Edward gave his partmer another smile as she talked of the hunt.
"There is so much happening in such a short amount of time, and once you chose your prey...."
Edward had a room filled with his tropheys, a room which was where he and his friends gathered after for drinks and talk. They often continued late into the night.
"Well, I must not keep you," he said as the music drew to a close, taking his final steps and ending with a bow.
There were other ladies who would not get a dance now the party was over, but Edward had done his best to dance with as many as he could. He escourted her from the floor and kissed her hand. Though there was no more dancing to be had, there was talk, and Edward chattered and entertained those still keen to hear, with stories of the hunt and such.
Over at her throne, the Queen looked surprised at the request.
"My dear one," she said, looking rather surprised at Ella, "why can you not come here? There will be plenty of space and all that you can desire. Surely your father would not want you both there, causing a merry nuisance."
Avril felt her stomach tighten and hid her hands behind her back so her parents wouldn't see her clenching them in concern.
"I really wish you would call me Aunty Cassy or such like," added the Queen. "Godmother sounds so..... old."
"Father," Avril said in a low voice, stepping close to her father and saying it too quitely to be overheard, "surely it would be impolite to refuse such an invitation. After all, Lady Ella might think refusing might be an insult, since I've never visited her in all our aquaintance."
Avril knew it was a little underhanded and her father wouldn't normally have been convinced by such words, but as the Queen favoured the girl highly, it made some sense to demonstrate trust.
"My Queen," the King said softly, as Avril retrated a couple of steps, "there can be no harm in our daughter visiting the home of your godchild. The Baron will keep her safe, I've no doubt."
The Queen looked surprised at his words.
"My love," she said, her voice all sweetness. "Surely...."
"We will provide a good guard also," the King said. "And I am sure Lady Ella would love to play host, just once. She so often is a guest of ours that she might enjoy having the roles reversed, just once."
The Queen could say nothing. It was hard to tell, but Avril felt somewhat sure that the reason her mother had wanted them to stay in the palace was for her own company.
"I have already extended Lady Ella an invitation to come to tea in 5 days," she said quickly, to appease her mother.
"Very well," her mother said with good grace. "We will arrange a carriage and a guard to bring Avril to your home, my darling."