"Stupid birds," she muttered as she clambered out of the blankets and reached for her gown. The clasp on her necklace broke. "Is no one going to be in a good mood today apart from those birds?" She bent and wriggled underneath the bed, fumbling for the chain.
Someone rapped on her door. Typical. The knocker was most likely Thom, asking her to come to breakfast. Asking, ha! Not likely! Ordering, or forcing, were more Thom's style.
"Come in," she called, slightly triumphant; she had just successfully grasped the irritating piece of jewellery. She scrambled out again; dress slipping down one shoulder because she hadn't had the time to fasten it up before. Or the hands, come to that. But it didn't matter; it was only Thom. If he teased her, she'd blind him. Simple.
Finally free of the bed, she was offered a hand to stand. Obviously, she ignored it and rose without it. Once up, she swung to face…
Nervously, she pushed the sleeve up her shoulder, thanking the Goddess for her under-corset. She flushed, and smiled as falsely as her cheeks would permit. "I'd curtsy, your Highness, only my dress would fall down further."
The Prince laughed. "Turn around, and I'll tie it up for you," he offered in his gloriously deep - what was she thinking? He was a prick!
"Get lots of practise, doing up ladies' dresses?" she asked, while obeying.
"Not under circumstances like these." He finished, briskly turning her to face him once more.
"Thank you, your Highness."
"Jonathan, to the family of the person who saved my life."
"But that was my twin. I can't pass as him any more - I have trouble faking the beard."
He chuckled. "May I escort the lovely Lady Malven to breakfast?"
Alanna made a pantomime out of looking around. "My mother-in-law? She's here?"
"Are you going to make me be really specific?" She nodded, gleefully. "Would you, Lady Alanna of Malven, do me, Prince Jonathan of Conte, the honour of accompanying me to breakfast, in the Hall, now?"
"It would greatly please me to accept your invitation." Alanna's voice was a monotone, demonstrating the boredom she found in being polite. He held his arm out, and she took it, glowering.
--
Gary lay on his stomach. Alex towered over him, something the short knight wasn't often able to do to people. "Do you accept?"
At that moment, Jon burst into the room, interrupting Gary's reply. "Sorry; had to take Alanna back to the Malven suite."
Laughter met this comment, along with Jon's red cheeks. Gary rolled onto his back, and sat up. "I accept on the grounds that my cousin has to perform a similar task."
Raoul grinned. "What do you say, Jon? Ten gold nobles, from Alex, for you to kiss the married woman of our choice?"
Jon lifted an eyebrow. "Gary is definitely going to do this?"
Alex nodded. "Allow me to inform you of the rules. At the ball, tonight, you have to walk up to the woman we choose, recite a short, prewritten poem from your own brains, lean forwards, and kiss her. Of course, we are not willing to be held responsible for the actions of the Lady Cavall, or of the Lady Malven. What do you say?"
"I accept." He was not one to turn down a challenge.
Gary nodded. "Same here."
--
Alanna drummed her fingers on the chair. 'Boring. Boring. Boring. Sleep would be nice.' She closed her eyes, letting her head droop down.
"Isn't this so exciting? I hear the Prince is looking for a wife! Isn't it exciting? This is my first royal ball! It's amazing! All the people are so lovely…"
'Does she ever shut up?' The girl next to her must have been drivelling on for at least half-an-hour. Honestly, they could just put a parrot in her place and no one would notice. Of course, the parrot would have to be pretty. Alanna's sharp eyes noticed more than a few double takes at the lovely brunette.
"I'm Lady Danielle of Linshart. What is yours?"
"Lady Alanna of Malven." The sour tone did nothing to dampen Danielle's spirits; she burbled on happily about her incredibly pathetic knowledge of the Malvens.
"…And I hear that they're so friendly, and wonderful, and…" Alanna tuned out again.
Then, for some odd reason, she felt guilty. Well, this girl's tongue must be getting tired. Actually, so were Alanna's ears. So she decided to enlighten this evidently daft woman. "In reality, the Malven family are a bunch of conniving, snivelling creeps, and I am ashamed that I have to pretend to be one of them." 'There, that should stop her.'
Danielle's face coloured with relief. "Thanks to the Goddess. I thought you were another prissed-up court lady."
"Don't worry. I am a court lady. Just not the standard type."
"Maybe they should consider putting on our boxes 'Handle with Care.'"
Alanna grinned. "Real name, now?"
'Danielle' rolled her eyes. "Thayet. How did you know?"
"The Linshart family don't have your looks."
"So what's your history?"
"Orphan, arranged marriage to complete prat, obnoxious twin brother and I'm a court lady. Yours?"
"I think I'll keep mine for another time. It's a little long." Thayet's hazel eyes had clouded over, so Alanna didn't press her. Looking around for conversation, she saw Prince Jonathan, heading their way.
"Lady Alanna, Lady… I do not believe we have met."
"This is my friend, Lady Rosabella. She's also my cousin. Visiting from Maren." Alanna used the words for 'beautiful rose', which was the reason for Thayet's blush.
"She doesn't look like a Maren."
"But I don't look like you, and we're both Tortallan."
"Cleverly put. Lady Alanna, would you care to dance?"
"I wouldn't, but I suppose I'll have to. Thank you, your Highness." She stood, hair slipping in front of her face, creating a veil. She swept it behind her ears, and accepted his hand.
Jon grinned at Gary, who was chatting to (or up) Lady Cavall, as he led Alanna to the middle of the room. His cousin shook his head, mouthing, 'Get on with it!' Well, he was slightly ruder, but Jon ignored it. He turned back to Alanna, taking in a deep breath.
"Whenever you are near me
Your laughter warms my heart.
Memories still cheer me
Whenever we're apart."
Alanna stepped back from him after the verse, and onto Lord Wyldon of Cavall's foot. She didn't even both apologising; just flicked her hard violet eyes back to Jon. Jon felt mildly sorry for the man; it was his wife Gary had to kiss tonight. Jon was actually quite insulted by Alanna's strange reaction; the poem had taken him ages to think up.
"Very nice," she said quickly, aiming for approving. "Save it for some other lady who cares, who's stupid, and who's in love with you."
"You forgot available."
"Excuse me while I go hang myself for forgetting that trivial point. Now, who was that poem really for? You only just met Rosabella. It was too good for a few minutes."
"You." Before he completely lost his nerve, Jon leaned towards Alanna and kissed her.
--
Hello!!!!! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed - inklog, Sally, V. confused, Charisma Jo, Meerkat, wildmagelioness, animalrae101, Seeking Serenity, Lilian, The Writer, Aurora, Jaelawyn Noble, PrincessSkywalkerOrgana, Cheezy Frumaja, ndblue123, PhoenixMage, Briar's Rose - nope wait, that's me -, CaTe, Princess Abby, Aliya, liz, Theola, Magelet, huntress, Lanna, Cassidelia, HarmonyLupin, Rachel1289, Green destiny, Lady Christina, Cass, Renaissance Girl, Lady Carlee/Veralidaine Sarrasri, Dewdrop, Evil Monkey of Doom (what a cool name!), earthfire, Grace, Peachblossom's girl and "Sir" Kayt. Right, kept 3 people. Avadriz - yeah! She's a slut! Jendi - I sent you 'Infidelity', and you call this little thing too far? And Radz, thanks for pre-reading, and for letting me pre-read one of your stories. Anyone want to guess what happens in this story?
I can't believe how bad I am at cliffhangers. I mean, all you are waiting for is to see what reaction Alanna gives to Jon's kissing her in public. Other people have characters falling off cliffs, or about to say something back to their Prince's proposal. Course, the latter author will have her sequel out v. soon, or I'll… tell everyone about the evil axe murderer! Oh dear, sorry Radella. B/w, that poem's off a card I found. I think this A/n is longer than the story! Anyway, HAND! A r, Rosie.
