She glanced up at him when he agreed with her, something about his tone causing her to consider him differently, but whatever it was, it wasn\'t there when she looked. He\'d
sounded... well... despairing was the word, she supposed, but there was no such strong emotion in his eyes upon considering him. He was just hard and cold, as usual.
"No. I need to brush my \'air," she told him quietly, moving over to the dressing table not far from the foot of the bed. She contemplated putting some makeup on, so that she didn\'t look quite so natural, but she didn\'t want to risk her husband\'s ire; brushing her boisterous curls and taming them into a polite hairstyle would take quite enough time as it was, she was sure. She watched in the mirror as he rolled his eyes and stepped into the hall to begin talking with someone, emitting a little sigh of her own as he did.
~*~
The new Captain Frederickson ran a finger along the inside of his collar for about the fifth time since he\'d been admitted into the conservatory that morning. The black ribbon upon his breast seemed to be catching his attention by sitting there demurely, at the periphery of his vision, and he glared down at it every now and then, still unused to sporting the colour.
It wasn\'t right that he had it upon his uniform now; not so swiftly and not like it had happened. Lam had explained the consequences of her actions to him very succinctly and he was under no illusions as to the fact that she and the prince regent shared equal blame in the situation, but he\'d expressed his greatest disappointment as resting with her, because she should have known better. As much as he liked Hew and would enjoy training him, he would
never choose to follow a subordinate\'s orders when he knew they would contradict what his direct superior\'s wishes were likely to be. That was just stupid.
He had, in fact, refused to do Lam\'s bidding and force an audience with the prince in order to explain why she was now banned from seeing the boy. That would be a stupid thing to do, too, because he could tell Hew when the time was right, it wouldn\'t change anything if he forced the issue now.
Now, here he was just a few days later - having been quite busy enough with his own work and trying to sort out the life and dilemmas of his friend, Ryanna - having been called into service as Captain in her stead, and bearing the weight of all responsibility. It had been a whirlwind for him, and not necessarily a pleasant one. His first important duty had been security at a royal wedding, which had been distressing despite being in a very secure location and being rather low-key, as palace events went. Fresh from that trying night, he was required to attend this elite breakfast with other important dignitaries who needed to be introduced to the new royal couple. There was about forty of them milling about in the sunny room, all circling the central table and filling their plates with the most extravagant breakfast fare that the season would allow and making small talk while they waited.
Freddy wasn\'t very good at small talk. In fact, Freddy didn\'t think he was very good at
anything a Captain of the Guard had to do, for he found the sun beating brightly through the paned glass doors stifling (even though everyone else had chittered endlessly about what a nice turn in weather it was and how it was about time the next moon started to show its true colours) and the company dull. What he wouldn\'t give to be out on a slushy training ground at the barracks, bellowing at recruits that they should hold their swords at their thighs when they needed to run.
The enormous, blonde man had just managed to wedge himself into a quiet corner of the room - to the right of the entranceway - with a plate filled with sweetmeats and toast, when the new young couple entered (preceded by Hew\'s handler who announced them, Freddy noted). Applause erupted in the relatively small room and he did his best to join in, thumping on the back of his hand with the other a few times, but it died down soon enough.
Immediately, the boy and girl were surrounded by swarming wellwishers excitedly chattering at them, giving them no chance to get some food first, or even allowing them much breathing room. From his position behind them, Freddy watched the girl, noting the way she swayed slightly back from the crowd and took the minutest step towards her husband, but spoke animatedly to everyone, smiling politely and responding enthusiastically. She looked well bred and admirably diplomatic, despite being so damn young (too young to be married in his opinion, but his opinion didn\'t count for much, he knew). He was impressed. Hew didn\'t look happy and Freddy could guess why; he allowed his gaze to slide off the royals and fastened it to his plate instead.
It was half an hour later that the pair finally got around to speaking to Captain Frederickson. By that stage, he\'d finished his food and found a chair to sit in, near his corner. He was curiously examining the mouldings near the ceiling when he became aware of the presence of people near him - the newlyweds. He scrambled to his feet, blushing automatically because he\'d been lost in his own thoughts, smiling at the pair.
"Your highnesses! I\'m sorry!" he exclaimed, bowing to the princess and holding his hand out to be shaken by the prince. "Please forgive my distraction, I\'d fallen completely into my own thoughts. Congratulations, both of you, on your marriage," he said, looking at them in turn before focussing on the blonde girl. "Mademoiselle, I am Captain John Frederickson at your service. Everybody generally calls me Freddy," he added shyly, kissing her hand when it was offered to him.
Rochelle smiled, curtseying in response to the enormous blonde man, taken by his cheerful smile and humble manner. She was impressed, since military men were, in her experience, generally cold and always perfectly restrained, due to their belief that they were better than mortal men. This one seemed different and her response to him was genuinely warm.
"Captain," she greeted, inclining her head as her hand was withdrawn from his surprisingly gentle grasp. "I am Princess Rochelle Kestrel," she told him formally, then grinning a little wider as a light entered her blue eyes, "but my friends and family generally call me Roche," she confided in her thick accent. The invitation to address her informally was implied in her expression and a little nod she gave him.
"Well, I do hope you are settling in to our little city, Roche?" he enquired, to be sure. He was relieved when she grinned and nodded again.
"Ah am, it is a lovely city," she commended.
