“You’re still wearing the tiara.” He sounded confused.
Was she not supposed to be? “Is that okay?” She pointed over her shoulder to the room she’d come from. “The stylist left it. I assumed it was okay.”
“It’s fine.” He shook himself slightly. “I don’t know why I expected it to come off. I guess since you were changing clothes, I thought they’d update your hair as well.” Frederick took her hand. “I can’t say I’m overly familiar with acceptable practices for women’s fashion.”
"I can't either, at least not for an event like this. I can handle a red carpet, but a royal wedding - where I'm the bride - is far outside of my experience."
They reached the doors that would open into the banquet hall. Elise once again slid her hand into the crook of Frederick's elbow.
"Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Honored Guests, please welcome King Frederick and Queen Elise." The unseen speaker's voice had a sort of James Earl Jones quality to it.
Their guests stood and politely applauded as they entered the room and made their way to the head table on the dais at the front of the room - or at least the side of the room designated as the front for this event. Frederick held her chair and seated her. Once he took his seat, everyone else did too.
Elise had helped choose the menu, but at the moment couldn't remember anything on it.
Rather than their wedding party sitting at the head table with them, their families did. Frederick's mother sat next to her and her mother sat on the other side of him.
The Queen Mother slid her hand over Elise's under the table. "Take a breath. You are the perfect person for my son. I know it'sa lot to take in, but you will grow into this just as you grew into your roles on television and in movies."
"Thank you," Elise whispered back, a bit of relief sweeping over her as she realized the other woman also wore a tiara. A glance out at the guests showed several more - including Queen Catherine of Eastern Novigradia.
Frederick, as king, was the first one served for each course - and the first one to finish. When he finished, everyone else did, too.
Elise had eaten dinner with him a number of times before and had never known him to be an overly slow eater, but he seemed to be taking his time.
Once again, the Queen Mother spoke quietly. "He learned that from his father. They both eat slowly since when they announce they're finished, everyone else must be too. But if he ate at his normal speed, he would be finished about the time the last person received theirs and they would have no time to eat."
With a nod, Elise tucked that tidbit away. Would it be the same if she was at an event without Frederick? She would do the same thing if that were to be the case.
After they finished the main course, there were a few speeches given. Elise was glad she hadn't been told they would need to give one.
It surprised her when Frederick stood up with his champagne glass in his hand. "Queen Elise and I would like to thank all of you for joining us today as we celebrate our marriage."
That made sense so it surprised her when he turned to look at her. "To Elise. When Catherine asked if you could join me on that flight home, I never could have imagined where we would end up so soon after. I will always be grateful to you for coming to see me that day, and you offered a solution that never would have occurred to me. There is no one I would rather have join meon this journey through life." He turned to the room as a whole. "To Queen Elise, may she become as beloved to our people as she is to me."
Elise could feel her face color as everyone echoed his sentiment.
"To Queen Elise."
The words spoken by so many at the same time almost blew her away.
Frederick sat back down as clinks started to fill the room. She could tell from the way his eyes were shifting that he wasn't quite certain what it meant.
She did her best to keep anyone from hearing her - or reading her lips. "It means kiss me," she told him.
Understanding replaced the confusion on his face. With a grin, he leaned over and gave her a soft kiss. As he pulled back, he whispered his thanks.
By then the tables had been cleared by wait staff who managed to maneuver the room as close to silently and invisibly as she'd ever seen. Elise made a mental note to ensure they were properly thanked and rewarded for their exemplary service. Same with those in the kitchens. They'd all outdone themselves.
Frederick must have noticed some sort of signal because he pushed back from the table and helped her stand.
"We would be honored if you would join us in the ballroom for dessert and dancing." With that, he took her hand and they left the banquet hall with their families and wedding party. They gathered in one of the sitting rooms as they waited for the rest of the guests to make it to the ballroom.
Once again, her make-up and hair were fixed.
But when she turned around, Frederick was gone.
13
