Chapter 12:
Enter: Cecilia
THEOLAN BALLS DID NOT ALWAYS BOTHER with announcing every guest’s arrival. At most, guests needed only to enter through the door that befitted their status. They were generally liberal affairs.
So it was with the Summer Ball. The palace was brimming with guests, among them the Honorable Beatrice, daughter of Viscount Lillertcruz, and the Honorable Milliaria, daughter of Baron Faronkalt.
“Leave it to Luciana to make it back to the capital at the last minute,” Beatrice commented. “She couldn’t even spare a minute to say hello before the big day.”
“It’s cruel,” Milliaria said. “Is such a short letter really all we’re worth?”
Luna Invidia giggled. “You’re as close as ever if a few days without her is enough to upset you two this much.”
“And do you not share in our outrage?” Beatrice asked.
“I’d say I’m more excited than affronted.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know Luciana. Doubtless she has something in store that’ll take our breath away, and then we’ll be too busy oohing and ahhing to care one way or another.”
“You think we can expect a surprise?” Milliaria asked.
“What I want to know is what kind of surprise,” said Beatrice. “Care to share, Luna?”
“I haven’t a clue either,” she replied. “That’s why I’m excited. I’m sure it’ll be stunning, though, whatever it is. I’d expect nothing less from our Fae Princess. My Hero Princess.”
As if on cue, silence rippled through the ballroom like a wave, originating from the front doors. The center doors, to be precise.
“Oh?” Beatrice perked up.
“Who could that be? Someone prominent, I’m sure.” Milliaria’s hand shot to her mouth.
Luna giggled again. “I’m not disappointed.”
Luciana and Cecilia entered through the center doors with their partners, Maxwell and Lect. Some hissed to each other in hushed tones, others sighed in awe, but everyone noticed. That Luciana and Maxwell were together again after the Spring Ball did not surprise people quite as much as who joined them.
The Fae Princess and the Angel. Together again. Reunited after their legendary dance at the Spring Ball. This caused the greatest stir of all.
Maxwell sauntered in slowly, Luciana holding his right arm. Next to them, keeping pace, strode Lect with Melody on his left arm, mirroring the other couple. Spritely and divine, two sides to a beautiful coin, the women walked hand in hand at the center of the procession.
It did not take long for reverential silence to turn into whispers.
“That’s the one? That’s the Fae Princess? By the king.”
“With a Reclentos again? Could it be…?”
“Is that Sir Froude with them? The girl he’s escorting. Who is she?”
“That’s the Angel of the Spring Ball. Goodness, we’re in for a treat if she’s with the Fae Princess again.”
“I love their matching dresses. They look like sisters.”
“Sir Froude’s house is a viscountship in service to House Leginbarth.”
“The boy’s under the auspices of the count, then. And he’s with a Reclentos. Lord chancellor and vice-chancellor, together as one. Is it a message, do you think?”
Rumors and guesswork abounded. Little did they know the truth of the display.
“Feeling better, Lady Luciana?” asked the angel.
“Yes,” said the fairy. “Thank you, Cecilia.”
Luciana had been too nervous to enter the hall alone with Maxwell, so Melody held her hand to calm her nerves, and Luciana had refused to let go before passing through the door. There was absolutely no deeper meaning to the arrangement.
Incidentally, as Cecilia was technically a commoner beneath that fancy gown, she had to keep the proper forms of address in mind. Her lady was still a lady, after all. Just not her lady. A psychological distinction, more than anything.
The maidless lady finally let go, and the moment she did she was accosted.
“Luciana! You will explain yourself this time!” Beatrice said.
“You’re keeping one too many secrets for our liking,” Milliaria said.
Luna was comparatively composed. “Thank you for the excellent opener to the night, Luciana.”
“You two said the exact same thing at the last ball,” the culprit told her old friends. “And what are you talking about, Luna? All we did was walk in.”
The incredulous only grew incredulouser. Luna, however, was having the time of her life.
“That was you just ‘walking in’? You stole the ball with that maneuver!” Beatrice said.
“I did?”
Luciana had been far too concerned with the sweat on her back and the twisting sensation in her gut to pay attention to the effect of her entrance. Maxwell simply grinned, thoroughly entertained.
“Anyway, let me introduce you,” Luciana said. “This is Madam Cecilia. She sort of popped up and then zipped off at the Spring Ball, so I didn’t get a chance to introduce her last time.”
“People do not ‘pop’ or ‘zip,’” Melody said quietly. After Luciana’s friends introduced themselves, she returned the favor. “Cecilia McMarden, my ladies. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintances.”
“She’s a commoner, so everyone go easy on her. Understood?”
“Well, she’d make a fine noble,” Beatrice said. “We’ll keep a close eye on her, lest someone less deserving of the title gets the same idea.”
“A ball can be a dangerous place if you don’t know what you’re doing,” Luna agreed. “Stay close, okay?”
“Thank you, both of you,” Cecilia said, “but I’m certain I’ll be quite all right with Le…Sir Lectias here to protect me.”
The ladies squealed just loud enough to drown out the curse that left Luciana’s lips. Lect scowled, doing his damnedest to keep the blood from rushing to his cheeks. Maxwell, meanwhile, endured his own trial as he very nearly let a snicker slip out.
“Goodness, I hope I haven’t missed the fun,” a new voice chimed in.
“Lady Anna-Marie!” Luciana said with a start.