A Right Royal Mix-up

            I'm sorry for the delay… It's half term at the moment, and I've discovered I'm even busier when I'm on holiday than when I'm not – I've been working 9-5 at the library, and then babysitting in the evenings. ARGH!!! I'm saving up for my summer holiday. I'm going to go the Mallorca, but I have to raise all the money myself…

            I said last chapter that they'd go to Grandalia this chapter, but I told a fib – I've worked out a whole new plot twist, and they won't leave for a fair few chapters…

            Disclaimer – I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters etc. although I do own several white mice and a pair of furry purple monster slippers. Oh well, I suppose two out of three ain't bad.

Chapter 14

As the week wound to a close, the social events were scheduled to culminate in a house party at the country estate of one of the king's ministers. After that, the engaged couple and their entourages would travel to Grandalia for another round of public and private festivities to give James's subjects the chance to see his fiancé.

            "Do you think you can stand another week of my constant company?" he asked her with a grin.

            Lily doubted it. Not with her willpower failing her. That Friday, she went to Henri's office to have a word with him.

            "After the house party this weekend, I have to go home. I'm not going to Grandalia," she told him firmly.

            "I hope it won't be necessary," he said. "We have every indication that Princess Gabrielle will be back by then."

            "You've located her?"

            "Well, not exactly, but it isn't important. She's coming back of her own accord."

            "That's what you've been hoping for all along, but it didn't happen. What makes you think she's changed her mind?"

            "The princess telephoned and we had a lengthy conversation."

            "She agreed to marry James?" Lily asked intently.

            Henri hesitated imperceptibly before saying, "She realises it's the right thing to do."

            Lily stared at him suspiciously. "When is she returning? What specific day?"

            "I didn't attempt to pin her down," he said smoothly. "Gabrielle doesn't like to be questioned. But I explained things to her, and I'm sure she's going to be a lot more co-operative."

            "I don't know what kind of blackmail you used, but from all I've heard of about her, it won't work."

            "Let me worry about that." He gave Lily a small, confident smile. "It's my problem."

            "And mine," she answered evenly. "You led me to believe this impersonation would only last a few days. It's been going on for almost a week now and there's no end in sight. I don't have your faith in the princess's reliability."

            "The king deeply appreciates your cooperation. If there is anything I can do to make you more comfortable, please don't hesitate to ask."

            "You've both been more than generous, but that's not the point. I have a life of my own that I'd like to get back to."

            "I understand completely. Nobody wants that more than we do," Henri said fervently. "If you'll just be patient a little longer, I'm sure this entire affair will work itself out."

            "I'll give you until Sunday night," Lily said adamantly. "After that, Cinderella turns in her time card."

            "I'm sure the princess will have returned by then."

            "If that's the case we have no problem. Please contact the British Ministry to arrange a suitable apparition point."

            "That can be done at the last minute. Why don't we hold off – just in case there are any last minute glitches," Henri said with elaborate casualness.

            "I have no doubt there will be. You don't really know when Gabrielle is coming back, but I know when I'm leaving. You'd better start inventing some lingering illness for the princess. If she does show up, you can suddenly discover a miracle cure."

            "I can certainly understand your impatience. You've done a marvellous job impersonating the princess. If your departure precipitates a diplomatic crisis… well, so be it. We have no right to impose on you any longer."

            "Don't try to make me feel sorry for you, Henri. I've been around enough foreign ministers to know a snow job when I see one." Lily went to the door. With her hand on the knob she turned and said, "Sunday night, no later."

Gabrielle hadn't put in an appearance by Saturday morning, so the two young couples flew to the country, Lily and Ariadne on top of the market brooms loaned to them by the palace. They were all in high spirits. James and Remus because they didn't have a care in the world, and Lily and Ariadne because they'd decided to make the most of their last two days in Beaumarre.

            Ariadne had reluctantly agreed with Lily's decision to set a deadline. They couldn't let Henri keep her dangling indefinitely. Besides, it wouldn't get any easier to leave, no matter how long they stayed. This luxurious weekend in the country would be a lovely way to end the trip.

            "Is it too windy for you?" Remus asked Ariadne. "We can slow down if you like."

            "No, this is great. I love the wind in my face."

            "You're very unusual," he said admiringly. "Most women don't like getting their hair mussed."

            "No problem. After a session with the princess's hairdresser we'll both be new women."

            He reached over, wobbling slightly as he tried to hold his broom steady, and took her hand. "I hope not. I like you just the way you are."

            James put his arm around Lily. Even in mid air, he made it look easy and effortless to fly one-handed and perilously close to another flier. "That's my feeling exactly. I can't wait to show you off to my parents and the people of Grandalia."

She smiled vaguely and said, "How much farther is it to where we're going?"

            He looked at her with a puzzled frown. "You must have been there before. Simon Dumont is your father's minister."

            "Oh… yes, of course, but I haven't been to his country place in a long time."

            "According to my directions, it's right behind that ridge," Remus said.

            Lily stifled a gasp as the house came into view. She'd been expecting something luxurious, but nothing like this. It was a stone castle, only a little smaller than the Hogwarts castle, that housed hundreds of students nine months of every year. It had a vast courtyard partially enclosed by two wings that, together with the house, formed a U shape. Ivy covered the high walls, and the roof was decorated with turrets and cupolas.

            "This place must be hundreds of years old," Ariadne exclaimed. "Just look at those front doors! Reminds me of Ho…" Lily shot her a warning glance. "Of… um…. home! We have some splendid buildings in Switzerland."

            As soon as the four landed neatly on the driveway, the massive front doors opened and servants came out to carry the feather-weight luggage they had attached to the brooms inside.

            A butler greeted them formally and led them to a panelled library where their hosts were waiting.

            Claudette Dumont was an accomplished hostess, used to anticipating anything a guest might desire. A long table against one wall held a coffee urn and a silver tea service, along with tiered serving dishes filled with pastries and snacks. These were in case a guest got hungry between breakfast and lunch. There was also a well stocked bar cart, with something for every appetite. Several of the guests who had arrived earlier were drinking Bloody Marys or Ogden's Fire-whisky, but Lily chose pumpkin juice, and the others chose coffee.

            "I don't know what's gotten into you, Gabrielle," a woman named Brigitte drawled. "You're no fun at all anymore."

James was about to disagree, but Ariadne came to her defence first. "Maybe Gabrielle has just outgrown your kind of fun," she said sweetly.

            "Yes, well, let me tell you what we have planned for this evening," their hostess said hastily.

            Every kind of party had already been given for the royal couple, which had really taxed Claudette's ingenuity. As the final event in a week of festivities, she wanted hers to be especially unique. The entertainment she'd planned was certainly memorable.

            "We're going to have a costume ball tonight," she announced. "Everyone will come as someone from the court of Louis XVI of France. Gabrielle, you'll be Marie Antoinette, and James will be Louis."

            "I'm not sure I like the casting." Lily laughed. "Both of them were beheaded."

            "Marie lost her head over a man she wasn't even in love with," Brigitte observed. "Her marriage to Louis was arranged to form a closer alliance between France and Austria."

            "She wasn't the mate he would have chosen, either," a man in the group commented. "That's one drawback to being a king. You can't marry for love."

            "Sometimes you can," James said softly.

            Lily stood up abruptly. "I think I'd like to go to my room and freshen up."

            "Of course, my dear." Claudette rang for a servant. "I've given you your usual suite. Ariadne's is the one next to it and James and Remus are across the hall."

            "I'll go with you," Ariadne told Lily. "I need to comb my hair."

            Their suites were comparable to the ones at the palace in Bienville and the service was equally good. Their suitcases had been unpacked, magically they presumed, their clothes put away in huge armoires and their toiletries arranged in the bathroom.

Ariadne reappeared with a disbelieving look on her face after going to check out her own suite. "Have you looked in your closet yet?"

            "No. What's the matter? Aren't your clothes there?"

            "Yes, but you should see what else. There's a costume for this evening's masquerade ball."

            "I wasn't told I'd need a costume. I wonder if my maid packed one for me, too."

            "You don't have anything like this. Claudette evidently provided them for all the houseguests. See for yourself. She must have spent a fortune on these outfits."

            Lily walked over and opened her armoire. Inside was a pale blue satin gown embroidered all over with gold thread and studded with faux jewels. The bodice was minuscule, but the long sweeping skirt had enough fabric to drape a living room. The accessories meant to be worn with the gown were even more extravagant.

            A tall, elaborately coifed white wig was perched on a hat stand, with a small blue satin mask and a lace fan propped up on the base. Everything was authentic for the period. The blue satin shoes had square buckles and Louis heels, even though they would never be seen under the voluminous skirt.

            "All the hostesses have been trying to outdo each other, but I think Claudette deserves the grand prize," Ariadne said.

            "She certainly put a lot of thought into the entertainment." Lily was eyeing the low neckline of her gown. "She didn't have to be this authentic, though. The French court of that period was known for being licentious, and this dress would have been right at home there."

            "Some of the crown jewels of Beaumarre would come in handy right now. You wouldn't look so bare if you wore one of those eye-popping necklaces they own."

            "I think Robert brought one. That could be why he and these bodyguard types came along."

            "Ordinary people don't realise the freedom they have," Ariadne mused. "It must be difficult to be surrounded by a retinue wherever you go."

            "I'll remind you of that tonight when you're having your hair styled by the hairdresser we brought with us," Lily teased.

            "My hair won't show under the wig, so why bother? I can't wait to see Remus and James in satin britches! I'll bet they're less delighted than we are."

            "At least they don't have to wear corsets." Lily looked dubiously at the boning in her gown.

            "It will be worth it," Ariadne assured her. "This will be an evening we're not likely to forget."

            Lily needed help getting into her gown that evening. It had tiny hooks halfway down the back where she couldn't reach. "Claudette didn't have to be this authentic," she grumbled to Ariadne, who had finished dressing earlier and was waiting for her. "A zip would never show."

            Ariadne watched in amusement. "I can't understand how the people back then had so many affairs. You'd think by the time a guy got one of these gowns unhooked he'd be out of the mood."

            "I guess they didn't have other distractions then, like television or Quidditch. I guarantee you a man's passion would dim if it was a toss-up between a hundred hooks and Monday-night football, or a game of Quidditch with his mates," Lily said dryly.

            "You have to admit the style is becoming, though. That panniered skirt takes inches off your waist."

            Lily was tugging at her neckline. The low bodice was barely an inch above her nipples. "Robert left some jewellery for me to wear. I just hope it covers up some of this bare skin."

            Ariadne's eyes widened as Lily opened the velvet jewellery box. Inside was a magnificent necklace that glittered like cold fire. A series of huge sapphires surrounded by diamonds were suspended from a loop of smaller diamonds. A matching bracelet and drop earrings completed the set.

            "Wow!" Ariadne exclaimed. "You don't have to worry about your cleavage. Who's going to look at that when you have a million dollars around your neck?"

            "I've never worn the same jewels twice.  The past queens of Beaumarre must have shopped til they dropped," Lily remarked as she tucked her hair under the wig. The transformation was astounding. "I look like a different person!" she exclaimed. "I wonder if James will recognise me?"

            "I know Remus won't recognise me," Ariadne said.

            The change from Lily's formerly shining copper locks was the most pronounced, but both women looked totally unlike themselves. Especially when they put on their masks.

            "Let's go flirt with them and see if they flirt back," Ariadne said mischievously.

            "I think we can safely assume that they will," Lily answered evenly.

            "You still don't trust James? He seems quite devoted."

            "I'm sure he is," Lily sighed. "But all this intrigue has made me suspicious of everyone."

            "I know. The lies and half-truths are wearing me down, too. The one good thing about leaving here is that I won't have to watch every word I say." The two women were silent for a moment. Then Ariadne squared her shoulders.

            "Well, we might as well adopt Marie Antoinette's philosophy. Live for the moment, because tomorrow might be a bummer."

            Lily couldn't help laughing. "No matter what happens, I don't think they'll send us to the guillotine."

Next chappie – the costume ball, complete with improper advances… that's going to be really fun to write!

Interior designers don't want to take over the world, they just want to make it look feng shui. Now, bus drivers, on the other hand…