A Right Royal Mix-up
Here you go, my beloved readers. I'm sorry it took a while, but I've had so much work – I've just qualified for the International Maths Olympiad, so I've been working hard to pass my next competition. Anyhoo, here's chapter 15. You'll probably have to wait a little longer than usual for the next chapter, as I'm currently writing a bonus chapter for the uncut version.
Disclaimer – Much as I wish it was to the contrary, I don't own Harry Potter.
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. "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?
He framed her face in his palms and gazed at her tenderly. "I love you, sweetheart. It's taken me years to discover it, but I never really knew you before. Whatever you want is all right with me. I want to make you as happy as you've made me."
At these words, Lily's heart leapt involuntarily, before her head caught up with it. James was saying these words to Gabrielle, not to her. Still, she found herself embracing him tightly, murmuring a reply so softly he had to strain to hear it. "I love you, too, James."
They remained outside, clinging to each other, before Lily started shivering and James made her go inside.
When they had returned to the crowded ballroom James asked with 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."
"Do you mean the whole night?" James drawled, his eyes glinting mischeviously.
"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."
"Stop it, James," Lily said evenly. "Poor Claudette is getting quite flustered."
"Sorry, milady. Would you care to dance?"
"But of course, milord."
As Lily swirled in James's arms, she knew she would never be as happy as for these few short hours in his company. She pushed the thought that she would leave him behind tomorrow out of her mind, determined to enjoy the last moments she had with the man she loved.
Claudette signalled 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."
Lily and James removed their masks, smiling at each other. As they came closer to each other, ready for a kiss, a couple approached them. "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 had so much trouble."
"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.
There you go! If you're reading the uncut version, this chapter is very different in it, so check it out…
Next chapter – Breakfast in bed, and a romantic picnic…
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)
