Chapter Thirty
‘Oh heavens!’ declared Selina, fanning herself as she was corseted into the court dress of Thrudheim.
It was similar to an English court dress in the sense that it was elaborate, heavily layered and incredibly uncomfortable.
But whereas the English court dress was based on the earlier fashions of King George and Queen Charlotte, Thrudheim’s court attire seemed to hark back to an even earlier time.
A sophisticated mixture of a square corset, puffed sleeves and a wide skirt with a flowing train, the dress combined the white, blue, and silver of Thrudheim in silks, wools, linens, and elaborate embroidery. Even those court ladies she had met previously wore a much simpler version than this one.
But despite the tight corset, Selina felt like a fairy princess. Her hair was brushed out in a long sea of curls that shone down her back. Rouge had been added to her lips, which had pleased her as she loved the colour red.
The make-up around her eyes had been a concern as she didn’t wear kohl often.
But like most things, it was a tradition in Thrudheim for their ruling women to wear heavy kohl around their eyes at their coronation.
However, when Margarite had shown her reflection in the looking glass, she’d gasped with wonder at the change in her appearance—it suited her!
She still looked like herself but somehow different as well. The kohl seemed to elongate her almond eyes into a sultry catlike shape. Her lips were bright, but her skin also shone with a golden shimmer. Margarite had definitely added something that looked suspiciously like gold dust to her powder.
The lady’s-maid beamed with pride. ‘You look beautiful, Your Serene Highness.’
‘It feels strange to have my hair down,’ she said fluffing at her loose cloud of curls with a frown.
‘Oh, but it is tradition! And once the Thrudheim crown is upon your head, you will look magnificent!’
Selina couldn’t help but smile at the servant’s enthusiasm. ‘I think you have more confidence in me than I have or deserve.’
Margarite’s face grew serious. ‘You deserve to wear the crown. You have worked very hard on your speech, and if all of Thrudheim does not love you when they hear it, then we do not deserve you.’
Selina blinked rapidly, a familiar prickle in her throat and eyes. ‘Oh no! Do not say such kind things, I beg you! My make-up will be ruined.’
Margarite giggled and then helped to rapidly fan her face and dab her eyes with a handkerchief to stop the tears from spoiling her appearance.
The footman announced that Magnus was ready for her, and as she stood she clasped Margarite’s hands.
‘You will be watching, won’t you? I will be less nervous if I see your face. ’
Margarite nodded. ‘I will be with the rest of the palace servants in the balcony above. You will be magnificent!’ She squeezed her mistress’s hands before letting go and then nodded to the footmen to open the doors.
Her father was waiting for her, in full naval uniform, his spine straight and his tricorn tucked beneath his arm.
Her heart tightened with considerable pride as he turned to face her, and his eyes widened at her appearance. ‘You look just like your mother…so beautiful,’ he whispered, and she was sure there were tears in his eyes.
‘I am glad you were able to make it,’ she replied tentatively.
Her father snorted, back to his usual self.
‘The prince of Thrudheim made it quite clear to the prince regent that if I didn’t receive leave to attend this coronation or blessing or whatever they call it, the result would be an international incident.
’ Her father’s displeasure was quickly followed by a softening of his weathered features.
‘Although, now that I am here… I think I owe His Serene Highness a great debt. To miss this would be a terrible crime indeed, and Mary would never have forgiven me either. She has become most cantankerous since you left and insisted she join me here with Mrs Pearce, or she would refuse to look after my house ever again!’
Selina’s heart tightened, not only at her father’s words of praise but at Magnus’s thoughtfulness at insisting her father and aunt attend. ‘I am grateful you came. I presume Aunt Mary is already at the cathedral?’
‘Afraid so. She got up at the crack of dawn insisting she be one of the first to arrive. She was worried there wouldn’t be a seat for her and Mrs Pearce, even though Prince Magnus reassured us in his letter that she would have a special place in the front row.
He’s even now changed the seating plan to accommodate Mrs Pearce too.
Moved some duke! For Mrs Pearce! Can you imagine? ’
Selina giggled thinking of the Duke of Solberg’s outrage when he realised, it. ‘Oh, I am glad. That way I will be able to see you all clearly.’
‘There will be no missing Mary. She is wearing crimson ostrich plumes in her hair. I did try to dissuade her…’
Selina laughed. ‘That sounds very unlike Aunt Mary.’
‘She said it was in honour of your favourite colour.’ He took her arm, and they began walking through the palace. ‘So, explain this ceremony to me. It feels as if I am giving you away all over again.’
‘It does seem that way,’ Selina said softly, her mind whirling towards the upcoming ceremony.
‘But you only accompany me to the cathedral. That’s where the stone thrones are—they are from the Viking age, and were made for the first king of Thrudheim centuries ago.
You hand me to the prince, and then there’s a ceremony where we receive blessings from the archbishop and sing hymns.
The prince makes a speech, while I hold the sword and sceptre.
I take vows to serve and honour Thrudheim, and then I am crowned princess.
Afterwards, I make a speech, and we leave.
The whole of Thrudheim has feasts and parties to celebrate. ’
Her father frowned. ‘A speech?’
Selina nodded, patting his arm. ‘Strangely enough, that part is the least terrifying bit for me.’
They walked together down the long corridor, passing the portrait of Magnus and his siblings. She glanced at it, hoping that Helga would approve of her.
* * *
A short time later they arrived at the cathedral, the crowd outside cheering and throwing flowers at her feet.
At the front of the rope barrier holding back the crowd, she recognised several stall holders from the Midsummer festival, including the bookseller. She even recognised the mother and son she’d seen on her first day in Thrudheim.
They shouted, ‘Long live the princess!’ in a repeated chant as they waved Thrudheim and English flags.
She waved back at them and blew kisses, before walking with her father up the stone steps of the cathedral.
For once, her father actually looked nervous, and he squeezed her arm, turning to look at her with tears in his eyes.
The sight of her father overcome with emotion almost threw her off, but his next words filled her with pride.
‘I always knew you would do well. But I have many failings, and my lack of imagination is one of them… I could never have imagined how great you would be or how proud you would make me. I am sorry I have not said so before now. Your husband says I should rectify that immediately. You know I love you…don’t you? ’
She nodded, blinking rapidly to stop herself from crying. ‘I love you too.’
‘Well, then, let’s get this done,’ said the admiral, returning to his usual forthright manner and making her laugh.
The huge oak doors opened as she approached, and Magnus was waiting for her under the arched entrance.
He wore a long velvet blue robe over his dashing formal attire.
The robe was trimmed with snowy fur and pooled around his feet.
On his head was a spiked crown of silver, studded with sapphires and cushioned with reindeer fur and blue velvet.
In his hands he held a sceptre and a giant sword.
He looked resplendent, like a king from a fairy tale.
‘Are you ready?’ he asked, and at Selina’s nod of agreement he smiled gently and began the procession walking several feet ahead of Selina and her father.
Her father ceremoniously walked her down the aisle. She was the bride of a nation, and Magnus would marry her to his people in a ceremony unique to Thrudheim royals.
Eventually, they reached the altar and thrones of Thrudheim. Aunt Mary was beside the cheerful Mrs Pearce, her crimson plumes a flag for Selina to focus on and draw comfort from. Selina had to resist the urge to wave back, when her giggling aunt waved excitedly at her with a crimson handkerchief.
Her father handed her up the steps to the thrones’ dais before moving to sit with Aunt Mary. Then Magnus turned to face her, and they knelt on velvet cushions in front of the archbishop of Thrudheim.
The archbishop made his long-winded blessings in the Thrudheim dialect, and a hymn was sung, that roughly translated to ‘God Save the Royal family.’ Neither she nor Magnus were required in Thrudheim to sing along.
She wondered if the weight of the sword and sceptre was beginning to hurt Magnus, but if it did, he didn’t show it, as his expression remained the same. He stared at her intensely with soft blue eyes, trust and affection pouring from his gaze and filling her heart to bursting.
As the archbishop called out her name, Magnus elegantly offered her the sceptre.
She took it and kissed the ornate bejewelled silver cross before handing it to the archbishop.
She had to do the same with the sword, and she braced herself against the weight of the steel, grateful she didn’t have to hold it for long.
She wondered how Magnus had managed to hold it still for so long with such unwavering strength.
Even the archbishop winced as he took it from her and placed it on the altar behind the thrones.