Lead With Me

13

"So you accept?" Riley smiled started to grow widely as the silence grew.

Madelyn's heart was beating so hard against her chest while she thought about her next words very carefully. "Yes, I accept, your highness."

Riley chuckled as he bent over to wrap his arms around Madelyn waist to pick her up in a hug, Madelyn arms snaked around his neck to hug him back. This was the very moment she felt her nerves kicking in. She was going to be married. Never would she have thought she would be actually.

She could notice her mother looking at her from the corner of her eyes, it was a smile. Here she thought she was going to be upset. But something in her stomach told her that she would give her a straight talking to tonight.

"Riley, people are staring.." Madelyn tapped his shoulder, trying to get him to put her down. He wasn't budging until finally he put her down after getting what he wanted.

Meredith looked over Madelyn and Riley when they walked over back to the table. "I suppose my only daughter is getting married. I really hope you can tolerate her smart mouth." She genuinely was happy for her daughter maybe, scared but happy, you can tell from the look on her face.

Madelyn guided Riley back to his chair to sit down and finish his dinner, moving back to her chair beside her mother. "Are you sure you're okay with this?" Meredith whispered when she sat down.

"I believe so, if I'm not, then I will tell you. I promise." Madelyn whispered back, looking at her mother with a smile.

Meredith scoffed and tapped her daughter's nose. "You never promise me things, why start now. Marriage has changed you." She teased, dramatically.

"Your only daughter is getting married, can you not be supportive of me?" Madelyn whined, rolling her eyes.

Meredith smiled and wrapped her arm around Madelyn's neck to hug her slightly. "All I ever have been is supportive of you, you're my world and I just want to make sure you are not throwing your life away."

"Royalty or not, you know me. I'm perfectly fine. I love you, Meredith Pawns!" Madelyn explained to her mother.

"Ditto, Madelyn Pawns."

Rupert cleared his throat to start speaking, "Are you sure, Madelyn? My son can be a bit hard-headed and temperamental."

"Sounds like a perfect match then." Meredith chimed in with a laugh, earning a glare from Madelyn next to her.

Riley spoke up, drinking some of his water before, "I think we should hold a ball."

Madelyn replied, "I don't think we should. I honestly don't like to be all flashy. Must we have to?"

Mildred responded to Madelyn's response, "Oh we must, the future King has found a bride so we must. The wedding will not be for a while so plenty of time to prepare. You included. We must find someone to help you adjust to becoming Queen."

Madelyn couldn't help but agree, she was the Queen after all. What she says, goes. She nodded and sighed, watching the servants taking the plates away. Her eyes glanced from Riley then to Rupert then to Mildred. She and her mother were going to be part of the royal family if all goes well and even that was scary.

"I cannot dance." Madelyn admitted, Riley laughing out softly.

"It will be alright, I will teach you."

"How can you teach me when you cannot see, your highness? Isn't it my job to guide you?" The woman said, as a matter a fact.

Riley scoffed, "Not when it comes to dancing. I am a pro at it on the dance floor."

Madelyn chuckled as she stood up, "oh really? Well, why don't you show me then? The area is big enough." She motioned forward before moving around the table to get him up and move him away from the table.

He laughed himself, nodding. She moved him to the middle of the room and stepped back so they could do a proper introduction. He bowed and she curtsied then he felt around her body so finally land on her waist, taking her hand. Her other free hand landed on his shoulders. At least that is where she thought she was putting it.

"Am I doing this right?" Looking down at their feet, Madelyn sighed. "This doesn't look right."

Riley could help but shake his head, "It looks fine, trust me."

"Looks, your highness. It looks fine to you?" Madelyn teased. She enjoyed it so much.

He looked at her, sticking out his tongue. He was such a child. How could he be the future king of England one day? So many questions. Yet so many unanswered.

He continued to look at Madelyn, though it wasn't just looking at her, she could see his hazel eyes clearly. They looked sad but still manage to look gorgeous at the same time.

"Miss Pawns, do you want to move your foot?" Riley said, letting her know that she was off in space and not listening or perhaps just stepping on his foot. Both rather possibly.

"Oh.. I'm sorry." Madelyn said and looked down to see it wasn't her foot on his but he was directing her. "My foot where. Which one?"

"You really have no clue on dancing, do you?" Riley teased, smirking.

Madelyn narrowed her eyes at him before moving back with her right foot and he followed with his left foot. They repeated the same guide with their other foot. Madelyn occasionally looking down to make sure she wouldn't step on his foot. She was clueless on this sort of thing.

It didn't help that her dress was far too long for this sort of thing. At some point, Madelyn tripped a bit so her foot missed a step and then Riley missed the step but he quickly regained composure and proceeded with a level of skill that was exceptional. He really was a professional. It was impressive.

Madelyn was lost in the dance, keeping her hand on his shoulder and in his hand. After a while, he stopped. He pulled away and bowed, she returned with a curtsy. There was an applause from their parents. "That was wonderful, son. You definitely got your moves from your old man." Rupert said, patting on his shoulder when Riley came closer. He chuckles and wraps his arm around his dad's torso.

"You're too kind, father. Thank you." He smiled.

"That was wonderful, sweetheart." Meredith said when Madelyn came over to her side, "I believe you shall be the most elegant at the ball."

Madelyn laughed softly, pinching her mother's arm gently. "I cannot believe I am going to a ball. We have never once been invited to one, how does one act at such an event?"

"With class, my dear. With class." Meredith pats her head gently, lifting up her head in a poise manner.

~