Noon, 46th of Frost, Year 121 Steel
Aboard the ZADC Noble Gambit
Aboard the ZADC Noble Gambit
Midwinter's day was cold and clear, and the deck of the airship had been scrubbed, all the metal fittings polished. They took these sorts of things seriously, not only because they wanted to do right by their own, but because civilians would be aboard and the fleet needed to impress so the citizenry knew they were safe under the aegis of the Grand Marshal and the armed forces. Pennants whipped in the wind and the ceremony went off with military precision.
Captain Fredegar Merovich presided, even though Admiral Angevin was present. His daughters and their husbands were also present, the elder two in their dress uniforms, Delia in her wedding dress from the season previous, though altered and restyled as was the fashion so as not to compete with her soon-to-be sister-in-law. Stefan had donned his old uniform, looking smart, and of course, so did Brenner, who stood as Eitan's best man.
The only notable absence of the Angevins was Leir's wife, who hadn't seen fit to alter plans for her midwinter masque just to suit the whims of her step-son's fiancée. Perpetua made a sharp comment about Friederike to Delia, who quietly agreed but wouldn't speak ill of her mother in public.
Vigilant Meike Richter was in attendance, dressed formally as a member of the Order of Reconciliation. Near her with the Aspirants under Eitan's tutelage: Aeseth Leichenberg and Tobias Zorrothy. Eitan had allowed his father to make some strategic invitations; there was only so much room on the deck of the Excelsior-class frigate before military decorum was threatened. But many people would most likely offer their congratulations at the Masque that evening. He himself had made some invitations as well, to old shipmates, and to new friends: Jane Farraway, Anton Michaels (and he rather hoped his plus-one was Ms. Vanessa Quill), Myles Arnnett. Others were colleagues whose connections were more shadowy due to his work in the shadows for the Order and on certain expeditions.
The Esterházy side of the audience was replete with attentive faces as well. But the only Esterházy face that mattered to Eitan that day was the radiant face of his fiancée. She had a reputation for troubling her parents, but she was gorgeous and the pair did seem very much in love, grinning at each other enough that Perpetua commented upon it. Everything went off without a hitch. Brenner didn't lose the ring, and soon enough, Eitan's captain was pronouncing them married and urging them to kiss. A raucous cheer rose from the crew of the Noble Gambit, those not high enough in rank to sit among the guests but watching from the edges and corners all the same.
A more polite applause came from the well-heeled guests.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the captain's voice boomed, "may I present Commander and Mrs. Angevin!"
Night, 46th of Frost, Year 121 Steel
The Angevin Estate
The Angevin Estate
If Eitan and Lucrece didn't get a proper reception of their own, at least the Midwinter Masque was so over the top that they could keep it as a wedding memory without it seeming as though they were throwing themselves something so opulent. Friederike greeted them more warmly than Eitan had expected; perhaps having him entirely out of the house suited her well, and in her own mind, his marriage was not on par with those of her daughters. She had won whatever competitions she imagined herself in. He didn't care so long as she was polite to his wife.
"Congratulations, my dears," she said, though perhaps the warmth was for the benefit of onlookers. "So sorry I couldn't make it to the airfield, but these parties have so many moving parts that if I wasn't present, it would all have fallen apart."
"Everything is lovely," Lucrece proclaimed, and she was right.
"Thank you for having us, Friederike," he said, an honest smile flirting with his lips.
"My guests of honor, do have the best time. The silver lining is you will get to eat and drink and be merry. At my own reception, I nearly passed out because I didn't have the opportunity to eat with so many people needing to be greeted and thanked and made to feel as though it was their day. Anyway, go in, go in..." She indicated the grand double doors that were wide open as she turned to greet another newcomer in the foyer.
The estate was old and sprawling. Orilla would inherit, but that was fine. They had their town house already and would build their own fortune, a cadet branch of the house, perhaps.
Eitan kissed his bride and led her around.
Most of those who had been aboard the Noble Gambit at noon were here present as well. A notable exception was Vigilant Richter, but Eitan wasn't surprised about that. He didn't even think about her, really. Her presence at the ceremony had been enough.
They had changed for the masque, though for Lucrece that had involved more layering than an entirely new dress. She was going to be seen in that gown, even though it was quite the fashion still to wear a wedding gown while it was still de mode. Now it sparkled in thread-of-silver and seeds of crystal, her hair powdered to a snowy white. Her mask was more an array of crystals adhered to her face. She wanted to be recognized and receive all due attention on her wedding day and Eitan didn't mind that at all. His dress uniform had been replaced with formal wear that complemented hers.
They did eat, drink, and were quite merry.
As the night wore on, though, Eitan had Brenner spread the word that the young folk were invited back to White Knight Hall for a less polite party, and then the newlyweds were the first to dip out.
Before Dawn, 47th of Frost, Year 121 Steel
White Night Hall
White Night Hall
His valet, Dienerin—cousin to Stefan's valet, Dienerin—saw them into a luxurious cab that took them home. The town house was lit up, but there was no theme to it. The house was open as well as the expansive grounds. Dienerin went to make sure everything was running smoothly from musicians to libations, and both Delia and Stefan would likely arrive quite soon. They had promised him this part of the night would involve no responsibility for him, and he believed them. Brenner would be along soon, as well, but his responsibilities were mostly at an end and he could cut loose as well.
While they had a little space of time before guests arrived, the newlyweds hurried to their room to change.
"Won't I need my maid?" she teased behind closed doors.
"I think I can get my wife naked without help," he assured her, proving how adept he was at loosening a woman's clothes. He paused, holding her close to him by the hips. "Unless you want to invite her into bed with us..."
She laughed, turned, and kissed him. He supposed they could consummate their wedding right then and there; it could be quick if it had to be.
"Luca," he growled. The idea of a quick consummation before the rest of the party suddenly seemed like quite the good idea.
"Not yet," she said, pushing him away and then quitting more of her accouterments. "Help me and if you aren't too drunk and tired by the time the sun comes up..."
"I won't be."
When they emerged, guests had arrived. There were nowhere near as many as had been at the Angevin estate, but it was the biggest party the place had seen since much earlier in the Fverard days. Braziers and sconces kept the outdoors warm. The music moved and the spirits flowed. Some guests loosened their cravats and corsets. Others stripped down to libertine extremes.
It was a party and none of their parents were in attendance. Bad behavior continued into the wee hours of the morning.
He didn't black out, but there were moments that stood out more strongly in his memory. For example, a toast and a shot shared with Brenner and Stefan in a quiet corner. Lucrece blatantly hitting on his sister. Breasts that were not his wife's. Naughty giggling from behind a tree. It was one of those parties, but Eitan was half-Dratori and Lucrece was a known party girl, so their guests seemed to feel comfortable loosening up. It would become the talk of their circle for a little while and then fade away for the most part. That was how such things happened.
"Don't you want to open presents?" Eitan asked as the sun was rising and they were walking arm in arm back to their room.
"Just your trousers," she admitted. "Tomorrow we can open presents. Have to write down who got us what and write cards thanking them... too much effort right now."
They had bid good night to their guests. The Dienerins and the Dornkirks were making sure people were in cabs or had blankets over them. All in all, it had been a good day, a good way to start a new chapter in their lives together.
"Come along, Mrs. Angevin," he said, sweeping her off her feet to carry her into their room. "I'm neither too drunk nor too tired."
"Excellent."
