Mary Anne Gruen - The House of Red

After they had finished prepping Virginia’s wedding dress, Rose went off to find her new room and search out material for a veil to top off Virginia’s wedding ensemble. They met again in the great dining hall for dinner and sat together at the main table.

“I’ve pretty much finished your veil,” Rose announced. “After dinner, you should try it on. I’ve decorated the crown with pearls to match your engagement ring. And I got one of the maids to bring me a dainty string of pearls for your neck.”

“Sounds wonderful.”

“One thing I think you should do, is see about having the dressmaker put together some new clothes for you. I mean, you’re going to need a wardrobe in progressively larger sizes. Dresses will probably work better than pants.”

“I know. I’ve been thinking about that.”

The girls quieted down as the waiter brought their dinners, steak for Virginia and pork chops for Rose.

“I suppose I shuld wait for Wolf,” Virginia said, “But I’m just so ravenous.”

“I’m sure he’ll understand. I take it you haven’t had any morning sickness yet.”

“No. Just an increased appetite.” Virginia carved happily into her steak. She couldn’t remember enjoying food this much before she got pregnant. Everything tasted and smelled so good now. She was amazed at her appetite and how often her thoughts strayed to food.

“You might not get any morning sickness,” Rose said, “Or if you do, it might come on later, maybe in the second-trimester. In the first trimester, you’ll mostly gain weight. In the third, you’ll finally get the good feelings that most human mothers with completely human children tend to feel in the second.”

Virginia stopped in mid-chew and regarded her almost sister-in-law thoughtfully. “You sound like you know a lot about this.”

“I’ve worked as a mid-wife and practiced some of the medicinal arts in the wolf and part-wolf community. Human doctors don’t want much to do with us, you know. It’s earned my keep and kept me moving around a lot.”

“Well, it certainly makes me feel better knowing there’s a doctor in the family,” Virginia said appreciatively.

Rose smiled and shook her head firmly. “I’m not a doctor. I’m sure the King’s royal physician has much better training than I have. You should probably see him soon.”

“I get more and more impressed with you all the time.”

Rose pushed aside a mass of red hair that was falling into her face. “Don’t be. All rural folk dabble in the medicinal arts to some degree because of the remoteness of where they live. I just specialize.”

“It still sounds impressive.”

At that point Tony came in with a lovely lady on his arm. She had dusky skin and an endless supply of ringlets piled on her head with little crystals scattered throughout. He was whispering something in her ear and the girl was laughing delicately behind a small white fan decorated with more crystals.

“Look, there’s my Dad,” Virginia said, waving to him. “It’s about time.”

Tony waved back at Virginia and seated the lady at a quiet table in the corner. Then he came over. “Good evening ladies,” he said, jovially.

“Good evening yourself,” Virginia said. She noticed he was wearing a different suit than he’d had on earlier in the day. This one was deep blue with tiny silver pinstripes and silver edging on the collar and cuffs. Around his neck was a silver tie with a dark blue stickpin. It was hard to believe this natty man was her father. “Where were you at lunch?” she asked.

“Well, I found I couldn’t get away.”

“Your friend certainly is pretty. What’s her name?”

“Daphne.” He sent the girl in question a sweet smile and she responded with an engaging flutter of her fan.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us? I mean if she’s such a good friend of yours, I’d like to meet her.”

Tony gave his daughter a weak laugh. “She’s not really a friend. I just met her about an hour ago. She’s here with some great aunt or something, who’s here to pay a courtesy call on the King.”

“An hour ago? She sure is friendly for an hour ago.”

“Well, I’m the Inventor to the King, after all. And uh, she’s just indulging in a little hero worship.”

Virginia gave him a disapproving smirk. “Looks like you’re the one indulging. Then, she’s not the young lady you had lunch with?”

“Oh, no.” Tony’s eyes squeezed shut at the memory of his luncheon companion. “That was beautiful blond Adelicia. Isn’t that an enchanting name? It just sort of rolls off the tongue like music.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Don’t look at me that way, Virginia. Adelicia is a very sweet child.”

“With another case of hero worship, I’ll bet.”

“Yes, well. To change the subject, have you seen Wolf lately?”

“No. Not since lunch.”

“Well, Daphne and I ran into him just a while ago. He was still tearing around the castle with Lord Rupert. He told me to tell you there’s going to be a wedding rehearsal at eight o’clock sharp in the ballroom. I’ve already told the King about it. He’ll be there too if his duties allow.”

“All right,” Virginia said. “Rose and I will be there.”

“Good. Now, I’d better get back to Daphne. It’s bad manners to leave her alone too long.”

“Uh-huh,” Virginia said again. After her father returned to his dinner companion she whispered to Rose, “I think he’s going through what my people call male menopause.”

“Hmm,” Rose said, looking over at Tony. “Strictly a human ailment I think.”

At eight o’clock Virginia and Rose entered the ballroom to find it awash in utter pandemonium. An army of butlers was feverishly decorating everything in pink and white, running every which way with ladders and material. Meanwhile, Wolf and Lord Rupert were having a very loud argument over where the actual ceremony should take place. Lord Rupert wanted it at the top of the grand stairway and Wolf wanted it in the center of the room, like theatre in the round.

The Bishop who was to perform the marriage was also on the scene. He finally felt compelled to intervene before the whole thing came to blows. “I think I’d feel awkward standing on the stairs,” he said, reasonably, “and if someone makes a wrong step, there could be an accident. I think we should go with Mr. Wolf’s suggestion.”

Lord Rupert made no attempt to hide his horror. “Well,” he said dramatically, “I think your idea is PEDESTRIAN at best. But if you REALLY insist, we’ll do it your way.”

“After all, it is MY wedding,” Wolf insisted.

“It’s not just yours anymore,” Rupert said. “I’ve poured my blood and sweat into this. It’s just as much MY wedding now as yours.”

Wolf growled at Lord Rupert, who fearlessly growled back. There was a momentary nose to nose showdown. And then Wolf threw up his hands.

“Oh, Cripes, fine!” Wolf said. “You can share the credit. Just don’t expect me to invite you on the honeymoon!”

The bishop cleared his throat delicately. What a thick throat it was too, sitting sturdily between his large round head with only the slightest fringe of white hair and an even rounder body. “Gentlemen, please control yourselves. We have ladies present.”

When Wolf saw Virginia, he ran over at once. “You’re here!” he exclaimed. “Right on time. Where’s your father?”

“I don’t know, but he should be here soon.” She smiled thinly, glad now that she hadn’t seen Wolf most of the day. She hated it when he got manic panic like this.

“We’ve got very little time,” Rupert said, throwing his hands into the air. He knew how distracted Tony could get. “If Lord Lewis doesn’t show up soon, we’ll have to start without him.”

“Start without who?” Tony asked, entering the ballroom with a tall blond on his arm.

“Ah, you’re here,” Lord Rupert said.

“Now we’ll just wait a couple more minutes for Wendy,” Wolf said.

“He may not be able to come,” Tony said. “After all, being king is a full time job.”

“See? What’s the point in waiting? I’ll just stand in for him,” Lord Rupert said.

“We’ll wait a little longer,” Wolf insisted.

It looked as if the two were about to start another growling contest. So, Virginia decided to change the subject. She turned to the beautiful blond lady on her father’s arm and smiled pleasantly. “You must be Adelicia,” she said.

The young lady’s eyebrows flew up into the spit curls on her forehead and she turned to glare at Tony.”

Virginia’s father laughed weakly. “No, no. THIS is Eleanora.”

Happily King Wendell entered at that point.

“Good evening, everyone,” the King said, jauntily. He looked radiant, as if he’d dressed specially for this rehearsal. His boots were freshly shined and his curly blond hair coifed just right. The medals on his chest were polished and gleaming and the crease in his pants was razor sharp. “I hope I haven’t kept you waiting.”

Lord Rupert knew better than to make a comment. He was simply furious about Wendell’s being late. But, of course, you can’t yell at the king to whom you’ve sworn your life and fealty, no matter how much you want to.

“You’re right on time,” Wolf said, “We’ve just got to move this along quickly.”

And thus, began one of the fastest and most unpleasant wedding rehearsals in history. Lord Rupert continued arguing with Wolf about every little thing. And the bishop kept trying to keep the peace. The rest of them resented being pushed around like inanimate chess pieces and wanted it all to be over with. Tony noticed the Lady Eleanora glaring impatiently at him from the back of the room.

Finally, Lord Rupert said with a sniff, “It’s not perfect, but we don’t have time to do it again.”

“It doesn’t have to be perfect,” Wolf said, “It just has to be smooth.”

“Well, it’s not even that. But it will have to do. We must, we simply MUST meet with the court musicians now. I want all forty of them to be there.”

“All right, all right.”

“Then, its over?” Tony asked, “We can go?”

“Yes, yes,” Lord Rupert said. “You can all go. But DO try and walk in rhythm tomorrow.”

“We’ll do our best,” Tony said.

With that, it seemed as if the starting whistle had sounded, because Lord Rupert immediately began to dash toward the door. “Come on, come on,” he yelled to Wolf. “After the musicians, we’ve got to see how they’re coming with the wedding cake. A work of art doesn’t just happen, you know.”

“I’ve got to go,” Wolf told Virginia, “Don’t wait up for me.” Then he gave her a peck on the cheek and ran off after Lord Rupert.

If Wolf hadn’t been so preoccupied, he would have seen the look of irritation on his intended’s brow.

“Forty musicians,” Tony said. “Doesn’t sound like a simple ceremony anymore, does it?” He reattached himself to Eleanora’s arm and flashed his eyebrows at her meaningfully. “Emotions run high just before a wedding. That’s why in our country, we have a custom where the bride doesn’t see the groom before the wedding. We say it’s bad luck, but really it’s to avoid fights.”

“Sounds like an excellent custom,” the bishop said, nodding his round head. He himself certainly planned to avoid the groom and Lord Rupert till the actual ceremony.

“Yeah,” Virginia said.

Rose blinked and sighed. “Wolf is rather wound, isn’t he?”

“Just a bit,” Tony said, as he piloted Eleanora toward the door.

Wendell said nothing. He was too busy trying not to look at Rose.

It was after two o’clock in the morning when Virginia finally heard Wolf scratching at her door.

“Virginia,” he called, “Love of my life. It’s me. Why is the door locked? Virginia?”

She got out of bed and crept to the door. “You can’t come in,” she whispered, “It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”

“But, but,”

“I’ll see you at the ceremony. If you and Rupert decide to make any more changes, you can send word by Rose.”

“But, but, where will I sleep?”

“You can bunk in with Dad.”

Spending the night with Tony was just about the last thing Wolf wanted to do. “But how can I sleep unless I hear you snoring beside me?”

“I don’t snore,” Virginia said indignantly.

“Yes you do. Cute little tiny ones, that almost sound like growls.”

“If I do, it’s only because I’m copying you.”

“Oh, huff-puff.”

“You’ll just have to pretend. It’s bad luck. Now, go on. Shoo.”

It was obvious Wolf wasn’t going to win this argument. He didn’t understand the custom, but he certainly wanted them to have the luckiest marriage possible. So, he kissed her goodnight through the door and slept in the grass at the edge of the courtyard. His dreams were full of their happily-ever-after life to come.