The King of Scots

Chapter 15

1st July, Edinburgh Castle

Lady Adaline Gordon, Lady Bridget Gordon, Lady Victoria Gordon and Lady Kathline Gordon 

Presented By their mother 

Her Royal Highness Princess Ekaterina Romanov, Duchess of Lennox 

The lords and ladies of the realm had little time between the executions and this date, The king had ordered Campbell to work with the Duchess of Montrose to kick start the social season. Noble families from across Scotland were at court for the presentation of the debutants, young ladies from noble families in Scotland were here to show off their young daughters, There were even some foreign families that had been sponsored by Scottish families that had no daughters. 

The Halls of the palace looked like a picture of heaven, every young girl had been dressed in white or silver for the occasion, Mamas were making last minute fixtures and telling their daughters or wards to behave, In the throne room the two kings were dressed in full formal attire. A throne had been made for Fredrich while they were on their honeymoon, the throne was the same as Harrys to show the equality of the marriage. 

Harry was pacing across the length of the dais upon which the thrones sat, "Will you stop panicking they will be here soon" Fredrich said trying to clam his husband down, they were waiting for Sirius and Remus to join them. The pair had ventured to Thirlestane Castle Sirius new country estate that he had been granted with his title, "They are late" he was starting to get agitated "I have a hundred scheming mothers reading to parade their daughters like cattle" just then a side door opened 

"And where the hell have you two been, he's been worrying for the past hour" Fredrich gave the pair a death glare not very happy with them, "Well traffic in the capital is very busy today if you haven't noticed" said Sirius as he adjusted the high collar of jacket, Before they could go any further Thomas Campbell walked in with a clipboard in hand "I have the final list" he said walking over to the small group "We have three hundred young women standing outside of those doors" they group were shocked not expecting that many. "Well we better get started then" Fredrich said as the pair took their places on the throne. The only person who decided to sit out was Susan but that was because her marriage had been decided upon, The third son of the Tsar of Russia had been at the wedding and had taken a shine to Susan and formal betrothal had been laid out.  

It had been decided to go from the lowest ranking to the highest and starting it all of was "The right honourable Sophia Lovat Presented by her mother Lady Alexandra Lovat" the daughter of both a vampire and witch she had inherited the pale white skin of her mother and the blonde hair and green eyes of the mother, watching from the side her father looked on with a proud face. Following her came the rest of the lords of parliament, there were some notable sponsoring's Lady Sinclair had sponsored her American Niece, The Napier's while presenting their daughter had sponsored the eldest daughter of the duke of San Miguel. 

There were only three viscounts in the Scottish peerage that were not subsidiary titles and as her father was a member of the privy council Luna had the honour of going first "Lady Luna Lovegood presented by her Grand Aunt Her Grace Augusta Longbottom, Dowager Duchess of Queensberry" Harry had seen a portrait of Luna mother at her age in their apartments and she looked just like her, Luna seemed to float towards them. 

Among the several daughters of the Earls there were four stand outs to the days events, the first "Lady Isabelle St Clair and Lady Oliva St Clair, presented by their Mother Countess Ameillia St Clair of Sutherland" the twin daughters of the Sutherlands were Identical in every way from how their hair was styled and to the clothes they wore, to the side McGonagall seemed to pale at the sight of them a look she had when she saw any trouble makers from her days as a teacher  

A short while came the next stand out "Lady Hannah Abbot, Viscountess of Ayr presented by her mother Countess Henrietta Abbott of Dumfries" the saying like mother like daughter had never been truer, Hannah had inherited all of her mothers looks from the light blonde hair to her sapphire blue eyes her mothers German heritage had never been clearer. The Final of the Earldoms came from one of the newest creations "Lady Hermione Granger, Viscountess Lyon presented by her mother Countess Francis Granger of Strathmore" months of work and preparation had gone into these two ladies, while they had lived a privileged life that had been English and Muggle, Hermione and her mother never once faltered and when it came time her curtsy she looked divine. 

The Marquessates were the penultimate group to the days events and it was was the Lothians who would enter first "Lady Daphne Greengrass presented by her mother Marchioness Isobel Greengrass of Lothian" Harry looked on he smiled at his friend as she began to move down to wards them, the crowds to the side looked on as they had done for every deb that had been presented, harry then notice that there was something on the floor but it was noticed too late daphne so focused on making it to the end she tripped forward her mother raced to help her up, she then just smiled dusted herself off and continued walking. 

It was now the turn of the days final group, The dukes. These ladies were the highest on the social ladder when it came to the peerages. And the Roxburghe's had been chosen to start "Her Highness Princess Helena of Hesse and by Rhine presented by her Uncle Duke Robert Kerr of Roxburghe" the princess walked with all the charm and grace her station demanded, "And what brings to to our shores princess are there not enough men on the continent" the princess laughed "None that can be verified to be a good match by my dear cousin the king consort" she gave another curtsy before walking away.

"You never told me your cousin was a hessian princess let alone she was coming here" the prince looked down almost ashamed of himself "My mothers sister married into the family but we became estranged after my mothers death, I have not seen my cousin since I was nine" the two had been close when they were younger but when his aunt accused his father of killing his mother during childbirth they were expelled from court. 

it had been hard to chose who would follow the Roxburghe's but a decision had been made "Lady Mary Scott and Duchess Ingrid of Bavaria presented by Duchess Wilhelmina Scott of Buccleuch" when Fredrich saw the German women he was shocked Ingrid was an old friend, they had grown apart after he had been sent to Scotland, "My old friend, I have missed you" Fredrich says when they approached the throne "And I you" 

More princesses soon followed "Lady Sybil Graham and Lady Diana Graham presented by their grandmother her highness princess Louisa Alexandra of Battenberg, Duchess of Montrose" the princess of Battenberg was a women of sixty years and firm believer in the old ways it had been at her pressure that harry had re started the social season only on the condition that she work with The duke of argyll to plan royal events all the while planning the seasons opening ball. 

Harry was counting  down how many were left and there was only two families left to be presented "Lady Adaline Gordon, Lady Bridget Gordon, Lady Victoria Gordon and Lady Kathline Gordon presented by their mother her royal highness princess Ekaterina Romanov, Duchess of Lennox" the Gordon sister were beauty, grace and charm wrapped in the finest silk, the sister as a group had a nickname 'The Four Graces' an honour which had belonged to the four Hesse sisters at the start of the century, they may not be granddaughters of Queen Victoria but to them they were something better, Daughters of a Scottish Duke and a Princess of Romanov blood, they were blue blooded witches something not even the English royal family could compete with. 

One last family and then it would all be done with "Lady Eliza Murray and Lady Charlotte Murray being presented by her Grandmother Duchess Lenore Murray of Atholl" the duchess walked with a walking stick, there were rumours floating around the court that her health was in decline but none the less she was determined to see her granddaughters presented, the two women were couple years apart but they looked so much alike. Once the presentations were done with there was a small reception but everyone paced themselves after all they still had the Montrose ball to attend