In a Weary World

Chapter XVII: Engaged

Well, hope for your thrilling career -- but remember that if there is to be drama in your life somebody must pay the piper in the coin of suffering. If not you -- then someone else. -- L. M. Montgomery, Emily of New Moon

"Isn't it strange," Rigmor said thoughtfully, "that 'engage' can mean both 'promise to marry' and 'head into battle'?"

Well, there was an optimistic thought.

"Are you suggesting that we'll be constantly at each other's throats from now on?" Hjalmar asked. "Because if so, I'm leaving. Right now. I've enough to deal with as it is. Or have you forgotten that this curse of yours is going to try to kill me? And if it doesn't, your aunt will?"

There was a muffled giggle from the corner where Solvej had built a small fortress out of spell-books. Hjalmar, without even looking over at her, picked a cushion from the sofa and tossed it in her general direction. A minute later it came sailing back and landed on his head.

Rigmor watched their antics with an expression of amazement and something that curiously resembled dawning understanding.

"Oh," the Princess said. "I never realised--" She stopped herself and turned to Solvej. "You don't have to worry-- I mean, I hope you know this engagement is all a sham."

Hjalmar and Solvej exchanged puzzled looks.

"Of course we know that," Solvej said. "That's the whole point of this. But why are you telling me that?"

It was Rigmor's turn to look puzzled. "Aren't you engaged to him?"

There was a dead silence. For once, Solvej looked completed and utterly dumbstruck. Hjalmar was in no position to appreciate it, since he was just as shocked.

"Engaged?" Solvej repeated faintly. "To him? What made you think that?"

"I'd sooner marry my grandmother!" Hjalmar agreed. He contemplated adding, "No offence", but decided that Solvej would know what he meant.

Rigmor's brow creased. She looked from Solvej to Hjalmar in apparent bewilderment. "But... Your behaviour just now... I've never seen anyone but an engaged or married couple act so familiarly with each other."

Good heavens. How many wrong impressions had he and Solvej accidentally given? Did the entire royal court think they were engaged? Was that why Grand Duchess Dorthe disapproved of him so severely? Did she think he was betraying his fiancée?

Rigmor continued, blissfully unaware that Hjalmar was working himself into a minor panic. "This is a case of jumping to conclusions and making a fool of myself, isn't it?"

"Yes," Hjalmar said faintly. "Yes, it is."

Solvej crawled out of her book-fortress. "But didn't you realise that I'd hardly be asking my fiancé to get engaged to you?"

"Well, yes, but I thought-- Look, can we please just forget we ever had this conversation?"

That, Hjalmar thought, sounded like an excellent idea. The only problem was that now she had brought the subject up, he would probably never be able to forget it.

~~~~

"No, no, no! You're doing it wrong! You're supposed to bow like this!" The Grand Duchess demonstrated what she meant with a sweeping bow that nearly made her overbalance. "Now try again."

Hjalmar took a deep breath, stopped himself from saying a few most impolite things, and mimicked her as best he could. If the look on her face was any indication, the best he could do wasn't good enough.