Now it's a Party

Getting dressed had taken Marie a little bit longer than she'd anticipated, in part because Alexandra had the most readily available fancy things but was not at all Marie's size, and in part because one of the stage hands had seen her changing when the cabin door swung open and she'd had to chase him down at punch him. She'd torn the too-long hem of the yellow day dress she'd chosen in the process, but she was convinced that it wasn't noticeable - she'd tied the extra length up in the back into something that to her mind looked like a bustle. The extra fabric at the waist was held back by a bright red sash. She'd also borrowed a black boy's waistcoat from Tom, which, buttoned closed, almost hid the bunching of the dress at the chest where it was sized for someone rather better endowed than herself, and had looped a long costume necklace several times around her neck, which she thought distracted from this slight problem of fit but perhaps just served to draw attention to it.

She thought she looked quite dashing, though she'd given up on the pair of shoes she stole from one of the other acrobats halfway up to the castle, and had been unable to do anything about the dirt on her ankles from the walk. It was dark. No one would notice.

"Um. I'm sorry I'm late," she said hopefully, after the long beat of awkward whispers which met her arrival. "I... Uh..."

Marie, normally the queen of excuses, found herself somewhat at a loss amid all the grandeur. Fortunately, and to her eternal delight, the Prince swooped to her rescue, standing up. "My fault entirely," he lied gracefully, such that everyone could tell he was lying but no one would dare bring it up. "I was so eager to hear about Fraulein Mary's act that I invited her, but I must have failed to give directions, and you know the castle can be baffling to those unfamiliar with it," he addressed the king with a slight, apologetic nod. "I still get lost sometimes,' he added to Marie, smiling, then turned to the servants. "Another chair, please?"

This put everyone in the terribly undignified position of scooting to make room, which they did with only a minimum of huffing and the mutual understanding that this would never be spoken of again except in gossipy whispers or when intoxicated.

"Thank you," Marie said, blushing as she sat - next to the prince! Her stomach was so a-flutter that she thought she might not be able to eat, but then she smelled the food coming out and quickly changed her mind.

"You're welcome," he replied, and Marie was so captivated that she failed to notice pretty much everyone at the table glaring at her. "Now you owe me some exciting stories about circus life."