The Princess and I

Chapter XLIV: The end is drawing near

After the fighting game I have to wait for another three days before I see Christina again at our last party at Mayfair Mansion. Luckily, my days are full anyway, so to keep up pretences I go to every arrangement made. The first day the Le Bons attend a University boat race on the Thames. Recently, not only the roads and the fields were being used for our entertainment, but the river as well. Races were being held since 1829 and now it was also possible to canoe and punt to make our Sunday afternoons more agreeable in the summer. The Thames was a classless hotspot as open to the lower class as to the upper class. The latter often have private houseboats on the river, which are as luxurious as country houses, all equipped with electricity, staff and quite often also pianos.

After the Boat Race we travel on to a famous town called Maidenhead. Maidenhead is some distance from the Thames, but the riverfront causes a magnificent array of hotels, mansions and private houses to arise. Many of those are rented during the Summer, in which period it is considered fashionable to be here. The little town also acquires a reputation of raffishness. Rendezvous with secret lovers is not something out of the extraordinary out here. With all the luxury and anonymity I hope to visit Maidenhead again with Christina one day soon. I think she would like it here.

The second day I am off to Mary-Ann for a game of croquet. It is the last time I will see her before her grand wedding and we are desperately in need of some alone time. So, under the watchful eyes of both our mothers, who are having tea in the shade, Mary-Ann and I play croquet. Since it is really nothing more than hitting our coloured, plastic balls through the iron hoops with a mallet, we are able to catch up with one another. I try to tell her as little about my love life as I can, so I don't have to lie to her that much. Luckily, she's all consumed in her wedding arrangements and I try to help her as best as I can with that at least.

After our game Mary-Ann insists on showing me the adjustments she has made in her wedding dress and I enthusiastically follow her to her room. When she shows her dress with pride, I cannot help my mouth falling open in awe. It is a white ensemble, which is definitely a favoured bridal choice in our class, because the colour white signifies our elevated status. After all white garments are not easily cleaned and require special attention, which only a household with a lot of money can meet. Moreover, the colour white symbolizes innocence, purity and virginity. Mary-Ann's dress is a full-skirted gown accessorised with white gloves and an ornamental lace-edged veil. I almost could see my friend on her wedding day, radiating like a princess from pure joy. And I cannot help but wonder if I am destined to be a beautiful bride one day as well.

My thoughts immediately wander off to my love in her wedding dress. How would the both of us look, when we really got married? If we would have found a priest willing to bind us in a House of God, then how would we proceed from there? Would our family and friends be attending? Where would we keep our wedding ball? What would be our honeymoon destination? Where would we live afterwards? I feel Christina's ring almost burn a hole through my dress and I absently caress the trinket affectionately. I realize the specifics don't really matter. I would marry the woman I love. That is all that matters to me.

The day before Mrs. Maxwell's party, I have the honour of receiving aunt Emma in my house. She is alone though and requests to speak to me in private. My parents, thinking it is about the Duke, rapidly leave the room. Aunt Emma slowly takes a sip from her cup of tea, while examining me intensely. I have a vague idea of why she's here and I am not disappointed, because a minute later she asks me: 'So, the two of you are running away then?'

'So, Christina has already told you?' The elderly woman nods her head just once. 'Yes, we are, ma'am.'

'I cannot understand your rash decisions frankly.'