Page 21 of The Favourite

“Tell me, was it the pouncing or the sloppy nature of the kiss, that so repelled you?”

Jane made a choked noise in her throat. “I—well, I hardly—”

Disappointingly, they were interrupted at this point. A momentary lull at this moment facilitated a voice drifting over from a nearby crowd. “—a positive crowd of nobodies!” Lucy Melvin’s well-bred tones pronounced damningly. “I declare; I would be ashamed to have such shabby company celebrating my wedding day!”

Alisander watched the color climb into Jane’s cheeks and felt strangely compelled to come to her rescue. He examined the sensation for a moment in some surprise, for he was not sure he had ever felt such a compulsion before, but even under scrutiny, the strange impulse did not dissipate.

Coming to his feet, he clapped his hands together for attention, and the hum of conversation in the room hushed. “Friends, honored guests, I bid you welcome all on this my wedding day. I thank your indulgence in adhering to the customs of my own land, which must seem strange to you all, where ‘chance’ must play the ultimate role in determining the wedding party.” He paused to let this sink in and heard a few excited whispers.

“I think by now, you must have all realized that in fair Lascony, or ‘the Western Isles’ as you Karadokians refer to it, we hold some very curious traditions. My own family, the de Balons have always held that it is fortune alone that must determine the day, the hour, and the party that assembles to celebrate the marriage.”

He let his eye travel benevolently over the assembled crowd. Lucy Melvin was now looking extremely red-faced. “Fortune’s finger pointed at every single one of you this day, and marked you out as witnesses of our union,” he concluded. “We must keep things brief because my wife and I must travel shortly to our estate; however, I must now make some toasts. He lifted his goblet. “I must make first mention of Master Arnold and his guild of glaziers.” He turned to face the group of sober-looking gentlemen whose eyes now stood out on stalks.

“In my homelands, a newlywed must espouse the cause of the first man of business he comes across as a married man. If I am not mistaken, Master Arnold, you and your associates have come to the palace today to plead some cause.”

Master Arnold’s mouth dropped open. “My lord, that is remarkable,” he said in all amazement. “We are come this very day to obtain royal permission to expand our premises on Jarman Street …”

“Say no more,” Alisander said with a wave of his hand. “I henceforth vow your cause is my own and I will add my voice to yours as petitioner here at the palace.”

“My lord! You are graciousness itself!” Master Arnold said, quite choked by this promise. “We—well, actually we have been in search of a patron for several months without much—”

“I accept,” Alisander told them glibly. The guildsmen went from gasps of disbelief to dazed gratification in the blink of an eye. They jostled one another trying to hang on to their composure as they whispered joyfully to one another.

“Which brings me to the next custom. This one I take from my bride’s people,” he nodded to the crowd. “So, I am sure I do not have to explain this one to you. Where is the Royal Wheelwright?”

Everyone started looking about in consternation before the red-faced man jostled his way to the front. “I am he, milord,” he said, looking rather ill at ease.

“Ah, good sir, you have congratulated me and thus bestowed a lucky greeting upon the groom. I ask that now you likewise bid my wife happy in her marriage.” He extended his hand to Jane and pulled her to her feet.

The wheelwright made haste to greet her and kiss her hand and Alisander tipped him handsomely for the privilege. When Jane would have sat back down, he hung on to her. “Nay wife,” he said. “The customs are not yet done with. Stand still.” Jane’s eyes widened but she stood obediently beside him for the next part.

With great ceremony, Alisander reached for the back of his neck and unclasped his gold collar set all about with amethysts. Ignoring the tremor which ran through his wife at his touch, he fastened it about her lovely throat. She blinked at him as he next removed his elaborately jeweled belt and clasped it around her hips.

“You see now why I wear such an elaborate tunic,” he murmured. “As I must end this day without adornment.” He did not remove the ruby which dangled from his ear, for no one in Karadok pierced their ears except sailors, and he had already given her the gold ring from his finger during the priest’s blessing. Still, he removed both his bracelets, one diamond and one pearl, and fastened them about her wrists.

“And now wife, you must give me your garter,” he said, holding out a hand expectantly.

“You see!” one of the ladies-in-waiting huffed nearby. “I told you so!”

Jane tried and failed not to look horrified. After a moment’s speechless indecision, she turned toward the group of ladies and said faintly, “Emma, would you help me?”

The girl darted forward at once. “There now, didn’t I say?” she gabbled as she knelt and lifted Jane’s hem. “And no one listened!” She sprang up triumphantly moments later and handed a plain scarlet band to Jane.

“Thank you,” Jane said gratefully. Alisander tipped the girl, and she bustled back to her friends looking well pleased with herself.

Jane held out her hand and Alisander received the garter, closing his fingers around it, for it was still pleasingly warm to the touch. With his other hand, he reached out and gently took her chin, turning her face toward his. “Jane,” he murmured, “I am going to kiss you now. It is a wedding custom in Lascony, so you must try and bear with it.”

Surprise flitted over her face, but she offered no resistance, and he cupped her face and went for her lips. It should be a peck, really, he told himself as he pressed his lips firmly to hers. If anyone asked, he would simply tell them that in his country a lingering kiss was customary.

Jane’s lips were slight and sweet and trembling beneath his own. Her cheek was soft under his hand. He let his eyes shut for an instant and savored the moment. Someone started clapping and the rest followed suit. Reluctantly, he drew back, though he was not remotely inclined to.

Afterward he spoke some other words, bidding their guests be merry on his purse and in no hurry to disperse, despite the fact bride and groom must soon depart. The rain continued to lash against the windows, and he summoned his efficient servant Wat and bade him to go and check that the conveyance would be ready in the hour.

“I am not packed!” Jane whispered frantically. “I had no notion—”

“Wat will carry word to your servant,” he assured her smoothly.

“I have none! Rather, I share a maid with two other ladies, and Marta may not be at liberty to devote herself to my—”