As the ballroom began to fill with guests, Juliette stood near the door with the Countess, Alys, and Lord Norwood, greeting them. Soon enough, however, Alys was called away -- her groom at her side, and it was the two of them. She still didn’t know most of these people, but she was starting to become immune to the oft-odd clothing worn by members of the Bards’ Guild (one woman’s dress -- half made up of transparent panels -- was hard to ignore fully, but she did try, even when the woman seemed to all but faint at the sight of the groom). Fortunately, the flood of guests had slowed to a trickle as the party goers headed for the buffet table or the seating area.
At last, she ventured, “Might I be excused, please?” She found herself thirsty, and she thought she had spotted shrimp bites earlier as well.
Genevieve bid the last guest welcome - Faram above, she hoped they were the last to arrive - before turning her attention to Juliette. The girl looked more mature each time Genevieve set eyes on her, and this afternoon was no exception. She looked quite elegant, albeit a bit hesitant, no doubt from the question she had just voiced.
“Of course, Juliette,” Genevieve remarked, placing a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “You need not ask, dear.” A server with a tray of champagne passed by, and Genevieve plucked a flute from the tray and handed it to Juliette.
It occurred to her that she had not spoken much with Juliette regarding the upcoming wedding. “How are you faring?”
Juliette took the champagne, sipping at it gratefully. It was some aid to her parched throat, at least. She had greeted so many people.
To the question, she said, “I am well, thank you.” This was a distracting business but she could not hold it against Alys even if the timing was a bit challenging. She reminded herself, as she dropped training appointments here and there to meet with seamstresses, that she was fortunate to have a sister whose wedding she could participate in at all. “This is all very beautiful,” she said, a compliment to the woman who had put it together in almost no time at all (another skill Juliette despaired of ever learning, when she didn’t resent the fact that she was meant to come by it naturally).