Free Power & Majesty by Tansy Rayner Roberts Page B

almost at an end and the Floralia was about to begin. Somewhere in the distance they could hear cymbals as the parade approached.
    ‘Darlings!’ shrieked a voice in the crowd. ‘A toast for Floralia!’
    Velody and Delphine rolled their eyes at each other.
    ‘More of your grape juice, Guillaume?’ Delphine asked wryly.
    ‘None of that!’ said the curly-haired cordialler as he pushed his way through the crowd towards them, his vials rattling on a tray around his neck. ‘This is the finest cherry hot-drop, just right to warm the cockles.’
    Delphine sniffed at the contents of the glass flasks. ‘Sugar and cheap spirits, no thanks.’ She whimpered at Velody, who gave in and opened her shawl so Delphine could share its warmth. ‘I almost wish it was Saturnalia again. At least we could have hot cider and bean syrup.’
    ‘Roasted chestnuts,’ said Velody, her tastebuds melting at the thought of it.
    ‘Yum!’ Delphine turned her eyes on Guillaume. ‘You don’t have any roasted chestnuts, I suppose?’
    ‘You should be so lucky, sweetheart. You won’t getanything but rose dumplings and sugar violets from the vendors today. Don’t you know it’s Floralia?’
    ‘As if I could forget!’ Delphine leaned forward to tug at the lopsided garland Guillaume wore over his curls. She hated to see a ribbon wreath worn sloppily. ‘Sugar makes my teeth itch.’
    ‘No Rhian today?’ Guillaume asked.
    ‘She doesn’t do well with crowds,’ Velody said shortly.
    ‘I don’t blame her,’ said Delphine, changing the subject. ‘Too many festivals in this hellish city. If I didn’t make my livelihood from them, I’d complain to the council.’
    ‘Sick of Floralia already?’ said Guillaume. ‘Five days to go.’
    ‘At least you can set aside the roses and pink ribbon after tomorrow,’ Velody reminded Delphine.
    Delphine huffed, taking more than her share of the shawl. ‘Doesn’t get any better. It’s cords to wrap around hawthorn crowns next, with white and green silk for the Kalends, then deeper reds for Passion and Abundance. Then only a day or two to rest before it’s time to start threading shade-garlands for the Lemuria.’
    ‘You’re just cold and tired,’ said Velody. ‘We can go home if you like. I’m sure we could squeeze through—’
    ‘No!’ Delphine said. ‘You’re going to watch this parade if it kills us both. Have you no sense of perspective?’
    ‘I hate seeing people wearing my clothes,’ Velody sighed. ‘They never look as good as on the mannikin.’
    She had a secret dread that the roses would all have slip and a fine translucent net. What a thimbleheaded idea for a dress design—and for an outdoor parade! She should have done something safer, less troublesome. So many future commissions rested on the reception of this one garment.
    ‘Aren’t you a pair of grizzling wenches?’ commented Guillaume. ‘Is it too much to hope you’re here to enjoy the parade like everyone else?’
    ‘Parades!’ mocked Delphine. ‘There are three a week at this time of year. It’s not going to be anything new.’
    ‘But this is the Duchessa’s first public appearance as ruler of the city since her mourning period for the Old Duc ended,’ Guillaume said in a gossipy voice. ‘Aren’t you interested to see who she’s chosen as her Spring Consort?’
    Delphine quirked an eyebrow up, slightly interested. ‘One of the boys from the Great Families.’
    ‘But which one? There will be a diplomatic incident whichever lad she chooses.’
    The one thing Guillaume and Delphine had in common was a lust for Great Families gossip. It astounded Velody how a demme who couldn’t name three historical battles or three great novels from the last century could rattle off aristocratic genealogies at a moment’s notice.
    The crowd oohed and ahhed as the head of the parade—a marching band in full regalia—finally appeared at the mouth of the Forum. Velody watched them stomp with perfect choreography, and