Note: So, the main line being a little heavy these days (understatement?) I figured we could all use a little frothy romance for this month’s interlude. What better for that than the story of two spoiled rich kids who never wanted for anything except each other?

Emily

Emily DuKarras lay on her back on a stone bench in the back courtyard of her house, her dark blonde hair hanging off the side and brushing the grass, staring at the book that her sister had just finished and raved about. It was a history of Cammadan’s relations with the tribes of Westran and Emily was mostly finding it depressing.

“Oh, sorry,” she sat up at the voice, “I got turned around.” She smiled. Alex DuCray was standing in the doorway. “Hello Emily,” he said.

“Hello Alex,” she said, golden haired, tall and certainly better looking than every other man in Dorin, she shouldn’t have been surprised. “Caro is out.” He nodded. Alex had been courting her older sister for almost a month.

“I’m sorry to have missed her,” he said. “What are you reading?” She frowned and put it aside and he came to sit with her. “Cornan save us, you are allowed to tell Caro, no thank you, occasionally.” She laughed.

“You’re the one marrying her,” she stood up and looked over her shoulder. “Are you coming to my presentation?”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” he said. She smiled. “My father will be in Rastan, unfortunately, he sends his regrets.” He sighed dramatically.

“And you’ll dance with me?” She pouted. She had to get better at flirting and practicing on Alex was harmless. He smiled.

“If your sister will spare me,” he shrugged. She laughed.

“She will,” she said. “I’ll tell her you were by.” He bowed and left. She giggled and plucked a flower from a pot and smelled it.

Alex

“You’re late,” his Uncle Trey said from his desk, not looking up from a ledger. Alex plopped down on a couch across from it. “I don’t ask much of you Alex, gods know your mother would have my head if I pressed too hard, but I’d appreciate at least promptness.”

“I was visiting the Dukarrases,” Alex said, by way of an excuse, “I hope that’s acceptable.” Trey looked at him.

“You’re serious about that?” He said. Alex nodded. “About Carolina Dukarras?”

“I feel like I should be offended, Uncle Trey,” Alex said, “what’s wrong with Carolina?”

“Nothing, she’s a lovely girl,” Trey shrugged, “and intelligent and amusing, and she’ll make a wonderful wife I’m sure. She just seems a little,” Trey was clearly searching for the right word, “melancholy, for you.”

“Athena is melancholy sometimes,” Alex pointed out. Trey rolled his eyes.

“That was your mother’s scheme, not mine, I told her it was idiocy,” Trey said. “And now Athena’s going to be a countess, and everyone is thrilled and congratulating me.” Alex grinned at him.

“You had nothing to do with that,” Alex said. Trey laughed.

“No, I didn’t,” he sighed. “It is good for us though. What about the younger one?” Alex stared at him. “The younger DuKarras girl, Alex?”

“Emily?” He said. Trey nodded. “She’ll be out next week, why?”

“We’ve been considering options,” Trey explained. “For Tristan.” Alex frowned. The idea of his serious soldier cousin and giggling, pretty Emily DuKarras felt unbelievably wrong.

The image of Emily lying in that garden rose to his mind and he swallowed. She’d looked like some kind of nymph or fairy. It was wrong to think of her at all, she’d be his sister, he needed to sort her back there. But when she’d ask if he’d dance with her, the look of hope on her face. He knew Caro was fond of him, but she’d never looked at him like that.

“I don’t think it would be a good match,” Alex said. “I’ll think on it. I’m sure we can come up with someone.”

Emily

Emily stood in The Guild Hall, her hair pinned up, and beating her fan against her hand. Caro was smiling as Alex chatted with her, and she didn’t know why but she felt her heart catch.

“It ought to have been at our house,” her mother grumbled.

“But then we couldn’t have danced,” Emily frowned. “There’s nowhere for a ball at our house.”

“If Carolina had moved more quickly,” her father sighed. “Could have done it at the manor.” Emily sighed.

“Caro’s being cautious,” she defended her sister. “I don’t blame her, Alex isn’t always,” she exhaled. “He could always change his mind.” Her mother eyed her.

“Emily,” Alex walked smoothly over to them, “I believe I promised you a dance.” She took his hand and he walked her onto the floor and took her in his arms. She felt something shoot through her. The rest of the room was gone and when the song ended he stepped away and cleared his throat.

“Thank you,” she said. She felt the same as she had last midwinter when she and Caro had stolen a bottle of sparkling wine from their father’s cellar.

“My pleasure,” he said and walked away. Emily swallowed and quickly moved to a different partner, but it didn’t matter, all she could think about was Alex.

Alex

He was standing in the garden of the guild hall, lit with torches looking at the ships.

“Alex?” Carolina stepped next to him. He looked at her. Why didn’t he feel more for her? Caro was beautiful and interesting and they’d always been good friends. “This isn’t working, is it?” He exhaled.

“No,” he said, “I’m sorry.” She nodded and then smiled. “What?”

“Emily will be pleased,” she shrugged. “And that will appease my father.” He blinked at her. “Alex,” she said indulgently.

“You wouldn’t mind?” He said. She shrugged.

“You’d owe me,” she said. He laughed and she turned and walked back into the hall. He thought for a moment and his conversation with Trey from earlier. They’d be leaving for Dovetail soon. He’d speak to Emily before, of course. And he realized that while the idea of Emily and Tristan Dugarry was absurd, shy and thoughtful Carolina might suit his cousin perfectly.

Emily

“He’s going to what?” Emily said, dropping her tea cup.

“Emily,” her mother said annoyed. Caro was smirking.

“Alex is Caro’s suitor,” Emily said. “Why is he coming to see me?”

“He’s not my suitor anymore,” Caro said cheerfully. “He likes you.” Emily blushed.

“Carolina this is not amusing,” Angelo Dukarras glared at his older daughter.

“What difference does it make to you if Alex marries Emily or me?” Caro said sharply. Emily sighed. This devolving into a fight between her father and sister. Although most things did.

“Emily,” her mother said gently and touched her hand. “Is this what you want?” She looked at Caro who really did seem disinterested. But she must feel a little hurt. And she thought about what it would mean. Becoming Madame Ducray would be a huge responsibility to the guild and mean a great deal to her family. And it would mean she could have Alex, and his soft hands and easy smiles and that jolt of whatever it was when they danced.

“Yes,” she said softly, “yes, I think it is.”

Alex

“Alex,” Emily giggled as they tumbled through a set of doors into a small isolated parlor at Dumanis Manor, escaping his terribly dull welcome back party after his time in Dovetail. Entangled and kissing wildly they fell back against a couch.

Emily had snuck him into her bedroom before he left and while he’d worried her innocence would have made her shy, she was instead curious, eager and playful. Now he was excited to see what other surprises his little bride to be had.

“I missed you so,” he kissed her neck, “so much, my darling.” he slid her gown up around her waist. She’d skipped wearing underthings. “Oh, you little minx.”

“I didn’t want us to fuss much,” she teased. “I didn’t know how long we’d be able to slip away. Since Andrei left Mama’s become a jailer.” He laughed and unlaced himself and she stoked him before he sunk into her and she cooed happily.

“Emily,” he murmured. “Oh sweetheart.” She groaned happily arching up into him. It would be at least another year of this sort of thing, stolen moments, before they could marry. His mother and Angelo had opened negotiations, but Emily was young for a debutante, let alone a bride. But gods, he was in love with her.

“Alex,” she said softly as they finished and her kissed her again. “When is he coming?” He looked at her.

“Any day now,” he said. “You’ve been a little too excited about this.” She rolled her eyes at him.

“Yes, what I’m actually interested in isn’t you, just steeling my sister’s beaux,” she deadpanned. “I drove Andrei away with my obsessive promises about our future.” Alex grinned and laughed. “I’m worried about Caro, that’s all.” He kissed her. “Also, I want to see him. I’m curious.” He kissed her shoulder.

“I’m sick of Tristan,” he muttered, “I’m sick of thinking about him, talking about him, cajoling him to come here.” He pulled her close again. “You’re the only person I want to expend that much energy on.” She giggled.

Emily

“He’s taller than you,” she teased Alex, peaking through the window watching Sir Tristan talk with Carolina.

“Stop that,” Alex said. She looked at him and giggled. “This is good for us.”

“Good for you,” she said. “My father doesn’t approve,” Alex kissed her.

“Please,” Alex rolled his eyes, “marrying Tristan to a merchant girl is going to make my grandfather so happy, your father won’t ever have to fight for a deal again.” Emily laughed. “Plus your mama will be distracted.” She smiled and they kissed again and he slid his hand up her thigh. Then they heard a throat clear behind them.

“Emily,” her mother said and she blushed. “Master DuCray.”

“Madame DuKarras,” he said, “you’ll all join us for dinner tonight won’t you? It’s been so long since my cousin has been with us, my mother and aunt are overdoing it.”

“Of course,” her mother said, “Emily, inside.” Emily nodded and rushed in and waited in the small sitting room, the parlor still being occupied. “You’re being reckless.”

“Mama, it’s Alex,” she rolled her eyes. “We’re getting married.”

“He was marrying your sister this time last year,” she said. Emily swallowed. “And I would have thought our experience with Andrei would have taught you some caution.”

“Alex isn’t a coward,” Emily narrowed her eyes. “And he loves me.” Her mother sighed. “Shouldn’t you be making sure Caro isn’t insulting Sir Tristan?”

“Caro knows what she’s supposed to do,” her mother said, “she wasn’t the one who brought up Queen Annalise five minutes after meeting the man.” Emily looked down. “Darling, this is just a delicate moment, be more discreet.” Emily sighed and stood up and walked back to the parlor and noticed Carolina sitting blushing. She smiled and went to sit with her.

Alex

“What do you think of her?” Alex asked Tristan as they arrived back at the manor. His cousin glanced at him.

“She’s what you said,” Tristan shrugged. “She’s very beautiful, she’s clearly intelligent.” A servant walked over and handed Tristan a note. “Thank you,” he muttered and the girl left. “Damn,” he mumbled. “Varys wants to give me a tour. How did she know I was here already?”

“Gossip spreads quickly in Dorin,” Alex laughed. “You’ll get used to it. You can’t go today we have dinner.” Tristan looked at him.

“I’d rather get it over with,” he muttered. “Apologize when I’m late?” Tristan rushed out. Alex collapsed against the couch.

“How did it go?” His mother walked in after a while. Alex frowned.

“I’ve never been able to read the twins,” he shrugged. “Certainly not Tristan. Caro is equally opaque.” Brie DuCray nodded. “I’d like to move my own case along.”

“Angelo is being difficult,” Brie frowned. “You can’t really blame him. The idea that the girls are interchangeable isn’t particularly generous, especially because Emily is by most metrics the better bride.” Alex nodded. Brie wasn’t wrong.

He adored both DuKarras girls, Carolina as his friend and Emily as his lover, but Caro was taciturn, shy and thoughtful. She didn’t particularly care for the social whirl of their world. Emily was bubbly, friendly and quietly shrewd, an ideal merchant wife.

“I want it done, Mother,” he said simply, “yield wherever he pushes.” She looked at him.

“Alexander,” she said, “that isn’t,” he stood up.

“You ran away to marry Father,” he said, “Drea and Alexia did as they were told, that’s what you always told me?” Brianna Dumanis-Ducray nodded at her son. “So get this done too, I want to to be a good son, but I want Emily.”

Emily

She giggled as she twirled into her bedroom and flopped on the bed. She’d been drinking wine and dancing all night.

“You drank too much,” Carolina laughed and shook her head from the doorway.

“Tomorrow I’m marrying Alex,” Emily said dreamily. “It’s going to be so beautiful.”

“Not if you’re vomiting all day,” Carolina said an sat down with her to start undressing her.

“The queen is going to be there,” Emily sighed, “which was really quite nice of her.”

“I agree,” Caro said, “you should sleep, and I should go, Tristan is waiting.”

“Tristan can keep waiting,” Emily snuggled close, “you were my sister before you were his wife.” Caro laughed. “Do you like being married?”

“I don’t think your marriage will look much like mine,” Caro said. Emily noticed it wasn’t really an answer. “But yes, most of the time.”

“Good,” Emily said and snuggled close to Caro. “I miss you, but if you’re happy then it’s alright.”

“Thank you,” Caro said. “I miss you too.” She exhaled. “Athena’s going to have a baby.”

“That’s good,” Emily yawned. She gasped. “You should have a baby, and I’ll have one too, and then my baby can marry Athena’s baby.”

“That’s an extremely cogent plan,” Caro said and stood up. “Go to sleep, Emily.”

Alex

He stood in front of the guild hall, and he was reasonably sure that half of Cammadan was there and none of it mattered because Emily was walking towards him, beaming.

They exchanged vows and he refused to not be holding her for the rest of the day. She leaned back into him or sat on his lap or they danced. It was perfect. She was perfect. And she was his.

Forever.