October 1st

[man_of_all_work]

It's a lovely autumn day, all reds and golds and deep blue sky, and the King leans against the outside wall of the castle, looking up at the clouds and whistling

"Lavender's blue,
Rosemary's green,
When I am King,
You shall be Queen."

while playing absent-mindedly with a bit of string he'd found in a pocket. Off in the distance, two of the gardeners converse with heads close together, looking over every so often and shaking their heads portentously. They merely get grinned at, cheerfully, before the King goes back to whistling, and playing with the string.

It really is a lovely day.

Comments

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

He eyes her, cautiously.

"He doesn't need me, except to lecture me on some dratted Council issue. Are you feeling quite alright, Persephone?"

[kitchen_maid]

"I am perfectly well," she says, "and if you're quite certain that he doesn't need you, perhaps you might show me around this part of your lovely palace."

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"Oh," he says, "I thought the sun might have been in your eyes. Of course, I'd be more than happy to."

He'd really rather stay where he is, but royalty and cousins have to make these sort of sacrifices from time to time.

[kitchen_maid]

"Well," she says, brushing her hair back over her shoulder and waiting for him to take her arm, "it is a little bright out. Perhaps we might find some shade? You have the most lovely" secluded "covered walkway."

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

His smile is very polite, if a touch bored.

"Of course."

After a moment, during which he starts to step forward without realizing she is coming along, he offers her his arm.

[kitchen_maid]

Persephone's annoyance is perfectly masked, and her smile is very . . . proper.

"Thank you."

They start forward.

"I am so enjoying this friendly visit to Ambergeldar."

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad to hear it," he says. "We're glad to have you, of course."

A moment, while he fishes for a conversation topic.

"The balls have been rather enjoyable, haven't they?"

Not particularly.

[kitchen_maid]

"It is very important to have friends, after all," she says.

"The balls have been perfectly lovely, Cousin Algernon. Although I do wish they'd go back to making those delightful lemon cakes."

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

The King smiles secretly to himself.

Out loud he says, "oh, I'm sorry about that, Cousin Persephone. I'll have a word with the kitchens. I hadn't realized you were so particularly fond of them."

[kitchen_maid]

"Oh, I wouldn't want you to put yourself to any trouble on my account, Cousin Algernon," she says, sweetly, though truthfully? He's welcome to put himself to as much trouble as he likes on her account.

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"No trouble at all," he says, gallantly, and it isn't, as he has absolutely no intention of doing anything of the kind.

"It is important to be a good host, after all, and make sure one's guests do not want for anything."

[kitchen_maid]

"You have been a very kind host indeed," she says. "I know Mama has thought so, as well. She was so delighted when we received the invitation."

Which had come from the Prime Minister, not from King Algernon. But surely that's just to be properly formal.

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"Oh," he says, a bit blankly.

"Yes. Well, we were happy to hear you could come. Er...I don't suppose Aunt Hedwig has mentioned anything about...going home, at all? That is to say," he continues, quickly, "Plumblossomburg must be missing you both very much."

[kitchen_maid]

"Oh, we're having far too lovely a time here to even think about insulting your hospitality by leaving so soon."

Where "so soon" equals "before you propose."

"And Ambergeldar is just enchanting. I think I could happily spend the rest of my life here."

She bats her eyelids at him again.

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"Oh," he says, a little sadly.

"Well, that is a relief."

[kitchen_maid]

"Oh, dear, Cousin Algernon, I do hope you weren't worrying about my being unhappy in any way."

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

The King makes an odd sort of noise in his throat.

"I wish you wouldn't call me 'Algernon,'" he says, when he has recovered.

[kitchen_maid]

That actually surprises her enought that he'll be able to tell.

"Oh, of course not. Not if you don't wish me to, Your Majesty."

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

He only laughs.

"That isn't what I meant at all. Only I'm not entirely sure why everyone insists on using Algernon when I have so many other names to choose from. Peregrine, for instance."

[kitchen_maid]

Persephone looks confused.

"But . . . you're Algernon."

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

He sighs, a bit.

"Yes, I know I am. At any rate," he brightens, "is there anything you'd like to see in particular? Any thing you haven't seen yet, that you'd like to explore?"

He might be digging, just a bit.

[kitchen_maid]

"Anything you think I should see of your delightful kingdom, Cousin, I should be happy to see," she says, neatly sidestepping the whole issue of his name.

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"Right."

He casts about momentarily.

"Well...there's the river. And the orchard. And...well, I think that's about all you haven't seen, really. Do you like boating?"

[kitchen_maid]

"Oh, that would be just delightful. What a lovely idea."

The eyelids flutter more dramatically than ever.

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

The King looks a bit flustered.

"Er...well, I...that is to say...yes. Delightful," he says, with a sinking sort of feeling. "But," he rallies, after a moment, "I'm afraid I can't, this afternoon. Have to speak to the kitchens, you know. And state meeting."

[kitchen_maid]

"Oh, dear. Well, I certainly understand that you have a state meeting, and it's so kind of you to make time for me, my dear Cousin Algernon. Perhaps tomorrow, before it gets any colder, and if you have no state meetings."

Persephone makes a mental note to tell her mother to tell the Prime Minister to see that the King's afternoon is free tomorrow.

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps," he says, cheerfully. "I am of course at your disposal, Cousin Persephone. And the fine weather shan't last much longer, really."

[kitchen_maid]

"And I am entire at your disposal, of course, Cousin Algernon."

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

He gives her slightly strained smile.

"Kind of you. Well! Look at the sun. I should really go and see what the Court Chamberlain wants. Duty calls, and all that, you know."

[kitchen_maid]

"Of course. I should get back to the palace as well, to get ready for dinner. Perhaps you'd be so kind as to escort me back?"

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

Another inward sigh, and then he straightens himself a bit, and puts on his best--but not nicest--smile.

"Of course," he says, gallantly, and they turn back towards the castle doors.