Nobody in Particular(114)
She unravels herself from my grip, then holds a hand out to me. “So,” she says. “Shall we go out and introduce ourselves?”
EPILOGUE
ROSE
ONE YEAR LATER
On the afternoon of my father’s twenty-fifth jubilee, Molly and I sneak out of the palace celebrations immediately before the balcony appearance and subsequent banquet to hover in the hallway by the entranceway.
“She said she’s only a minute away,” I say to Molly, who’s becoming noticeably antsy.
“They’re going to go out without you,” she says. “Then the papers will be all like, ‘Scandal as Princess Rosemary skips second half of her father’s big day.’”
“They won’t go out without me,” I say, moderately certain. “She’s almost here.”
The entrance to the gala room opens, and Eleanor and Santi burst through.
“Rose, your parents sent me to check on you,” Eleanor says. “They said to get the hell over there. In those exact words.”
I open my mouth to retort when shouting from the foyer cuts me short. Giving Molly an “I told you so” look, to which she rolls her eyes, I hurry through the doors, followed by the other three.
Danni is standing on the carpet, smiling for the cameras, as the photographers cry out for her to come closer, look their way, take a few steps. She lights up when she sees me, and I make a beeline for her.
We can’t embrace just yet, but I place my arm around her while we pose together. “It’s got to be a quick one today, sorry everyone,” I apologize as the cameras flash and click. “I’m actually meant to be on the balcony already.”
We move on quickly, shoving our way through the doors and into the hallway. We’ve barely cleared the doors before I’ve thrown my arms around her and lifted her off the ground. “You did it, you did it, you did it,” I cheer, managing a small hop even under the weight of her.
“Rose, I nailed it,” she exclaims, glowing with joy. “They just wanted me to play ‘Dürnitz’! I’ve had that memorized for, like, five years now.”
I lower her back down, and the others close in to hug her in turn.
“Doughnuts?” Eleanor asks as she pulls Danni in.
“No. The first movement of the Sonata in D,” Danni says atop her shoulder. “It’s easy. I couldn’t believe it. I was expecting—”
“It’s not easy,” I stage-whisper to Eleanor, and Santi laughs.
“That’s the last of us done,” Molly says, pumping her fist. “It’s over.”
“It’s over when we get our results,” Eleanor reminds her, but Molly waves a hand.
“We’ll be fine. No matter what, we’ll be fine.”
Danni, still shining, sighs with contentment as she cracks her knuckles. I can relate. I was in her position a week ago after my math exam. The exam period was even worse for Danni, mind. While the rest of us sat our final exams at Bramppath during the school term, the music students had to undertake the practical session of their exams in the Holstenwall Conservatory of Music a full week after the rest of us were all done.
I’ve been on edge all day, all throughout the service at Saint Mariana’s Cathedral, and the procession, and the gun salute this afternoon, wondering how her recital was going. Now that I know she’s okay, I can finally relax and enjoy the festivities. Not to mention, we can finally focus on our upcoming ski holiday. After living in a cloud of exam stress for weeks now, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our newfound freedom than an intimate week together in a Swiss chalet. Just me, Danni, and my suite of royal guards.
Danni falls into step beside me as we enter the palace ballroom. We still have to minimize hand-holding while at royal events—a rule that’s applied just as sternly to straight royal couples as to us—but I am permitted to place a hand on the small of her back while we walk, which I do immediately. “There was a panel of five judges,” she says, “and I was expecting three. I would’ve thought that would throw me, but I guess after all the Bramppath performances I’m getting kind of used to the pressure? I just pretended we were all at school and eventually I forgot they were there.”
“I’m so proud of you.”
She tips her head back in relief, so far she almost overbalances, and I steady her, giggling. Around the room, people have noticed Danni’s arrival, and she starts waving and nodding to guests as we pass them. I doubt she knows half of their names, but she manages to make warm eye contact with each of them individually as though she does. For someone who was so hesitant to be in the spotlight when I met her, she’s not doing too badly in it.
She only averts her eyes when we past the Paget-Harringtons. Though Alfie isn’t here, she still harbors a very understandable resentment toward the entire family for their role in her near-expulsion. Luckily, they make no effort to speak to us, and we pass them by as though they don’t exist at all.
My parents are waiting for me in the sitting room attached to the balcony, alongside several palace staff members, including Penelope, my publicist. Mum shakes her head when she spots us, though she only seems half mad. “I sent for you ages ago, Rose,” she chides.
“I got caught up. I’m here, sorry.”