "Can I get you some punch, or a glass of champagne?"
"No, thank you. I'm going to fix my makeup." She walked away, conscious of his eyes on her back.
Several bathrooms had been provided for the guests and the one Lily chose was blessedly empty. She didn't want to talk to anyone. When the door opened a few minutes later she was relieved to see that it was Ariadne, not someone she would have to trade small talk with.
"I saw you come in," Ariadne said. "Are you having a good time?"
"Oh, yes, it's a marvellous party," Lily replied brightly. "Are you enjoying yourself?"
"Don't I always?" Ariadne stared in the mirror for a moment before turning to her friend. "Who are we kidding? We're both miserable about having to leave tomorrow night."
"You agreed with me that it was the right thing to do."
"Knowing something is right and actually doing it are two different things. If I stayed, I think a relationship might develop between Remus and me. He wants me to meet his parents."
"How would that make you feel? You'd have to lie to all three of them."
"I know." Ariadne sighed deeply. "But I wish I could at least tell Remus I'm leaving. It seems so cowardly to just disappear without any explanation."
"You're doing him a favour. He'll realise it was only a summer romance. That's actually what it was. You wouldn't be this reluctant to leave if it weren't for all the glamour."
"That's where you're wrong." Ariadne said soberly. "Remus is the man I'd like to spend the rest of my life with. It wouldn't matter if he didn't have a penny or any prospects."
"I'm sorry," Lily murmured. She certainly understood.
They were both caught between a rock and a hard place. Ariadne couldn't marry Remus because if she did, sooner or later the lies they'd told would start to unravel. Her British passport was enough to betray her.
Lily was even worse off. James could never marry anyone but a royal princess, even if he wanted to – which wasn't a certainty.
"It wouldn't change anything if I agreed to stay," Lily said hesitantly.
"I know. It would only prolong the misery." Ariadne tried to smile. "We'll have plenty of time for that when we get home."
"That's negative thinking. We're going to look back on this trip with nothing but fond memories." Who knew? Maybe in time that would be true, Lily tried to tell herself.
The rest of the evening dragged on endlessly. James stayed away from her, but he didn't seem to be sulking. She saw him dancing and circulating around the ballroom, trying to have a few words with as many of the guests as possible.
Lily followed his example, being as charming and gracious as James. To all outward appearances, they were supremely happy. More than a few guests commented on the fact.
"Love certainly has done wonders for Gabrielle," one woman observed. "She hasn't thrown a tantrum or made any cutting remarks all evening."
"It's a little hard on the nerves," a second woman said with a laugh. "I keep waiting for the inevitable explosion."
"I guess love just has a softening effect on her."
"It had just the opposite effect when she was going with that Quidditch player, Sirius Black. I don't know which was more passionate, their arguments or their reconciliations."
"That was just sexual attraction. This is real love. You can tell when they're together."
"James will be good for her. Gabrielle needs a strong man who won't put up with her antics. That must be why she's been on her good behaviour all night."
"I just hope it lasts." The subject was dropped as they were joined by their escorts.
As midnight approached, Claudette brought Lily and James together. "You two have hardly had a moment alone tonight," she said. "It was good of you to go along with my little masquerade, but it's almost time to take off our masks. Then everybody will know who you are and you can spend the rest of the night together."
"I suggested that to Gabrielle, but she turned me down," James drawled.
"Naughty boy." Claudette tapped him with her fan. "You're trying to embarrass me."
"I thought you wanted me to stay in character," he said. "Louis and Marie would have been in bed long ago. Perhaps we're miscast."
"It's possible," Lily said evenly. "Louis was a mature man. He didn't sulk when something was denied to him."
"He didn't have to. He simply called in an understudy."
"Is that what you've been doing? Auditioning?"
Claudette was alarmed by the note of anger underlying their brittle repartee. Was Gabrielle's notoriously short temper going to erupt now, when everything was going so well?
She signalled hastily to the orchestra leader, who gave her a drum roll. "Attention, everyone! It's time to remove your masks and find your partners. Now you'll know if you guessed everybody's identity correctly."
"I was beginning to have doubts about yours," James murmured to Lily. "But you're the same old Gabrielle."
A couple approached them, saving her the necessity of a reply. "I knew it was you, Gabrielle," the woman said.
"What gave me away?" Lily managed a smile.
"Yes, how did you guess?" James asked mockingly. "I thought I knew her, but I didn't."
"It was that magnificent necklace," the woman said. "I do hope you plan to wear it on your wedding day – or is that a big secret?"
"I haven't really thought about it yet," Lily answered vaguely.
As the woman pressed her for details of the wedding, James drifted away.
Next chapter – a bonus chapter, only for the uncut version, and dedicated to my favourite reviewer, everblue3!!! Lily and James have an unexpected midnight rendezvous. Do they kiss and make up?
Oh, if you have time, plllleeeasseee check out my new fic, Pitch it Like Pendragon. An L/J fic (of course) based on the brilliant film, Bend It Like Beckham.
Basically, Lily wants to play Quidditch more than anything, but her overbearing cousin (who's been like a mother ever since Lily was orphaned) has other ideas. She wants Lily to go into the ministry, where she can gather information for You-Know-Who.
Enter Abby Figg, a Gryffindor who knows that Lily isn't like the rest of the Slytherins, and who can see Lily's skill and passion for Quidditch. She introduces Lily to the local girls' team, the Hogsmeade Horntails, and their coach, James Potter…
OK, that summary's a bit rubbish, but you get the gist of it. Please, check it out!
"You don't learn to frolic. You release the frolic within."
(courtesy of the Naked Dancing Llama)
