Page 70 of War Bound

Essie tapped Farrendel’s arm. When he turned to her, she introduced him to Lord and Lady Fiskre. All four of them were soon chatting, drawing in Jalissa from across the table. The conversation remained interesting all through the soup and meat course.

As the serving staff placed the cheesecake desert in front of them, Averett stood and clinked his fork against his glass to gain everyone’s attention. When the various conversations around the table fell silent, Averett faced Farrendel and Essie. “I would like to raise a toast to my sister Princess Elspeth and her husband Prince Farrendel. Yours was a marriage made to secure peace, but together you have built so much more. I am pleased to welcome you to the family, Prince Farrendel.” Averett raised his glass. “To Prince Farrendel and Princess Elspeth and lasting peace between Escarland and Tarenhiel.”

“Hear, hear!” Julien and Edmund raised their glasses.

Down the table, several of the Parliament members raised their glasses, joining in the cheer. Others raised their glasses, but less enthusiastically, as if they didn’t want to let their king know they weren’t happy about this. Still others crossed their arms, very purposefully boycotting their king’s toast.

She hadn’t expected everyone to be happy. At least a slim majority were cheering, if reluctantly.

The ringing ping of forks tapping glasses started in scattered places around the long tables. Beside her, Lord Fiskre picked up his fork and began tapping it against his glass.

As the noise swelled, Farrendel shifted, his shoulders tensing. Jalissa’s gaze flicked back and forth, her fingers flexing on her fork as if she was debating the consequences of joining in when she didn’t know what was happening.

Essie hadn’t thought to prepare Farrendel for this. It hadn’t occurred to her that this tradition would be put in place. This was something that happened when people were enthusiastic about a marriage.

“What is this?” Farrendel leaned close, whispering in elvish.

“A human marriage tradition.” Essie also spoke in elvish, keeping her voice low. “When glasses are clinked like this, the newlyweds are expected to kiss.”

Farrendel’s eyes widened. “Right here? In front of everyone?”

“Yes, I’m afraid. That’s how the tradition goes. Sorry, a quick little peck doesn’t work. It needs to be a real kiss. Anything less will make everyone think you see me as just a duty.” Essie slid her fingers through Farrendel’s and stood.

Farrendel slowly glided to his feet as well, his shoulders tensed.

Essie rested a hand on his chest. “Smile. Try to look like you want to kiss me.”

Farrendel cupped her cheek and eased closer. His kiss was gentle, light. Still toe curling, even in its sweetness.

When it had lingered just long enough, Essie pressed on Farrendel’s chest. Just subtle enough that everyone watching wouldn’t notice, but Farrendel would feel it.

He pulled back, but just far enough to press a kiss to her temple. “Did I do that right?” he murmured in elvish.

“Exactly right.” Essie smiled up at him.

“I don’t think anyone will doubt the two of you are disgustingly in love.” Edmund managed to keep his gagging expression hidden behind his hand so that only Essie and Farrendel could see it.

Essie returned to her seat. “Admit it. You helped start the glass clinking.”

Edmund smirked and polished off the last bite of his cheesecake.

The warmth filling her remained all through the rest of the desert and the official ceremony in the ballroom where Averett conferred titles onto both Farrendel and Essie. It was a ceremony that would have been done at the ball after the wedding, if they’d had a celebration ball then. Farrendel’s title of prince was officially recognized. He was also made a Knight of the Royal Order of the Maple, a distinction all princes of Escarland had. Farrendel had been especially wary of the whole kneel and let Averett tap his shoulders with a sword thing, but he bore the ceremony without flinching when the time came.

Finally, both he and Essie got a whole list of titles from Duke and Duchess on down, complete with an estate along the northern border between Escarland and Tarenhiel. While the estate’s main house was a crumbling, old stone castle, it had a smaller manor house constructed of wood that would be much more habitable for her and Farrendel, should they wish to stay there.

After all their worry, the ceremony concluded without any attempts by Mr. Charles Hadley or his cronies to hurt Farrendel or even protest his newly awarded titles. Perhaps he’d thought better of acting against a member of the royal family, even one by marriage, within Winstead Palace.

By the time the evening transitioned to dancing, Essie could tell Farrendel was just about done. Even her brothers’ jokes weren’t drawing much of a smile out of him, and he kept looking longingly toward the doors to the garden.

“You don’t look that happy to be dancing with me.” Essie leaned in close as Farrendel swept her through the simple steps of the first dance, a traditional Escarlish waltz. She had practiced the steps with him that morning, but he didn’t seem to enjoy dancing, for all its emphasis on footwork and timing. It probably had something to do with feeling like he was on display and vulnerable. “Is it the dancing or the people?”

“Both.” A hint of a smile tugged at his mouth, only to die a moment later.

“Let’s finish this dance, then slip out of here and head back for the Cottage.” This party might be for them, but they didn’t have to linger. They were the newlyweds after all. Sneaking out of a ball early was somewhat expected.

Between the two of them, she and Farrendel eased their way through the crowd so that they were near the doors to the rest of the palace when the dance ended. Thankfully, Mother was holding court nearby. Essie caught her eye.

When Mother bowed out of her conversation and walked over, Essie gave her a short hug. “Farrendel and I are sneaking out early.”

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