And they twain shall be one flesh — a royal wedding

by **The Harrowlands** » Sun May 25, 2014 7:50 am

Port Bray, York

Princess Helena stood on the deck of the HMS Jacobus as it pulled away from the harbour in the fading afternoon glow. The whistling wind disturbed her neatly-coiffured blonde hair, but she didn't mind — she would freshen herself before she arrived. In any case, how could she worry about such things now? Her head was spinning. She gazed back at the country she was leaving for good, to take up residence in a new home, with a new family. Her excitement at this prospect notwithstanding, she couldn't help feel a tinge of sadness about what she was leaving behind. She was leaving the life and the people she had known the last twenty-four years, and gaining new. Such is marriage.

Her thoughts and daydreams the last few months about the new life she would be entering into, and the husband she would wed, were often punctured by these wistful contemplations. But she regretted nothing: she had been willing God to make this moment come sooner since that beautiful day, etched forever in her memory, when her fiancé proposed to her. She often daydreamed about the time, when it finally came, when she would be standing there in her beautiful white dress, before the altar, facing her beloved, and the holy man would say those blessed words, pronounce them man and wife...

"How now, Helena?" came a languid voice from behind her, jolting her out of her reverie. She looked round: it was her elder brother, Prince Henry.

"Oh, Harry," said Helena. "You gave me a fright."

"Won't you come into the tea room? The kitchens have put out a delicious spread."

"Oh, all right," she said. She cast one final look back at the fading city of York, and turned and followed her brother into the ship's interior.

by **Singeorgeland** » Sun May 25, 2014 8:37 am

St. George's Palace, Yiewsley

William paced excitedly about the Royal Palace in Singeorgeland's capital city, Yiewsley. It was still a few days to the wedding, but it was all arranged, and he would get an chance to see Helena, his wonderful fiancée again. The King, George, still indisposed and abed with his illness, was unable to come and greet the coming Harrowish guests, but the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. David Peel MP and a few other Government Ministers and most of the Singeorgean Lords and Ladies were with him in the foyer, waiting for the Harrowish guests' arrival.

"Your Highness, all this pacing is not healthy." the Prime Minister was a particular friend of William's, and although it was something of a taboo for members of the Monarchy to favouritise politicians, it was accepted as something of a privilege and part of the influence that came with being a member of the Royal Family.

"Neither is politics old chap but you seem to manage." the Singeorgeans laughed at the Prince's quip, but soon the awkward silence of the wait returned.

Port Harbourmouth, Singeorgeland

The Harrowish ship HMS Jacobus docked in Harbourmouth to a large crowd, most of the port-city's citizens had turned out to see the Harrowish guests arrive, after all, they wanted to catch a glimpse of their future Queen, which had been the gossip of most town squares for the past year or so.

As they disembarked, a large well-dressed man in a dark coat and top hat, swinging a walking-cane approached them. "Your Highnesses, welcome to the Kingdom of Singeorgeland. I am Edward Stanley, the Foreign Secretary, for my sins. If you'd like to follow me we'll see you transported comfortably to Yiewsley, it's about an hour or so's journey, but we've tried to get hold of the best carriages!"

by **The Harrowlands** » Mon May 26, 2014 4:47 am

(OOC: By the way, there will be a sizeable party coming from the Harrowlands to attend the wedding, not just the royal family, but most will be arriving later, perhaps the day before the wedding.)

Night had fallen by the time the HMS Jacobus, carrying the Harrowish party, arrived on Singeorgean shores. Helena looked onto shore from her vantage point on the ship deck as the Jacobus docked, and was startled and humbled to see that such a large crowd of local townspeople had braved the dark and the cold to turn out to greet her and her family's arrival. She gave them a nervous wave and smile, and was touched as they responded with generous ovation. They would be her people in a few days, she thought.

The royal family, and miscellaneous company, disembarked and stepped upon Singeorgean soil. King James greeted the Foreign Secretary with gusto, and the Harrowish party allowed itself to be shepherded into a series of fine carriages for the journey to the Singeorgean capital, Yiewsley.

by **Singeorgeland** » Mon May 26, 2014 7:54 am

(OOC: OK, noted)

The carriages took the shortest road to Yiewsley. It was a fairly pleasant country road, but even still, a longish journey.

About an hour later, the carriages arrived in Yiewsley. It was about 9:00pm, yet the crowds were out, ready to receive the Harrowish guests with thunderous cheers and applause. It was quite uncanny for Singeorgeans to stay out late, but not today, today was special.
The carriages drew up at the gates of St. George's Palace, and all the Singeorean dignitaries waited expectantly. William skipped down to the Harrowish Royals beaming, he went straight for Helena and hugged her "Darling, darling! I've missed you so much my sweetheart." William smiled at her "You asked for this back when I was to see you next, well, now I return it to you." he kissed her cheek.

William shook King James' hand vigorously and sidled up to Harry to pat him on the back "Here we are then old man, soon-to-be brother-in-law!"

by **The Harrowlands** » Wed May 28, 2014 12:36 am

Helena was too preoccupied to pay due respect to the great palace looming before her as her carriage entered through the palace gates, having battled its way through a horde of excitable Singeorgeans. Her attention was only upon the dark figures in the distance. One of the figures made a beeline for the carriages, even before they had come to a halt. Surely it was him?

Indeed. Helena found herself suddenly enveloped in the arms of her beloved having barely stepped on solid ground. He said something and gave her a kiss. She couldn't hear him. She could only stare weakly up into his eyes; it had been two years since she had gazed into those darling eyes, since they had gazed into hers. She forced herself to regain her composure.

"Oh, William," she tutted, shaking her head in mock disappointment. "You haven't changed. I shall have to do something about that."

"Well, well, good to see you again, dear boy," boomed King James, squeezing Prince William's hand. "What will we do now? We have had a long journey, and it is late, so perhaps we shall retire for the night.

"I want to ask, though, if we will be seeing your dear grandfather, the King, at all? Is he up to attending the wedding? I should dearly like to see the old man again."

by **Singeorgeland** » Wed May 28, 2014 2:02 am

William addressed James' question directly "Indeed, I shall have the valets show you to your rooms. As for my dear grandfather, I believe he is going to try to be at the wedding, but I do believe it'll be hit-or-miss. I'll take you to see him tomorrow morning, the poor chap is bed-bound and sleeps most of the day, but I'm sure he'd be delighted to see you, might even usher in his recovery!"

William led the Harrowish guests up into the Palace Entrance Foyer, Helena on his arm, and a suited, brown-haired man in his late 40s approached to greet then "Ah," said William "This is our Prime Minister, Mr. Peel, and around him, well, take your pick, various others of his political scoundrels!"

"Greetings, Majesties" Peel spoke loudly but not too familiarly "You'll be pleased to know that Parliament's clicked into gear and consented to the marriage!"

A troupe of valets and footmen arranged themselves at bottom of the winding staircase, ready to show the Harrowish Royals to their rooms at their pleasure.

by **The Harrowlands** » Thu May 29, 2014 4:40 am

King James and Queen Cordelia tarried with the politicians while the royal children were led away to their quarters by the valets.

"Prime Minister, how do you do?" said James, greeting Mr Peel. From what James knew of the system of government of this country, the Singeorgean Prime Minister was much more powerful a political figure than his equivalent in the Harrowlands, where royal leadership of government was the norm. He thus realised he was speaking, in purely political terms, to his opposite number.

"Charmed," said James. "I am pleased that the Singeorgean nation has displayed as much enthusiasm as I have for this marriage! I'm sure we'll have much to discuss over the next few days, Mr Peel. Now, though, my body and mind are weary from their journey. As are the Queen's, I expect. So we take advantage of your Prince Regent's gracious hospitality, and retire. Good night, Mr Peel."

"Good night, gentlemen. Nice to meet you," he nodded to the other politicians.

"Good night, sir," he said to Prince William.

by **Singeorgeland** » Thu May 29, 2014 8:02 am

The next morning William stood in the dining room watching breakfast being arranged for the guests, ensuring everything was just so. He had briefly spoken to his grandfather the night before, and he was indeed willing to meet the Harrowish guests, and would try his best to make himself well enough to attend the wedding the next day.

Prime Minister Peel and three other cabinet members had just arrived to breakfast with them, there was Mr Peel himself, Edward Stanley who had escorted the Harrowish guests to Yiewsley, Benjamin Disraeli (OOC: who else?!) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lord Chelmsford, the Lord Chancellor.

"Gentlemen." William acknowledged them, he eagerly expected the Harrowish Royals.

When all the Harrowish Royals had come down from their rooms, and William had greeted each in turn, he told them the news "My grandfather is delighted to know you're here, and would love to see you all today, at about 11:00am I think he said. He especially is looking forward to seeing his 'Dear old friend James' and his future granddaughter-in-law!" he smiled at Helena. "The politicians are here..." he indicated to the MPs "...if you need boring to death, and so...let's eat!"

by **Chelta** » Sat May 31, 2014 3:50 am

EDIT: omg I did it again...

by **The Harrowlands** » Sat May 31, 2014 3:51 am

Helena rose in the morning from her first night at St George's Palace. Well-rested and thoroughly refreshed, she had found no discomfort in falling to sleep the night before: though she knew she was in a strange place, she felt as at home in her new setting as in the bedroom she had slept in since her girlhood. Her handmaiden, who was pulling back the curtains, smiled at Helena when she saw that her mistress was awake. Helena dressed herself in a white dress and had her hair done for her by her handmaiden after the fashion of York. Looking at herself in the mirror, she realised she would have to adapt herself to Singeorgean fashions in time. 'What a shame,' she thought — she had always considered Singeorgean fashions to be several decades behind that of the Harrowlands. Perhaps, after she was married, she would pull this country's fashion into modernity. Yes, she liked the thought of that.

Helena was the last of her family to arrive for breakfast, finding her parents and her three siblings, and a group of politicians, at the table. She recognised the Prime Minister, Mr Peel, from the night before. Her father was in conversation with Prince William.

"Yes, I shall be glad to see old George again," James was saying. "Your grandfather and I were very close at one point. He was from a different generation than me, of course, but he was very good to me when I first inherited the throne. He helped me cope with my responsibilities as a young king. He was rather a fatherly mentor to me, after my own father hopped it prematurely. It just goes to show, I suppose, how close our two countries are, that two foreign princes could be so close and completely trusting of one another."

by **Singeorgeland** » Sat May 31, 2014 7:10 am

"You can say that again." William winked at Prince Henry. William rose to greet Helena "Good morning sweetheart, did you sleep well? You certainly do look beautiful this morning. Come and sit down with us." William ushered Helena over to the table and indicated for her to sit next to him.

"Cor, you'd think she's his wife already!" one of the servants muttered to the butler and they stood to attention at the door. "Well the wedding is tomorrow. I'd say they have at least the right to sit together." the butler snidely but the servant down.

"So what are we all having? There's all sorts, brioches, croissants jam and toast, bacon, ham , eggs, anything you want we most likely have it!" William piped up excitedly. He addressed Helena "Helena dear, after breakfast how about we go for a stroll in the Palace grounds before going to see grandfather, and we can just catch up and discuss...a few things!"

by **The Harrowlands** » Sun Jun 01, 2014 6:47 am

Prince Henry was having trouble eating his eggs. He had never had this trouble before. He greatly enjoyed eggs, and had eaten plenty of eggs in his time. He was known to sneak down to the palace kitchens in his pyjamas to make himself an omelette when he was feeling peckish during the night. There was nothing particularly wrong with the eggs themselves — they were delicious — but, strangely, he didn't have his normal appetite for the yellowy, yolky goodness this morning. He was distracted.

His father the King was engrossed in conversation with the Singeorgean politicians about international politics and other unimportant things of that nature. Henry supposed he ought to be taking part in their conversation, as essential education for his future role as king, but his attention was captured by Prince William and his sister. He felt troubled. He couldn't help bear in mind that their relationship was founded upon a lie. There was no doubt that the love they had for each other was true, but there remained the fact that Helena had essentially been tricked and deceived by him, William and Lord Macie into taking up with William. Surely, he — both of them — owed her this truth before she would marry? He couldn't say how Helena would react to this revelation: Henry knew that at the best of times, his sister was a strong-willed and proud young woman, and she mightn't take the knowledge that she was manipulated into a courtship and a marriage all too kindly. Henry remembered all too well how his sister forcefully resisted attempts by their parents to marry her off to suitors. What he had done, in bringing about his sister's relationship, and ultimately her marriage, with William, he realised uncomfortably, was not unlike the frustrated schemes of his mother and father to pair her off with some rich prince or lordling of their choosing.

He looked at William and his sister. They looked so serene together. Would that virgin trust and love be ruptured upon revelation of the true circumstances of their engagement's conception? Is the risk of its so being worth the confession of truth? "Yes," Henry told himself. A marriage cannot be founded upon a lie. "Reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God," said the prayer book of entering into marriage. He considered that God would not look kindly upon a marriage born and consummated in deceit. He was resolved. She would have to be told, damned be the consequences. Surely William realised this? Surely William had the sense to tell her? If he wouldn't — well, Henry would simply have to make him.

by **Singeorgeland** » Sun Jun 01, 2014 7:40 am

During breakfast, William could not help but notice Henry had gone off his eggs. A strange pensive look was set in his face, and he played around with his food, occasionally eating some, but then just staring at King James and the Cabinet Ministers, who were having brilliant fun discussing naval deterrents and overseas colonial defence.

When breakfast was finished and the footmen had cleared away all the plates, William rose "Helena darling if you go on ahead and wait for me at the door to the gardens I'll be there in a minute." William then shuffled over to Henry "Are you okay old chap?" when Henry had explain privately to William what was on his mind, William was unpleasantly unsurprised that Harry had mentioned this.

"Yes. It's been on my mind too recently Harry old chum. One moment I think - I can't have my marriage built on trickery and deception, but then I think - if I tell Helena, I might lose her forever, and we're already so close to the wedding! I suppose we could always argue that if she is put off by the revelation, then it's tough because everything is organised, but then I don't want her to hate me for the rest of my life! Well, we'll see. I think I will tell Helena now on our walk, and if she does storm off...so be it...we'll think of something old man, we did before!"

by **The Harrowlands** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 4:55 am

"Yes, do," said Henry gravely. "She will find out anyway, somehow, sometime. Better before the marriage than after."

He was relieved that William saw that telling his fiancé the truth was the only sensible thing to do, but was apprehensive about what would happen once it was done.

"Go and talk to Helena. I shall move myself to higher ground." He gave William a pat on the shoulder, and went to join the rest of his family.

When William had joined her, Helena took his arm, and they began to stroll the palace gardens.

"William, dear, we've had barely a word since I arrived. I do apologise. I've so much to tell you. Your letters were just lovely, just keep in mind what I said about poetry, won't you? Oh, just wait until you see my dress! Mummy had it especially made for me, it's quite wonderful. Did I mention Harry's lady-friend is attending the wedding? If one could even call her that, their relationship is very odd... Oh, and George Macie is coming too, you remember him? He's the one that wanted to shoot you."

by **Singeorgeland** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 6:08 am

"It is so lovely to see you again my dear. I'm sure your dress is lovely, I'll see it in the best light tomorrow I'd wager! As for Harry, I didn't know Harry had a lady-friend! That is interesting, I'll have to ask him about it all. Ah Macie, my nemesis!"

William chuckled, "In fact Helena, I didn't want to start our chat like this, but I feel I should tell you something about that. Well, I suppose I should just have out with it - when Macie challenged me to a duel...it was a ruse. Well, I fell in love with you, and Harry and I, well, Harry and I wanted what was best for you, and yes, it was wrong and evil of us to make the decision for you - using a ruse to prompt you to love me, but I do love you Helena and if I lost you - I'd throw myself off the Palace tower, perhaps God brought you to me out of grace, perhaps he's punishing me for the wicked deed I did."

William stopped walking, stared into Helena's eyes and begged her "Please forgive me love, at least now you have the fully free opportunity to choose..."

by **The Harrowlands** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 3:03 am

Helena tried her best to look shocked by this revelation, but she couldn't help it. She burst out laughing. She let go of William's arm and fell to her knees in mirth, overcome in a bout of giggling.

Seeing the bewildered and slightly concerned look on William's face, she rose to her feet again with great effort.

"Oh, you are adorable, William," she said. "Don't you think I didn't know exactly what was going on? I'm not as dim as my brother thinks. Or, to put it another way, I'm smarter than he is. A duel to win my hand? Did you really think I'd fall for that? Especially given that Macie was your opponent. Far from suffering unrequited love for me, I have reason to believe he is gay — although you'll never get him to admit it.

"So why did I not call your bluff? Why I did I play along, and allow you to believe I'd been duped into love?"

She blushed, and gave him a tender smile.

"Silence is the perfectest herald of joy. I was — I am — in love, William. Everything I said that day was true and heartfelt. By that stage, I was no longer interested in out-witting you and my brother, like I tried to do with Lord Macie. I was content to allow you to have the last word, if I could be yours.

"But there's a way you could make it up to me. Let's get back at my brother. I mentioned that his, er, 'lady-friend' is attending the wedding — a charming young courtesan by the name of Lady Claudia Hayes. She should be arriving in the country today, in fact, along with all the rest of the Harrowish guests. Their relationship is very... odd. You'll understand when you see them together. But it is clear that neither will suffer admitting love for the other. They shan't ever be wed unless they are pushed into it. I'm thinking that you and I are perfectly positioned to give them such a push: let's give my brother a taste of his own medicine. We should give them accounts of the other's longing. The one shall be made to believe that the other secretly pines after them. Upon being so advised, they should positively fling themselves into each other's arms.

"What do you say, love? Are you in? Will you help me with this office?"

by **Singeorgeland** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 6:06 am

William was completely shocked to hear that Helena knew already of Henry's and his little plot, but at the same time delighted that she was not angry, and in fact amused by it. To hear that she meant all of her words that day two years ago from the bottom of her own heart was so sweet that William gave her a small kiss on the cheek.

Listening to her own revelations was interesting, and William was happy that now at least they were square with each other. He was intrigued by her suggestion of giving Claudia Hayes and Henry a little helping hand, it would be a brilliant way to end his own wedding celebrations, perhaps then he and his bride could have a private laugh together. "I'll help you in this and the rest of your offices my love, that certainly is an odd relationship, you'd think they'd want their love to be known, but 'courtesan', you are cheeky with your implications aren't you my dear!"

Snapping out of his slightly heightened emotional state, he continued their walk. After a while of strolling through the garden and admiring the flowers, considering to a lesser degree their fist few days of married life that were to come after next day, William tapped Helena's arm "It'll be time to go see my grandfather soon, but first, I have a little treat for you!" leading Helena by the hand, William fast-walked them both back into the Palace and into the empty ballroom. There was no one in, not even any servants, only an empty set or orchestra stalls stood at the back, and next to them on the edge of the dance floor stood a lonely Italian-style Harpsichord. Leading her over to it, William piped up excitedly "I never told you this before, but I've been taught the Harpsichord and Fortepiano since I was a little lad. I feel I ought to play you something!"

There was a small collection of music books and scores on top of the Harpsichord, "Aha, this one is jolly!", William placed "Six Little Preludes by J. S. Bach" on the stand and turned the page to "Little Prelude in C Major", before beginning to play.

by **The Harrowlands** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 3:35 am

(OOC: Lol, I didn't mean she was a prostitute or a mistress or anything. Just a female courtier who regularly attends court. No cheeky implications.

Perhaps I should be more careful about my choice of words...)

"Lovely... lovely..." remarked Helena as she listened to her fiancé play the harpsichord. "Enchanting."

Music was a favourite pastime of Helena's at St John's Palace, having wiled away many hours with her siblings at the piano over the years. She was herself partial the rich sounds of the Baroque, such as those of Mr Bach. She was glad to see music would be as much a part of her new household as her old.

"I sing, you know," she said when William had finished the piece. "Play it again."

William took to the keys again, and Helena warbled along in her native tongue.

"Perfect!" she exclaimed. "How wonderful we sound together! Unfortunately I cannot sing very well in English. You shall just have to learn Harrowish so you can understand me."

by **Singeorgeland** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 4:35 am

William played the piece adeptly and stylistically, and he enjoyed listening to his fiancée sing. He was happy to find out that she was as musical as he was, even if she was more adept at the music of the voice rather than the keyboard-instrument.

When they finished he smiled at her "Beautiful! How well you sing, although I can't understand a word of it! My dear we could perform a duet together after...or before our wedding if you liked! But indeed, I shall have to learn some Harrowish, not only to be fair to my beautiful...not-so-distant-future wife, but so I can understand your songs!"

William rose from the stall and took Helena's arm again "I can play something on the piano later when they bring it in if you wish. The Harpsichord is nice when one plays the odd Baroque piece, but it starts to grate after a little while." He checked his pocket watch which indicated the time was now 10:55am. "Let's go, everyone will be waiting to see my grandfather."

William and Helena left the ballroom and went upstairs, and on the landing sure enough, Prince Henry, King James, Queen Cordelia and the other Harrowish Royal children. "Hello everyone." William announced their arrival "It's pretty much 11:00am, shall we go in?"

William took them into a large darkened bedroom, a wooden four-poster bed at it centre, curtains drawn. The elderly plump face of King George IV of Singeorgeland poked out at the top of the bedclothes, his face rather pale yet at the same time bearing little circular pink spots on his cheek. a doctor stood at the back of the room by a table, mixing a tonic "I'll take my leave now Highnesses" he said "He's been fine for most of today, quite perky." before departing.

"Hello granddad." said William "This is my darling fiancée, Helena, King James' daughter." he ushered Helena over to his bedside with him.
George poked up his head and spoke weakly, but clearly "Ah, my boy, here you are." looking at Helena he tried his best to smile "A pleasure to meet you my dear, I was always suspicious of William taking a foreign bride, but he couldn't have found any better than you - the finest of the Harrowish ladies."
George looked at James who was standing now at the edge of the bed and his face lit up briefly "James! You came. The both of us still alive?!"

William shuffled over to Prince Henry to whisper a private word "So, who's this lady-friend I hear of yours?"

by **The Harrowlands** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 4:52 am

Helena smiled and curtseyed to her grandfather-in-law-to-be for his compliments. "Your Majesty flatters me! I can see where William gets his charm. And his looks, of course."

James grinned at the old familiar face. "Lovely to see you again, old fellow. You're looking very comfortable there. Lying in bed all day, people attending to your every need, no royal duties to take care of — what a good life. How did you manage that? Anyway, I thought I'd inflict one of my children onto you to give you something to worry about. She's high-maintenance, this one. No more relaxing evenings for you!

"Here, I've brought you something," James said, setting down on King George's bed-side table a large glass bottle containing an amber-coloured liquid.

"That's Harrowish buttermead. You had it last time you stayed at St John's Palace, do you remember? You enjoyed it very much. I thought you'd appreciate this little, er... luxury. Best hide it from your doctor, though. I daresay he wouldn't approve."

Henry heard William murmur to him. 'Who's this lady-friend?' he said. Henry jolted, and looked at him.

"What? Oh, Claudia, you mean," he said. "My dear sister told you, I suppose?"

William nodded, and Henry sighed with impatience.

Henry spoke quickly, in a huff. "If my sister is still putting this idea about that Claudia and I are secretly in love with each other, she's going to be very disappointed. Claudia and I are... purely platonic. If that, even. If you heard the way she speaks about me... 'lady-friend' indeed!"

by **Singeorgeland** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:53 am

William chucked greatly "Alright old sport. Helena took the news of our plot very well, and I mean, I don't want to be rude old chap, but it would seem that your sister knows more about you, than you do about her!"

"Thank you old friend." croaked George from his bed "I am partial to a little buttermead."

-----------------------------------------------

When the meeting with King George seemed over, and the Harrowish Royals had all introduced themselves, George slipped off into sleep, and they all took their leave of him.

William ushered the Harrowish Royals downstairs "I will follow...a few steps behind, I would stay with you for luncheon, but I must go out now for a while. I shall be having a working lunch, it's not all fun and games being Prince-Regent! I shall return in the evening and you can introduce me to all your Lords and Ladies," he looked at Henry "Wives and girlfriends, and all the other Harrowish guests! Meanwhile, please make yourselves at home, use the drawing room, I've asked the Fortepiano to be but in the ballroom, please enjoy yourselves"

William placed a kiss on Helena's cheek "See you later my love."
He then departed.

-----------------------------------------------

by **The Harrowlands** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 4:29 am

The drawing room of St George's Palace slowly filled up as guests arrived for the evening's revels. Not only Singeorgean invitees, but a selection of the bride's wedding guests also turned up at the Palace for the pre-wedding function. All were decked out in immaculate evening wear, and the grand drawing room became a thicket of black tailcoats and white evening gowns. A cheery murmur of conversation filled the room as they awaited the return of their host from official business.

Princess Helena was explaining to Prince Henry, Princess Madeleine and Lord Macie the true story of events on that evening two years ago.

"...and so I thought 'well, here's my cue, then', and, as you saw, ran out between William and George, gave my speech, and tied the knot, so to speak."

Henry and Macie looked slightly dumbstruck.

"I don't believe this," said Macie, shaking his head. "How could you have known?"

"Oh, George. It couldn't have been more obvious what you were up to."

"But what was the point of it all, then?" said Henry. "Why did you make us go through with it? Do you know how much of a to-do we caused?"

"Oh, yes," Helena said cheerily. "I was having far too much fun to stop you. You brought it upon yourself, anyway, with your ingenious schemes."

Henry and Macie looked thoroughly deflated.

"Well there's no need to look so glum, now!" Madeleine exclaimed to the two men, herself looking thrilled at her sister's revelations. "You got what you wanted, didn't you?"

Henry suddenly brightened up. "Oh yes, we did, didn't we? And that means I didn't dupe you into this marriage, Helena, doesn't it?"

"Yes," said Helena haughtily. "But I've still got a score to settle with you for trying, anyway. You'd best be on your guard for the rest of the wedding, dear brother.

"Speaking of being on one's guard, look who it is," Helena said, nodding at something behind Henry.

They turned around. A young woman was approaching them. About the same age as Helena, she wore an elegant white evening gown and had her brown hair tied up in the pompadour style that was fashionable for young ladies in York society. She would look very pretty if it weren't for the superior smirk she was sporting. Henry's eyes narrowed as the young woman approached him.

"Why, Lady Claudia," said Henry disdainfully. "I see that look never leaves your face."

"Look?" said Claudia, fluttering her eyelashes mockingly. "Should I be flattered to learn that you pay so much attention to my face, Prince Harry?"

"No. I'm simply struggling in my attempts to avoid you. I mean that superior look you habitually wear as if you own the place. I see you wear it as insolently in St George's Palace as you do in St John's."

"Superior is as superior does. I am as superior to you here as I am to you there. I don't see the problem."

"Did my lady cross the seas to boast of her vain pride to me?"

"By God's grace, no. Your lady came to see Princess Helena be wed. Your presence here is of trivial consequence and utmost nuisance to her."

"Then my presence shall make nuisance no more. I leave you and your superior looks to themselves."

"And let it ever be so."

Henry and Claudia walked away in opposite directions. Helena, Macie and Madeleine, who had been spectating the exchange, were overcome in a fit of laughter.

"They're just adorable," Helena managed through her giggles.

When they had regained their composure, Helena indicated to the others to listen to her closely.

"Listen, now. I am looking to hatch a plan to bring Harry and Claudia together while they are here in Singeorgeland together these next few days. I would see them tricked into each other's arms by giving each accounts of the voluminous affections of the other. One would come to learn that the other writes tortured epistles of love for them, and so on. Even if their bloody-mindedness saw that we wouldn't succeed in our aims, it should prove an amusing prank, no? I have already conscripted William to the cause. What do you say?"

"You mischievous old thing. What a nasty thing to do. You're really no better than Henry, are you?" said Macie, shaking his head. "Of course I'm in."

"Excellent," said Helena. "And you, Maddy?"

"Of course, sister!" said Madeleine.

"Very well. We shall make our first move on Claudia, of course. Perhaps later this evening, if events go smoothly."

by **Singeorgeland** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:56 am

William had been spending most of the afternoon around various offices, with the Prime Minister and various others sorting out various affairs of state and signing bits of paper needing his approval. His working lunch well over, he returned to the Palace in the evening in order to receive the many guests from the Harrowlands, and indeed the Singeorgean ones who had arrived to the event the evening before the wedding. Some food and drink had been prepared, but it was nothing compared to what the wedding breakfast the next day would yield.

William asked for no announcement of his arrival, instead entering the drawing room and moving straight to Helena, who was hanging around Lord Macie and her sister Madeleine. "Good evening my darling." William took Helena slightly by surprise by sneaking up behind her and taking her arm. "I am back. Good evening your Lordship, I trust your journey over was a pleasant one, and your visit, no doubt made more merry by dear Helena's revelations - which, knowing her, she has most likely told you. Evening young Madeleine."

When all the greetings had been exchanged William addressed Helena "Now my honey, why don't you introduce me to all these lovely people you've invited, then we'll have something to eat and drink, then an early night I'd wager. It's a big day tomorrow!"
William in turn introduced Helena to many Singeorgean Lords and Ladies who were around, as well as his own cousins, Earl Michael of Cantium, Earl Frederick of Northmark and Countess Mary of Deepmarch.

by **The Harrowlands** » Thu Jun 12, 2014 4:35 am

Helena introduced William to the Harrowish invitees who had turned up: her extended family, on both sides; prominent officers of state, including the Lord High Treasurer (Prime Minister); friends and Harrowish courtiers.

"You'll be seeing them all tomorrow, of course," said Helena.

"And this is Lady Claudia Hayes, whom I told you about. My brother's..."

"Childminder," Claudia finished her sentence, curtsying to William.

"Yes..." said Helena. "Something of that sort. Also a very good friend of mine. I've chosen her as one of my bridesmaids for the wedding."

"You can trust that your fiancée is in good hands, sire," Claudia said to William. "I bridesmake with the best of them."

After William had been introduced to Claudia, Helena took him aside.

"She's so funny. I love having her around," Helena said. "But don't you see how perfect she would be for Harry? Lord Macie, Maddy and I are planning to carry out our ploy later this evening. It should be very funny."

by **Singeorgeland** » Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:46 am

The Morning of the Wedding

William rose that morning bright and early and almost immediately set his mind to preparing for his wedding. Almost all of the palace servants were up earlier even than usual too, preparing the banqueting hall and ballroom for the wedding breakfast and reception, and indeed even the marriage-bed and chambers for the newly-weds. William donned his finest clothes purchased especially for the event, breeches, black buckled shoes and a navy-blue tailcoat with gold brocades. To finish of his garb he wore a top hat. He stopped to check through the notes he'd made for his speech later, then set off out of his room.

William descended into the main lobby of the Palace where many several lords and Groomsmen were already waiting. Among them was Prince Henry, whom William had selected as his Best Man. "Good morning chaps." said William perkily. He then noticed his grandfather in a wheelchair by the door, a footman behind him for wheeling him about "Oh, grandfather! You were able to come."
"I'm not going to miss my grandson's wedding. Not when he's my heir anyhow." grunted King George.
William stood next to Harry "Still happy to be best man?" William joked "Well then, we'd better move off to the Cathedral, the Bishop of Yiewsley is conducting the ceremony, and he's not a man to be kept waiting, always like to be ready in advance. Unless of course you'd like something to eat first - but then we might see the bride - and we wouldn't want any bad luck before the wedding would we?"

And they twain shall be one flesh — a royal wedding

And they twain shall be one flesh — a royal wedding

Who is online