Midnight Rain:

Chapter 23: The Wedding:

After the Royal Races, Charlotte hosted one of the grandest balls she could think of. Everything was perfect. She had flowers everywhere and colors of white, blue, and silver. It was the engagement ball for her favorite daughter and her soon-to-be son-in-law.

There were so many people who came to attend the royal engagement. There were ambassadors from other kingdoms and many nobles, along with the ton of Mayfair. It was an extravagant event.

George, who was the Prince Regent, stayed by his youngest sister's side while Evelina was greeting the foreign ambassadors who came for her wedding to Anthony.

Anthony remained to the side with his family, watching as Evelina spoke French fluently, along with German, Latin, and Spanish. It amazed Anthony how graceful she was. Her smile captivated him. She always had a soft smile that complimented her big doe eyes. Her brown hair was always tied up with a few strands to frame her face, which only brightened her fair face.

"You seem to be in awe, Brother," Benedict said, causing Anthony to look away from Evelina.

"Hmm?" He asked, pretending not to hear his younger brother.

"Nothing." Benedict sighed softly, watching as Anthony's gaze went back to Evelina.

"Très bien... Ce fut un plaisir, monsieur." Evelina smiled when the French ambassador bowed his head to the princess and prince regent before leaving. 

"Your French is superb, Sister," George said as Evelina looked at him, scrunching her face in confusion.

"Thank you, Brother..." She said with a slight chuckle. "Mother hired many tutors before I went to further my education in France." She smiled, turning to look around for Anthony.

"Where did your betrothed study?" George asked her.

"Oxford, I believe... Why do you ask?"

"I ask... because I wonder how he will feel, knowing that his soon-to-be wife is far more educated than him," George said, sipping his glass of champagne.

"And why should that be such a bad thing?" Evelina asked him.

"I did not say it would be such a bad thing, Sister... I merely meant whether his pride would get in the way." George shrugged when Evelina sighed.

Before she could reply, Frederick and William walked over to the two of them. The two brothers practically ignored Evelina as they tried to devise a plan to leave the event to find one of the local brothels. In Frederick's words, "Come now, Brother... This party is simply a bore. I want to have some fun." Evelina rolled her eyes at her brothers before leaving them to find her fiance.

The next day, at the palace.

Queen Charlotte walked down the corridor, examining the decorations and food for the wedding of the ton's dreams. She smiled at the glasses but knocked off a stupid topper from the centerpieces.

"Does it fly?" She asked a couple of her servants, seeing a large blue bird with exotic feathers. (A peacock.)

"Uh, some, Your Majesty." One of the men smiled at her.

"What kind of answer is "some"?" She asked him with a scoff.

"Well, it does not soar, but if you like, I can place it on a high perch and allow it to glide down."

"Only if you follow its path." Charlotte scoffed at him, scrunching her face in disgust, before walking off.