The Belle Epoque was well known throughout Tirisano. The mansion had withstood civil war, religious disturbances, and even the elopement of an heir to the throne a few centuries back. It had been gifted by the royal family to the House of Stuart a little over two hundred years ago, and since then had stood as the official Itana residence of the Dukes of Roslae. Tonight, it was alive with light and music, welcoming the very special guests of the newly wedded royal couple under the auspices of Duke Oliver's invitation to a private ball. The Prince, naturally, was in attendance, making a point of greeting every one of the forty-seven hand-picked guests ....especially the small delegation from Rhy'Din, whom he knew were very close indeed to his niece's heart.

The sound of the party drifted through the halls to where the newlyweds were supposedly making their way down to join their guests. Given that the maid and valet had almost had to separate them with a crowbar in order to get the pair changed for the gathering, it was anyone's guess as to whether or not Dru and Josh were going to arrive on time to their own party. And why shouldn't they be impatient' They'd been good and waited this long, after all.

This was the day Josh - or rather, His Highness, the Prince Consort Joshua Oliver Stuart - had long awaited. At least, it seemed like a long wait. It had actually been less than a year since his father had sent him to Rhy'Din to join the theater and keep an eye on the Princess Royale. Less than a year, since the pair had fallen in love with each other, and Josh had dared to propose, circumventing Parliament and taking things into his own hands. To some, it might have been a bold and even dangerous maneuver, but Josh had not been thinking with his head, but with his heart. This wedding had not been an arranged one made out of convenience or due to politics, but one purely made out of romantic love.

As any young man eager for his bride, he was anxious and impatient for the wedding night, and yet, right from the beginning, Josh had been concerned with doing things the right way, and today was no exception. They had waited a long time, and as impatient as they were, what were a few more hours when they had the rest of their lives ahead of them' It had taken no little self-control now that they were married, but Josh had somehow managed to get changed and ready for the party ahead, intent on celebrating this the happiest day of his life.

It was the last time they would officially share separate bedrooms. From this point onward, every morning and every evening, no matter where they were, would be spent together. With Iora finally satisfied with her young mistress' appearance, Dru was allowed to leave the bedroom she had been told to change in, rolling her eyes and laughing as she batted the woman's hands away from her once again. "Stop it, I'm sure it looks perfect," she told her ladies-maid, shooing the woman away. Xoren, who was now responsible for both hers and Josh's security, smirked to himself, watching as she crossed the wide hallway and knocked on Josh's door.

It wasn't nearly as difficult for Josh to change out of his weddingwear and into his eveningwear, swapping one suit for another. He had no hairdo to adjust or makeup to touch up, though he did freshen up a little before changing. It didn't take long for him to be ready, and he nervously paced the floor while waiting for the princess' arrival. It was Josh's valet who answered the door, with Josh hot on his heels, anxious to see his lovely bride once again.

Dru's face lit up as she caught sight of Josh behind his own valet, laughing a little at his eagerness to meet her at the door. Her eyes swept him, very much appreciating the sight of him dressed to the nines. "Well then, your highness, shall we join our guests?"

It was no school girl who awaited him on the other side of that door, but a lovely young woman who seemed to have matured from girlhood to womanhood almost overnight. His own expression at the sight of her matched hers, his face lighting up, his heart beating fast, a warm smile touching his lips as his gaze took in the view. "I think we shall," he replied, offering his new wife an arm. It was the last time they'd be separated from each other, now that they were joined in marriage, and it was time to greet their guests as husband and wife, Prince Consort and Princess Royale.

Unable to wipe the smile from her own face, she curled her arm through his, feeling herself blush just a little under his gaze - just enough to make her skin glow as they walked down to the ballroom, where the party awaited. The footmen bowed to them as the message was hastily sent to the master of ceremonies that they had arrived. Dru laughed softly, kissing Josh's hand. "Ready, sweetheart?"

"As ready as I'll ever be!" Josh replied with a grin as she kissed his hand. He'd started out the day a nervous wreck, and it had taken both his father and brother to calm his nerves, but now that the wedding ceremony was over, and they were on to the party, where the guests had been carefully chosen, he was finally starting to relax a little.

The doors in front of them opened as the master of ceremonies thumped his mace three times. "Presenting ....Their Royal Highnesses, Princess Claudia and Prince Joshua!"

Dru squeezed Josh's arm gently, drawing him forward as applause echoed around the ballroom. It was a traditional entrance, and one he was going to have to get used to, making them the center of attention for a long couple of minutes before her uncle drew everyone's attention back to the buffet.

There were a few in attendance who might not know Dru by that name, but it came as no surprise to Josh. Though the country might know her as Princess Claudia, in his heart, she was simply his Dru. Maybe it was a good thing Josh had a background in theater. He was accustomed to being on stage and being the center of so much attention. So far, he played the part of a Prince just as well as he might any other part in a play, aware of the eyes that were on them and the applause that lent them the love and support, not only of their family and friends, but the people they had been born to serve. Still, he exhaled a sigh of relief when at least some of the attention was diverted by the buffet. He recognized most of the faces in that room, though some he knew only by name, but every face that looked their way seemed full of joy and happiness for the royal pair, albeit a little envy here and there.

Indeed, there were only a very few faces there who did not know that the Grangers from Rhy'Din were family to the princess, and even they were trusted not to share that information when they learned it. Everyone in the room had been chosen specifically by Dru and Josh to celebrate with them. Freed from the official greeting with her uncle, Dru made a beeline for the buffet, to the amusement of those who knew her well, practically dragging Josh with her. "Oh thank gods," she sighed happily, after stuffing several canapes into her mouth. "I think I got maybe two sandwiches at lunch."

"Oh, for goodness' sake, eat!" Piper laughed, waving her hands at the pair of them. "We should go and rescue His Highness from Humphrey, anyway." She nodded toward one of the tables, where Prince Julius appeared to be absolutely absorbed in conversation with the Granger patriarch, almost as though they were old friends.

Josh followed Piper's glance to the table and smiled. "He looks like he's enjoying himself."

Desmond smiled a little, though there was some faint sadness in that frown. He knew Josh was referring to Prince Julius, but Desmond's concern was more for his uncle. "They probably have a lot in common," he said, both of the men being patriarchs over a powerful, affluent family.

"Yes, but the last thing Caroline needs is for Humphrey to go home with an illegal trade agreement in his pocket," Dru said, giggling in amusement. She loved both men dearly, and knew them better than they might like. She had no doubt that Humphrey Granger could negotiate anything out of Prince Julius, without breaking a sweat.

"What do you think I'm here for?" Desmond interjected with a grin. He was not only a lawyer, but the official lawyer for GrangerGuild Conglomerate, and while he was not here in an official capacity, if there was going to be some sort of trade agreement drawn up between the two men, you could bet Desmond was going to be there to look over the details.

"Mixing business with pleasure, are we, Des?" a familiar and very female voice broke in from behind them.

"I wouldn't answer that," an equally familiar male voice interjected as Piper stepped back to reveal Miranda and Rufus bearing down on them. "I had exactly the same comment after she lost me into the library this morning." Rufus grinned, bowing formally to Josh and Dru as he came to a halt.

Des snorted a reply to Miranda's teasing, but it was Miranda who replied to her husband's remark. "I heard no complaints from you, darling," Miranda pointed out, letting go of her husband's arm so that she could sweep in to give the young princess a gentle hug and an affectionate kiss to her cheek. She had gotten to know the young woman over the last few months and had grown quite fond of her, opening her heart to her, like she did to nearly everyone she met. "I'm so happy for you, darling. And you look gorgeous!"

Rufus rolled his eyes as his wife swooped down on the little princess, miming smacking her on the rear for the amusement of the others.

Dru laughed once again as Miranda embraced her. "Of course I do," she giggled in answer to the compliment. "You dressed me! I don't see how I could look anything but beautiful in anything you make."

Miranda didn't need eyes behind her head to know what her husband was doing, but she ignored it for now so that she could appraise the young princess with a kind but critical eye. She stepped back just a little to make a small adjustment or two, though whatever it was she adjusted looked just fine to everyone else. "Trust me, dear. It is not just the dress. You look absolutely radiant." She turned to greet Piper next, in the same way she had greeted Dru. "And you are absolutely glowing!" she told the other woman. "Desmond is apparently doing something right," she teased, turning to pinch Desmond's cheek fondly.

"Well, it's that or Lynnie is doing something mysterious to the cocoa she's insisting I drink every night," Piper laughed, hugging Miranda warmly. Behind his wife's back,

Rufus snagged a couple of glasses of wine, handing them to the newly weds. "Down in one," he suggested with a chuckle. "It might make the hugging easier to cope with."

Desmond chuckled. "More like Piper is doing something right," he remarked, wrapping both arms around his lovely wife's waist and leaning his chin on her shoulder while the others around him bantered. He wondered where the rest of the family was, but knew they had to be around somewhere.

"Rufus Bennett!" Miranda exclaimed with a feigned gasp of shock. "Are you trying to get the newylweds drunk?" she asked, swatting him playfully once the bride and groom had relieved him of the wine glasses.

"We should make a toast," Des said, searching the room for his younger brother and sister. In order to do it right, they all had to be there, including the Old Man.

"I was drunk on my wedding night," Rufus defended himself comically, wrapping an arm about Miranda's waist as Dru giggled into her glass.

Piper leaned back into Des' arms, her eyes searching the room. "Over there," she said finally, nodding toward the tall, wide windows, where it looked as though Jon and Lena, with their wife and husband, had somehow managed to insinuate themselves into conversation with Josh's brother.

"Good lord!" Miranda gasped when her eyes fell on the tall blond Stuart brother. "He's a tall drink of water, isn't he?" she murmured in appreciation, admiring the elder Stuart brother like a fine work of art, or perhaps like the good-looking young man that he was. There were few in attendance who weren't good looking, in her estimation, and though her eyes might admire, her heart belonged to only one man. "Introduce us!" she stage whispered to Dru.

Dru only laughed, looking up at Josh with very mischievous humor in her eyes. "I'm surprised you haven't met him already, Miranda," she teased her cousin fondly, gesturing for one of the footmen to come to her. "Would you ask the Earl of Roslae and his party to join us, please?"

"Of course, your highness." The footman bowed and made his way across the ballroom toward Josh's brother as Dru took a sip of her wine.

"I would love to get him into some of my menswear," Miranda mused aloud, mostly to herself, almost forgetting she was not alone, but in a group. She was admiring him in mostly a professional way - noting the way the suit cut across his broad shoulders and back. She had noticed that both the Stuart brothers were attractive and wondered if there would be a way to get them both to model for her sometime. It was a bold request now that one of them was a Prince, but if anyone was determined to have her way, it was Miranda. Besides, it would be good publicity for them.

"Who are Jack and Jasmin?" a curious voice asked, a little hesitant of interrupting. Keira was the only one standing there not related to someone else in the group, holding tightly to Jamie's hand as she attempted to fade into the background. Of course, it was a little difficult to fade into the background when people had started noticing the engagement ring on her finger, but she was trying.

Jamie seemed a little relieved that Miranda's attention had shifted to the young man with the sandals, and after a brief conversation with her, he came up behind Keira to wind both arms around her waist, while the little group broke into several smaller groups of conversation, but it was his brother who answered Keira's query.

"Musicians," Josh replied, though that wasn't much of an explanation. "Jasmin is a Granger. They live on the beach with Tommy and Lena."

"Oh, I see." Keira relaxed visibly as Jamie enveloped her - despite her excellent manners, she was nervous of meeting people she wasn't already passingly acquainted with, especially when they seemed to know one another so well. Her hands curled over those of her fiance as she leaned into him. "I think, perhaps, you may need to draw me some sort of family tree, Dru," she teased the princess bride gently.

Dru groaned and shook her head. "It's not a tree," she said quickly. "It's more like a bramble bush."

"We'll have to take you with us to the cove sometime," Josh suggested. "Maybe in the spring. It's been a long time since we went surfing together," he added, the comment directed to his older brother.

Jamie laughed. "Let's hope you've improved since then, little brother," he teased back, with a merry twinkle in his bright blue eyes.

"Oh, good gods, I haven't surfed since I was fourteen," Keira laughed, shaking her head. "You can surf, I'll sunbathe."

"No," Dru shook her own head. "We'll teach you."

Keira's jaw dropped as she stared at the princess, obviously having assumed that Dru would be sunbathing with her.

On the other side of the royal couple, Piper giggled softly. "Full of surprises, isn't she?"

"Everyday is an adventure," Josh agreed with a grin.

"Don't worry," Miranda broke in, insinuating herself back into the small group. "I'm going to have to insist the Lady Talbot and Lord Stuart visit me in Rhy'Din for several fitting prior to their own wedding. When is the date again, Keira?" Miranda asked, rather pointedly, knowing full well a date had not been set yet.

"Uh ..." Blinking in surprise at the startlingly pointed query from a woman who had somehow fitted her into both dresses she had worn today over the course of forty-eight hours, Keira stumbled over her response, looking up at Jamie for a little support. They had nominally set a date, but she didn't think the designer was going to be very pleased with how soon it was.

Jamie stepped in to answer the question for his intended, since he was the one to have insisted on not waiting too long. "After the first of the year," he replied, purposely keeping his voice low so that the news didn't spread like wildfire through the small crowd of people.

"January!" Miranda exclaimed, even as Jamie gestured for her to lower her voice. "Are you mad" I can't do a wedding in..." She broke off, frowning a little as she realized she just had done a wedding - a royal wedding, no less - in record time. "Don't you Stuarts have any patience?"

Keira laughed, exchanging a glance with Dru, who was also giggling a little. "To be fair, it is a little difficult to be patient when you're marrying a Stuart," she offered, taking a little of the heat off the brothers. "We were originally talking about spring."

Jamie grinned a little smugly at his intended's reply, tightening his hold on her waist and brushing a kiss against her cheek from behind to reward her for her explanation.

Josh laughed, joining in on teasing his big brother. "What you don't understand is that they've been waiting their whole lives for each other. They've known each other practically since birth. By rights, they should have been married by now, if they weren't both so stubborn."

That earned Josh a playful punch from his big brother. "I'd appreciate you not sharing all of our secrets in public now that you're a Royal, little brother," he teased back.

"Spring!" Miranda was heard exclaiming. "Spring is much more sensible and a perfect time of year for a wedding." She looked to Keira for support. "Isn't there any way you can convince him to wait' It's just a few more months. What's a few months when you have a lifetime together?"

"I think maybe the fact of my moving in with him might convince him to hold off for a few months," Keira suggested, looking up at Jamie with a teasing smirk on her lips. Now they were officially engaged, Duke Oliver was eager to make sure that they moved with the times and behaved like a normal couple, which naturally involved him getting his hands on some female company in the evenings and at weekends as well. "Apple blossoms," she reminded her fiance fondly, reaching up to gently brush a fallen strand of hair back from his face. Then she looked at Josh, one brow raised above her smile. "You should be careful what you say, your highness. I know a few anecdotes about your childhood too."

Josh flushed, a little surprised at Keira's threat, but taking her at her word. "Apologies, my lady," he said, offering a small bow, though there was still the ghost of a smile on his lips.

Jamie laughed at them both, smiling broadly. He really could deny her nothing. "All right. If it means that much to you, I will wait until spring."

Now that was a very intriguing conversation. Dru looked up at Josh, curiosity warring with amusement at the fact that he was apparently a little afraid of the woman who would become his sister-in-law.

Laughing at Josh's sudden retreat, Keira smiled up at Jamie affectionately. "Thank you." She met Miranda's gaze with a satisfied gleam in her eye. "Does that suit you better, Madame Granger?"

"Though I am not the best man or the family patriarch," Desmond started. "I know what it is to find that one person who fills your life so completely," he said, resting one hand on Piper's shoulder as if to indicate her as that person in his life.

"They say everyone has a soul mate - a person who is their perfect match, who completes them in every way. The other half of themselves, some say - that part which was missing from birth. There was a time when I scoffed at such things, but I have since become a firm believer in true love and happy endings. When I look at Dru and Josh, and I see how very much they love each other, I am reminded that sometimes fairytales really do come true. And so, I offer this toast, to their health, their happiness, and to a never-ending love.

"Always remember, through all of life's challenges, that so long as you have each other, you are never alone. Always remember why you chose each other. Celebrate the good and forgive the bad. Never fall out of love, keep the romance going, and remember to always have fun together. That is perhaps the best advice I can offer. May your lives be long and happy, your cares and sorrows few. May the friends and family around you prove faithful, fond, and true. May your voyage through life be as happy and free as the waves dancing on the deep blue sea.

"To Dru and Josh....I wish you all the happiness life has to offer, now and for as long as you both may live." He lifted his glass a little higher in salute to the newlyweds before tipping it back to take a sip.

"Dru and Josh." The words were repeated in a warm murmur, rippling around the little circle of family and friends as glasses were raised to the newly wedded couple.

Dru swallowed, a little choked up at the sweet words given to her by her brother. "Thank you," she told Des softly, raising her eyes to everyone - to the Grangers, her uncle, Josh and his family. "It means more than I can possibly find words for to have all of you here today. To be able to say that I shared my wedding day, not only with my uncle, but with my brothers, my sister, and my cousin. I think my mother would have been proud of us, all of us." She trailed off, having run out of words, shaking her head as her fingers twitched a handkerchief from Josh's pocket to prevent those few tears from doing damage.

Beside her, Josh smiled at both the toast and at his lovely bride's words of thanks, hearing the tears of happiness in her voice. Though they both wished their mothers could have been there to join them, he was sure they were there in spirit and that they couldn't be happier for their children. "I don't think I can add much more to that," Josh said. "Except that I can say without a doubt that today is the happiest day of my life, and that I am truly blessed to have the love of this beautiful lady. And I don't have to keep it a secret anymore!" he added with a small laugh, as he turned to slide an arm around Dru's waist and dare to kiss her in full view of every onlooker present.

That last statement drew a laugh from the people who loved them, gathered around, and found him a smile to kiss as his little wife curled her hand to his cheek tenderly. "Yes, yes, all right," Duke Oliver said after an interestingly passionate moment or three. "First dance, children, then you can run away if you wish."

"You can always count on my father to break up a passionate moment!" Jamie teased with a laugh of his own, beaming a smile at the royal couple. He was truly happy for them, and it was no secret how fond he was of his little brother.

Josh laughed a little as his brother teased their father, breaking the third or fourth kiss shared with his new bride. "Shall we, Princess?" he asked, offering her a formal bow before offering her his hand.

"We should find him a wife," Keira agreed with Jamie, laughing as the duke shook his head, hurriedly zipping his lip. He'd already had to agree to allow his sons to matchmake for him in a year's time, he didn't need their wives to join in as well!

Giggling, Dru slipped her hand into Josh's, offering him a small ladylike curtsey in return. "I think we shall, your highness."

Josh grinned, though he really didn't think he was ever going to get used to being addressed that way. Inside, he was still the same old Josh Stuart, not the Prince Consort of Tirisano, but so long as Dru and his family treated him the same as they always had, he was happy to bear the burden of royalty. And he was pretty sure his father was over the moon with happiness at his little stint at matchmaking. After all, with this marriage, the Stuarts had just elevated themselves to the top of the royal chain of command. Josh tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and led her toward the dance floor with a bearing that was befitting of a prince.

With a glance from the Prince, and a nod from the M.C., the band were ready to greet them as they took their place on the dancefloor, instruments raised to welcome the royal couple with a waltz that had been written especially for them. As Dru raised her hands to Josh, both of them excellent dancers through sheer dint of too many lessons on the subject when they were children, Vicki chuckled softly, curling her fingers into Jon's hand. "They look so grown up."

Jon was a little lost in thought as he watched the royal couple drift across the dance floor, like right out of a fairy tale. He linked his fingers with hers, bringing her hand to his lips for a kiss, a soft affectionate smile on his face. "If they're half as happy as we are, they'll be fine," he remarked, though he knew just how young they were and to have so much responsibility thrown on those young shoulders. Still, there were plenty of people ready and willing to help them along the way.

It was a little mind-boggling to know that the bride was not yet eighteen years old. Vicki smiled as she leaned into her husband, her cheek on his shoulder. "I know they will," she murmured affectionately. "At least they're doing things in the right order. Unlike the rest of us did."