Engagement Party

In Fermion, weddings were small family affairs, and engagement large celebrations. Family, friends, neighbors, we all invited to the engagement party. At the engagement party, the couple would stand in the front, with their parents, and receive guests.

In this medieval period, couples could court only after engaged. Moreover, the women would often move into their husband's family home until married. Engaged couples could do everything together except have sex.

Since both lived at the Mage Academy, they would continue to live on campus in separate properties. After graduation, Elizabeth, her maid, and Will would move into his manor in the capital.

For a noblewoman to get pregnant before her marriage was a scandal. Oftentimes, if a woman was found to be with a child, the marriage would happen immediately.

The duke, and especially the duchess, were excited to arrange a marriage for their last daughter. Traditionally, the bride's family funded the engagement party, and the groom's family paid for the wedding.

Neither Will nor Elizabeth were happy with the extravagance of the engagement ceremony. Elizabeth never cared about marriage, until she met Will. And, Will look at marriage as just another box to check, before he met Elizabeth. Neither cared for this tradition.

Since Will and Elizabeth were officially engaged, they had not met since. They even rode to Yorkshire in separate carriages.

This afternoon, Will would see Elizabeth for the first time in four days. Yet, instead of thinking about Elizabeth, Will could not get the thought of the Maquis vont Hanover out of his mind. Will seethed in anger, instead of Elizabeth dressing in the Lady's Drawing Room next door.

Will turned his focus to the mirror in the Gentlemen Drawing room. He looked at his white shirt, suit, with a glowing light blue paisley vest, a matching necktie, and pocket square. His white suit jacket had tails that stop by his thighs. He looked like an old Victorian aristocrat.

"Master Will?" Michael said knocking on the door.

"Come in," Will said to his manservant and butler. He had chosen to bring Micheal to help him run errands since he was hidden away, for the second time, at the duke's manor.

"Master Will, it is time to make your exit," Michael said.

"Very well, I am ready to get out of this room. Is Mei here?" Will asked.

"Yes, sir. The duke and duchess have already explained that gifts should be placed on the table next to Mei, instead of handed to the couple," Michael said.

Michael opened the door for Will. Will stepped out into the Hall. He waited outside the door for Elizabeth. A few minutes later, Elizabeth and Sasha walked out. Sasha was Elizabeth's maidservant.

Elizabeth wore a white stain strapless wedding dress, with light blue lace that matched her eyes. Will realized, they matched. His light blue vest and her trim matched and gave a very dreamy romantic look.

"Hello Will," Elizabeth whispered.

"Elizabeth every time I see you, you look more beautiful," Will whispered back.

They walked toward each other like two attracting magnets. The world disappeared, as they were quietly pulled together until they feel the other's breath. Their heart beat faster, as time slowed. Will lowered her head, and Elizabeth closed her eyes and tilted her head.

"Ah-hm," interrupted the duchess smiling. "There will be time for that later. Our guest our waiting," she said walking downstairs.

Will extended his hand. Elizabeth held Will's hand for the first time. As Will led Elizabeth to the garden outback. The Duchess vont Whitby planned a soiree in the garden.

Will and Elizabeth stepped into the garden to applause. White and light blue bouquets were on each table. The archway, where Will and Elizabeth were told to stand, was also patterned with white and blue flowers, matching their dress. The duchess put much forethought into this event.

Will looked at the garden, it jettison out from the manor and terrace was visible above. That was where Elizabeth and Will had first seriously talk marriage. At night, Will was not able to make out the garden.

Now, in the evening sun, Will thought the garden had a Parisian feel with intricate stone pathways, well-groomed shrubbery, and a manicured green lawn, bronze statues, and a shallow wading pond.

Facing the crowd, Elizabeth stood to his left, and to her left stood her parents. To Will's right, stood his parents. His father still wore the same sheepish grin from the court. The embarrassment of today's affairs still pressing on his mind.

"Father, it will be alright. That scroll I passed you early Will explain everything," Will delicately whispered.

James looked at Will confused. "Son, you mean expect this?" James asked wide-eyed.

Will nodded and whispered, "read the scroll when you get to the barony."

"Stop whispering you both. You look like little bees. Simile for our guest," Helen vont Ballard say chastizing her husband and Will. Her demon gaze was enough to silence Will and James. Both knew what the look meant, righteous fury.

Seeing things settle on the vont Ballard side, the Duke signaled his herald call the attention of the guest.

"Welcome guests to the engagement announcement of my daughter to Baronet William vont Ballard, the Lord of Games," Duke Francis vont Whitby said.

Will saw hundreds of guests, baronets, barons, discounts, earls, marquis, adepts, and bishops all cheered in approval. Will secretly questioned, if this was the size of the Royal Fraction, for which he formally joined this afternoon.

"I want to especially thank Cardinal Silva vont Gaius for attending tonight's soiree," the duke said.

"Thank you, your grace. Elizabeth I am sad you choose not to join us a Disciple of Gaia, but I can see how you had other plans," the Cardinal joked, to a round of laughter.

"Sacred Mother, ruler in the heavens, I come to you in a time of celebration. Lead these your children by your hand. I beseech you Mother of Gods shine upon them your divine protection, provide them with your almighty love, preside over their household so their children and grandchildren may also know thy favor," the Cardinal finished praying.

"Indeed," the crowd said in agreement.

"Brother, will say a few words?" the Duke asked.

Then the king walked in front of Will and Elizabeth and said, "I hereby acknowledge, and bear witness to your engagement, this is my declaration as King Albus Remus vont Fermion the IX. I offer a toast to these promising youngsters, Cheers!

"Cheers'" roared the crowd. Everyone following the king took a sip of champagne.

"Please form a line to greet the new couple. Please leave your gifts and envelopes on the table, next to Baronet vont Ballard's senior clerk!" the duke's Head Stewart exclaimed.

Will noticed people handing Mei cards and New Year's red cards, as waiters serving charcuterie on golden platters; and a quartet played in the backgrounds.

For two hours, Will stood standing greeting guests. He met nobles from all over the kingdom. Every noble was polite, congratulatory, and welcoming. Will watched the line to see if it was shrinking, but to Will's feet, the line seemed endless. After the first hour, Will had to circulate his mana through his body to renourish his tired legs and feet.

Finally, as the last guest shook his hand, he was offered a chair by Michael. He and Elizabeth sat, while the guests greeted each other.

"How do you feel?" Will said, hating that question.

"This whole this was quite laborious," Elizabeth criticized in her usual forthright manner.

"When do we get to eat?" Will asked.

"Milord, I would be happy to prepare you a plate," Michael interrupted their conversation.

"Thanks, Micheal," Will said sincerely, his stomach growling.

"Sasha, may I have something to drink?" Elizabeth asked

"Yes milady," Sasha said obediently.

"Will, I haven't been able to express to you how happy I am, you asked for my hand," Elizabeth said blushing.

"From the first moment I saw you in the restaurant, I liked you. Growing closer these past weeks has made me realize how much I like you," Will said.

"I feel the same. I want to be a good wife for you, Will. Please treat me well," she said demurely.

Two hours later and the last guest left for the night.

"Follow me you two," said the duchess as she lead Will and Elizabeth to the terrace, where a table two cheers and dinner was served.

"Now you two shall have the alone time you finally deserve," said the duchess leaving only Elizabeth, Will, and their servants on the terrace. Micheal and Sasha stood far away, but in earshot.

Will quickly sat down to eat. The finger food was not enough to stem his appetite. The two ate in silence, eyeing each other, laughing, and enjoying the meal.

After dinner, Will and Elizabeth stood together looking at the night sky.

"Elizabeth every since I knew I wanted to marry you, I want to give you this?" Will said pulling a ring out from his pocket.

The engagement ring had a ravishing dwarven swirl design, accented by two round 1 carat traditional blue sapphires, that matched Elizabeth's eyes. Set in between the sapphires, was a three-carat rune inscribed cushion diamond.

The dwarven infinity swirl design danced across the base of the setting while 56 round diamonds brought a superior brilliance to the entire design. The engagement ring was beautifully crafted of mithril and totaled five-carat diamonds. The rune inscribed on the center cushion diamond, allowed Will to fill it with mana.

Elizabeth's eyes twinkled when she saw Will slip the ring on her left index finger.

"Do you like it?" Will asked uncertain of her taste. Will felt he was a bad judge of jewelry. He bought the ring because the sapphire matched her eyes, that was it.

"I love it! I love you! It's beautiful," Elizabeth said breathlessly.

"I'm glad you like it," Will said sharing a kiss with Elizabeth.