The garden party in question was not a particularly decadant affair. There were perhaps three score guests attending, many of whom were unimportant in the eyes of someone as renowned as the Duke. This, as it turned out, forced Thalia and Caspian to the center of attention, as everyone wished for their chance to talk with the happily married couple.
The first hour or so saw them fall into familiar patterns. They stayed together. They made sure to always be holding hands. And every word spoken was done with an eye toward confirming for all and sundry how in love they were.
“I do not know why it took me so long to marry in the first place,” Caspian explained to a small group of lords; men whom Thalia did not know very well.
“You were just waiting for the right one to come along, is why,” Thalia spoke up to much laughter.
Caspian chuckled. “True, true. Patience is often a virtue, and I feel you are proof of concept in that regard.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.
“Will you be going on a honeymoon soon?” someone asked. “Surely, that is on the cards?”
“I hope to, yes,” Caspian said. “Business has kept us here for the time being, but in the next month I would say…” He looked at Thalia. “Won’t that be wonderful?”
“It will be,” she said with a soft smile. “I just hope you do not get tired of me before then.”
“Impossible,” the Duke said to more laughter.
It didn’t feel nearly as false as it had the first time. And while the words were clearly of a specific design, Thalia saw through them well enough.
Or maybe I am seeing what is not there? The smile. The twinkle in his eyes. The laughter on his lips. Is he still faking it? Or is it real?
She was losing her mind. Slowly and surely, her world was crumbling. This secret she held, while still fresh, sat heavy on her consciousness, and more than once she considered pulling Caspian to the side and telling him everything.
The only reason she did not was fear that she was right, that Caspian did not love her.
As typical as the garden party was, it took a turn shortly after noon.
Thalia and Caspian were engaged in pleasant, if not typical, conversation with some of the guests. It was as it had been allday, exaggeration and extrapolation concerning their undying love.
“… it was always Thalia,” Caspian was saying. “She is the light of my life, and I cannot imagine being with anybody else.”
“That is quite the tale, Your Grace!” a voice rang out across the garden; it was so abrupt that glass shattering might have been more subtle. “One worthy of its own novel, and just as true to life.”
Thalia, Caspian, and everyone in the garden turned as one to see Lord Alistair Donmere striding toward them. He wore a most wicked smile and he was practically skipping with elation.
As soon as Thalia saw him, her stomach dropped. Whatever this was, it would not end well.
“Donmere…” Caspian looked at him flatly. “I did not know you would be here today. If I had, it would have been a good reason not to come.”
“Hiding from me, are we?”
“Just avoiding unpleasant company.”
Lord Donmere chuckled merrily as he reached where Thalia and Caspian were standing. There were another six gathered around them, but they spread themselves wide so that Lord Donmerewas able to walk between them and put himself right before the two.
“The only thing unpleasant here are your lies, Your Grace,” Lord Donmere announced, pitching his voice high so that all could hear him. “You lie as freely as you breathe, and while it brings me no pleasure to do so, I am afraid that I must dash all your lies before they take hold and strangle those unfortunate enough to have believed them in the first place.”
Caspian sighed. “Have we not been over this already, Donmere? Whatever it is you have to say, I suggest that you do the intelligent thing and keep it to yourself. If you are capable of such things.”
“I am certain that you would like that.”
“No more than you would.” Caspian’s tone turned cold and his grip on Thalia’s hand tightened.
Lord Donmere cackled. “I could not help but hear just now the tale of your marriage to Her Grace…” He smirked at Thalia. “Told as if you were King Arthur, and she Queen Guinevere. A truly breathtaking story, and no doubt one to tug at the heart strings. But I think therealstory is infinitely more compelling.”
Caspian stiffened. “I would be careful what I say next, if I were you.”
“The truth is what is needed!” Lord Donmere announced and turned so that everybody in the garden could hear him. “It is deserved! Your lies insult us, Your Grace, and I am here to see an end to them.”
