Talia's Party Part One
I was standing next to Vanessa on the bottom step of our staircase anticipating my mother's entrance into the house for the surprise party. I looked around the room to find many of the same attendees of my ceremony with two familiar faces in the crowd being my two protectors while I was growing up. Both of them looked up at me smiling while Claude gave me a wink. I smiled back at them and turned my attention to the door just as my mother entered. We all shouted surprise all at once and of course a look of astonishment crossed my mother's face. She walked up to Vanessa and hugged her, "I suppose Reggie put you up to this?" Vanessa nodded, "We had help too." Vanessa pointed her head at me, and my mother cocked an eyebrow at me, "You conspiratorial lot had me completely. I didn't suspect and our little Xan lied to my face. I don't know whether to be impressed or concerned." I smiled at her, "I don't make it a habit so you should just probably be impressed." She nodded knowing perfectly well there was rarely a time where I would ever lie to her. I didn't have a reason to lie to my parents since I didn't have a normal childhood/teen years. That was usually what would prompt a young woman to lie to her parents. Sneaking out of the house to go make out with a boyfriend, lying that I'm at a friend’s house when I'm really at a party that had alcohol…that was why a girl would lie to her parents, but I didn't have necessity to do so. In return my parents trusted me wholly and without question. She asked, "Where is your father?"
I looked at my grandfather who was just behind my mother and he nodded. I looked at the study and then back at her, "He's waiting for you there." She smiled and walked to the study and knocked. We all watched as my father summoned her inside and she closed the door. I turned to Vanessa and asked, "What did he have planned for her in there?" Vanessa smiled and said, "He's going to propose to her again to renew their vows in Vellum on their anniversary. He wanted you to be part of the celebrations this time." I smiled and I thought to myself how it was really sweet he would do that for her and for me. I asked her, "How did he set it up then?" She winked at me and then said, "He recreated their first date. He set up a dinner in his father's study with candles and red roses. They will be in there for a while, but we can all enjoy the festivities while we wait. You just need to tell everyone else that little one." She turned to everyone else, "Everyone if you could please pay attention, I believe The Batiste has something to say." I cleared my throat and said, "As my parents will be occupied for a little while with his surprise for her, I (as the daughter of the Duke of Batiste and future Duchess) invite you all to enjoy yourselves and help yourselves to the refreshments. Thank you and welcome to my home!" The guests erupted into applause, and a few rushed to the stairs to talk to me since I was the de facto hostess until my father was finished enjoying the dinner he set out for my mother.
The first guest to greet me was Marquis Maigny whom I had briefly met at my ceremony before I was pulled away to meet others. Of course, I was dispensed with the normal head to hand greeting as someone below my station and of course, I gave the schpeel about blessings to his house and what not. He then said, "Your Grace, I understand that you have become one of the Royal Scribe candidates. Is that true or just a rumor?" I nodded, "Indeed I have registered for the Royal Scribe program." I don't know why but this seemed to make the Marquis' face tighten into one of anxiety. I couldn't quite place why that was until he opened his mouth again to inform me, "My daughter Melody has also signed up to join that program. Perhaps, Your Grace, you will get to know her when you too are in classes. She aims, of course, to become closer to His Majesty King Lucien. She has had it in her head since she was a little girl meeting the King for the first time, that she would marry him. She never cared about his station because she had a crush on him. She does now care to be queen as well since His Majesty was chosen as King. I'm sure your aims are the same." This last declaration lit a fire in my head, and I imagined that this was what my mother felt when she got angry. I had to close my eyes and count to myself to calm myself down before replying to the Marquis because I did not wish to embarrass my parents. As I was counting, I felt a hand on my shoulder and that ever so calming presence I had grown to know, my grandfather. I opened my eyes to look at him and he smiled and nodded to indicate he would deal with the impertinence of such a declaration. He stepped forward as if to shield me and spoke, "Marquis, I don't believe you should make such assumptions about my granddaughter. Her intentions to enter into the Royal Scribe program are very pure. She doesn't need to get close to His Majesty and I am rather sure that it wouldn't take this petty tactic to get his attention. Remember who you are speaking of." He then sent a pointed look at the Marquis who had a look of fire in his eyes at what my grandfather said. The Marquis bowed to me and said, "My apologies Your Grace." He then turned and left the house whispering under his breath that he would punish the House of Batiste when his daughter became queen.
My grandfather chuckled and turned to me, "Fat chance that that will ever happen since I know for a fact Lucien cannot stand Melody." I hooked my arm in his and pulled him over to the punch table and asked, "And how would you know that Mr. Smarty Pants." He looked at me and smiled, "The Batiste are close friends with the royal family. Lucien writes to me often for both my counsel and to tell me the goings on in Vellum and specifically Tarn. He calls me Gramps." I laughed at this because I often call him that when I am feeling particularly playful with him. I pulled a glass of punch up to my mouth, smiled at him over the rim and took a sip. After I let the cool punch go down my throat I said to him, "I think I'm starting to like our King. He seems rather relaxed." My grandfather frowned and shook his head, "No, my dear, I am afraid that he used to be those things until Thierry died. Since then, it has been business and little to help him relax especially with this business of him finding a queen and starting to produce an heir. The Elder Counsel are merely asking him to find a wife right now, but they seem to think there's no indication that he will ever marry. I know better though." I raised my eyebrows at him and said, "Has he indicated to you that he intends to find someone?" He smiled, "Well he did inquire after you, you know. I told him not to choose House Batiste before he even had a chance to get to know the young lady to whom he was inquiring after." I nodded, "Very wise gramps. I don't think I would ever make a suitable queen. I don't know the man so I can speak to him at all. Could imagine a spitfire like me trying to do something like hold that position?" I laughed and he did not join me, "Grandpa?" He shook his head and said, "I think you are brilliant, young lady, and I don't say that as a biased old man who very much loves his granddaughter. You have the wit, and you navigated the situation with the Marquis very beautifully. I doubt even your mother could have dealt with that in such a way. Give yourself more credit little rose." I nodded, "So is that all you told him about me?" I was curious to know what the exchange between the King and my grandfather was like, I still had no intention of pursuing him, but I did I should have liked very much to become his friend.
My grandfather smiled at me, "I can show you his letters if you would like little rose. If you are to meet him at the ball in a few weeks, you could get to know the man a bit through his own words. Would you like that?" I nodded, "Yes, I think I would. If he is so dear a friend to you, old man, I think I should like to become a dear friend of his as well." My grandfather chuckled, "Every young lady in Vellum from 18 to 25 is pursuing the Kings hand and my little rose wants to merely be his friend. He isn't a very bad looking fellow either, I think you could make a good match for him." I thought about what it would be like to date/marry the most powerful man in Vellum and then my mind tugged to Burnett. He was truly whom I was interested in, I would not like to pursue anything with anyone else since he was the first person around my age who ever showed me kindness and care. I would not betray what I think I could have with him. I shook my head, "I don't think I want to pursue anything but my degree. Thank you." There it was I lied to my grandfather for the first time in my life and it gutted me.
