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

[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.