#cathedral of the madeleine

[midwesternartlovertraveler]

Cathedral of the Madeleine, Salt Lake City, Utah https://midwesternartlovertraveler.tumblr.com/

[believing-is-seeing]

The stairs up to the organ

Open Gallery Night

At the Cathedral of the Madeleine

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

February 2023

[mybeingthere]

Born in Keighley, West Yorkshire in 1965, Alison Crowther is a sculptor and furniture maker working exclusively with English Oak. Having first studied 3D design at Buckinghamshire College and then Furniture design at the Royal College of Art, her first notable commission were the pews she created for the Prior Silkstede Chapel at Winchester Cathedral (1996) followed by Lover’s Seat at Chatsworth in 1999. Over the last twenty years, she has produced significant, site-specific works for international, corporate clients such as Swire Properties in Hong Kong: the Sheraton Hotel at Ghuangzhou, China; and the Shangri-La Hotel’s iconic Ting restaurant at The Shard in London. She has also undertaken many private commissions throughout Europe and the USA, including Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island.

The way Crowther observes and responds to her material, taking cues from the density, grain and growth pattern creates what Madeleine Bunting described as a ‘dialogue between material and human intervention'. Using tools that range from chainsaws to chisels, she produces work that is sometimes domestic in scale and functional in use, such as Glyndebourne Kissing Benches and sometimes monumental, as with Scale Tree I, created for One Shenzhen Bay. All her work is painstakingly hand-carved from great trunks of unseasoned oak, taken from responsibly managed woodlands within the South Downs National Park. Guided by the natural characteristics of the wood - often embracing the gnarly surface texture - her forms are true to the organic nature of the oak, while also complementing the environments in which they are to be ultimately used and displayed. The wood itself is on a continuous process of change and refinement as the timber ages and weathers, adding to its beauty and character.

[royaltysimblr]

Princess Madeleine Through the Years

Read her update below!!

HRH Princess Madeleine was often in the shadow of her older sister, Mary, Princess of the Isle who would later become Queen Mary III. Madeleine was often viewed by the media as the quiet and shy daughter of the King and Queen. Madeleine was rarely in scandal and her life was not nearly reported on as much as her siblings, Princess Mary & Prince Michael. During Princess Madeleine's early 20s, she was thought to have been linked with a family friend, Archibald Vernick.

Famed WAFTA award-winning actor Yusuf Raheem was seen at Princess Madeleine's 25th birthday celebrations. Princess Madeleine was seen leaving his apartment in San Myshuno multiple times throughout the year, sparking rumors of a relationship between the two. Yusuf Raheem was invited to spend Winterfest with the royal family at Statford Castle and was seen in the royal procession to St. George's Chapel. After a year and a half of dating, San Myshuno Palace announced that the couple were engaged. Three and a half months later, on July 15th, the wedding was held at St.Mary's Cathedral in Windenburg. The ceremony was televised and reportedly watched by 190 million viewers worldwide. Following the ceremony, a wedding breakfast was held at Angleterre Palace and a ball was thrown at Sulani House, hosted by Madeleine's cousin, Princess Margaret, Duchess of Montcroix. Princess Madeleine was given the titles Duchess of Richmond, Marchioness of Wixby, and Countess of Brancaster. Yusuf Raheem was reportedly offered a title but declined it. The couple moved into apartments in Kingston Palace which originally belonged to Princess Madeleine's great aunt, Princess Alice.

On May 25th, around 9 months after the wedding, Princess Madeleine gave birth to her first child, Prince Noah Ahmed Raheem. A year and a half later, on September 14th, Princess Madeleine gave birth to Princess Lina Marie Raheem. After five years of marriage, San Myshuno Palace announced that Princess Madeleine and Yusuf Raheem would be getting divorced. Many news outlets reported that Raheem cheated on Princess Madeleine throughout the marriage, however, Princess Madeleine denied these reports. The couple also reportedly conflicted over the Princess not supporting Raheem's acting career throughout the marriage. Allegedly Raheem was forced to give up acting jobs due to him being a member of the royal family. Princess Madeleine gave Raheem 6 million dollars in their divorce settlement. The former couple are reportedly on friendly terms, with Yusuf Raheem seen attending a few royal family events such as the 45th birthday celebrations of Queen Mary.

Prince Noah & Princess Lina were raised primarily in San Myshuno and split time between their mother's apartments at Kingston Palace and their father's penthouse in San Myshuno. The children spent many summers with their mother at her summer residence, Primrose Cottage, a house on the Statford Castle Estate. The children attended Alcott Nursery School and Canterbury Academy. Prince Noah attended Wroxham University, graduating with a degree in business management. Meanwhile, his younger sister, Princess Lina, attended Witham University, majoring in Political Science. Over the last few years, Prince Noah and Princess Lina have been in regular attendance at royal family events with their mother. Prince Noah and Princess Lina have attended a few of their father's movie premieres in Simerica and San Myshuno over the last few years.

Princess Madeleine has taken an average of 190 engagements a year for the last 15 years. Princess Madeleine is one of the hardest-working members of the royal family and is a patron to over 150 organizations and charities including the Windenburg Women's Institute. Princess Madeleine's charities and organizations primarily aim at raising awareness about disabilities and mental health. Princess Madeleine has consistently been ranked as the second most popular member of the royal family, usually behind the Queen herself.

[charlotte-of-wales]

Happy 80th birthday to Queen Silvia of Sweden!

Born on 23 December 1943, Silvia Renate Sommerlath is Queen of Sweden as the wife of King Carl XVI Gustaf. She has held this title since her marriage to Carl Gustaf in 1976.

Silvia Renate Sommerlath was born in Heidelberg, Germany, as the only daughter of a German father and a Brazilian mother.

Silvia met Crown Prince Carl Gustaf during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. He and Silvia announced their engagement on 12 March 1976 and were married three months later, on 19 June 1976 in Stockholm Cathedral. The wedding was preceded, the evening before, by a Royal Variety Performance, where the Swedish musical group ABBA performed "Dancing Queen" for the very first time, as a tribute to Sweden's future queen.

The King and Queen of Sweden have three children - Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine - and eight grandchildren - Princess Estelle, Prince Oscar, Prince Alexander, Prince Gabriel, Prince Julian, Princess Leonore, Prince Nicolas and Princess Adrienne.

[nangel]

Paparazzi, part six

✍︎ words count | 4745 words

✈︎ missing out parts? | series , part 1 , part 2 , part 3 , part 4 , part 5

We’ll be staying in Paris.

We were walking through Paris and basically doing a sightseeing tour. We four walked together and I told them a lot about France. After we visited the Notre-Dame Cathedral which was our last destination we had free time. We went shopping and visited a bakery. We even visited the memorial for princess Diana and took a lot of pictures. Now we were walking around trying to find a place we could visit. “I think I’ve never felt so clueless in Paris” I said frustrated. “Don’t worry…we’re gonna find something” Annabelle said going through tiktok while Olga was already flirting with a 30-year old french man. I watched it and gasped shocked. “How is she doing that?” Maureen asked and I laughed. “I can tell you” i said as I pressed my boobs together which made Maureen laugh and me too. I admired my outfit in the window of a boutique. “Hell yeah…you look good” Olga said smirking and I lifted one leg playfully so my white nike’s touched my butt.

We ended up in a cafe called Café de Flore and ate some with chocolate filled croissants while talking. I loved it and we even saw some people recognising us. Two girls came up to us and tapped my shoulder. “I’m sorry…are you Madeleine Sinclair and Maureen Lilac-Lane?” the blonde asked us, both a bit younger than us, maybe 16. “Yes” we said smiling. “Can we take a picture with you?” she the other blonde asked sweetly. I looked at Maureen and she nodded. “Yeah sure” we said and stood up to stand behind them. They took some pictures and then they left. I couldn’t hide my smile. “Okay that was impressive” Annabelle said smirking. “I liked that” i said smiling. “It was nice” Maureen said and we chuckled like little kids. Charles sent me a message. “What are you doing right now?” “Nothing enjoying my free time with Olga, Maureen and Annabelle” i texted back. “Really? Where are you?” he texted with a laughing smiley. “Café de Flore a nice cafe super cute and romantic” i texted back with a smiling emoji.

He left me on read and I was confused but I put my phone away cause Olga was flirting with the waiter so we’d get free coffee which we found extremely funny. “Yolo” i said and she winked at me. “I could never” Maureen said amused. “Me neither” i said laughing. We were in the middle of a conversation and I was telling them something about the portrait I was having in my head and wanted to paint as soon as we’re back in Berlin. They listened to me and we talked about it until I saw how Olga jaw dropped and her eyes widened, she looked like she was about to choke on her spit. “Olga?” Annabelle asked sitting next to her. Someone tapped my shoulder and I turned around. I couldn’t believe my eyes and my eyes widened as I saw Charles standing in front of me. “Oh my god” i said holding my hands to my mouth in shock. “Hey” he said casually but with the smile I missed desperately. I stood up snd looked at him in disbelief. “What are you doing here?” i asked shocked but in a good way. “I wanted to see you” he said and I smiled like a little child. “You wanted to see me?” i asked with a wide smile not able to stop it. “Yeah…it’s kinda risky but I…I thought about what you said and Paris and Monaco only have one hours distance” he said and I was speechless. “You came here for me?” i asked speechless. “Of course…” he said looking into my eyes with me not knowing what to say. “I’m speechless” i said covering my eyes with a chuckle. “So you can see him too?” Olga asked in a whisper to Maureen and Annabelle. “You’re here…” i said blushing trying to hide my face and he smiled at me and wrapped his arms around me. “I am” he said laughing while his arms were wrapped around me. I couldn’t stop chuckling. “I need to get some…croissants” Maureen said standing up. “Me too” Annabelle said in a happy mood. “Toilet” Olga said and they stood up and walked inside giggling. “I really don’t know what to say” i said as he let go of me. “I thought I’d surprise you” he said softly and I blushed again. “Oh god” i said embarrassed because I was flushed like a tomato. “Hey…don’t be like that” he said resting his hands on my shoulder. “Wait…what if people spot you?” i asked looking around. “This cafe is secluded and there are only old people” he said laughing and I laughed too. “Good that you told me about this trip and that you have free time right now” he said and I chuckled. “I have some questions” i said still speechless. “Go on” he said and laughed. “How did you make it I mean…did you plan this or was it spontaneous?” i asked him. “After you told me about this trip I thought about coming but I wasn’t sure and when you said that you hoped to see me again I couldn’t help…I needed to see you again and Paris is the perfect place” he said smiling down at me. “I am glad you are here, really” i said smiling at him. “I’m glad to see your smile again” he said and we licked eyes. “I wish I wasn’t on a school trip right now” i said tilting my head. “I also have a plan for that” he said grinning and I shook my head. “Oh no” i said and he nudged me. “I’m staying till Friday” he said and I laughed. “No way” i said stunned. “If I can only meet you like this…I want it to last as long as possible” he said and I looked into his eyes. “You’re sweet” i said with a nod. “How long do you have your free time” he asked smiling. “Until dinner actually…the teachers are quite casual with that” i said proudly. “Would you like to spend some time with me?” he asked smiling in the most handsome and charming way I have ever seen. “Are you joking? I’d love to” i said happily. “Good…If your girls are okay with that I’d like to…take you with me” he said playfully. “They’re not gonna say no…they’re probably in there watching us while laughing and giggling” i said and he looked at the window. “They are…” he said swallowing hard while smiling a little unsure about their acting.

“Oh no…” i said grimacing after 30 seconds of silence with him looking at me. “What is it?” he asked carefully. “This is way too risky for you…people are gonna recognise you instantly” i said shaking my head. “Yeah I don’t care” he said shrugging his shoulders. “I can’t do that to you…I already got you into so much trouble” i said concerned. “I came here for you…not for the people and even if they spot me…I’ll get through it” he said rubbing my shoulders. “Are you sure? I mean we can meet up after dinner too…it’s dark then” i said pointing at him while nodding. “We can do that too but right now I just want to spend time with you” he said and I smiled. “If you say so…” i said still unsure as my best friends came outside again with a big smirk and definitely not planning on hiding it. “Hey…uhm…” i started but Annabelle cut me off. “We already heard it…don’t worry…you can go” she said smirking at me. “Wait…Why…but okay” i said a little confused. “Yeah…you deserve this” Maureen said hugging me and I chuckled. “After all you waited long enough” she added and Olga rolled her eyes. “Ola?” i asked her and she nodded “Yeah go…” she said smiling at me. “Oh take that with you” Olga said handing me a bag with bakery. “You actually bought croissants?” i asked amused. “Yeah…not only croissants a lot more! You need to try the…those with the weird name” she said and I laughed. “They’re probably Tartes” Charles said and Olga snapped with her fingers. “Exactly that…” she said and he laughed. “You are the same girls that were in Monaco right?” he asked smiling. “Yeah” Olga said. “It’s nice to meet you, Madlen told me a lot about you three” he said and I looked at him as he introduced himself like a gentleman and saying my name with his french accent. “Madlen?” Olga repeated smirking. “Actually…it’s nice to meet you too…Madlen told us nothing about you” Olga said and emphasised the Madlen. “Absolutely nothing” Maureen repeated and rolled her eyes. “I think I’ll just introduce myself in the right way…” he said and my jaw dropped a little in admiration. “I’m Maureen” Maureen said holding her hand out. “Charles, as you know, nice to meet you…you’re modelling with Madlen right?” he said charming shaking her hand. “Yeah” she said and I knew she already liked him cause she gave me a thumbs up as he turned to Olga. “I guess Olga” he said looking at Olga before shaking her hand too “You better remember it for later cause I’m gonna make you two a hard time” she said laughing tho we all knew she meant it. “You should definitely try the french toast here…they make it nowhere better than here in Paris” he said and Olga was impressed. “You know what? I will” she said with a hint of friendliness, true friendliness. “Then you must be Annabelle” he said as he turned to Annabelle. “That’s me” she said smiling. “Nice to meet you” he said shaking her hand. “The pleasure is all mine” she said laughing. I smiled at him and then looked away. All three scanned us but were mostly looking at me impressed, impressed that he came, impressed that he was actually here, impressed that he introduced himself and impressed by him. “If it’s okay for you I’d like to take her with me” he said respectfully. They were trying their best to keep everything in. “Just go already” Olga said smirking and I smiled at Charles which he returned. “Take those with you” Maureen said giving me my black sunglasses. “Alright, bye!” i said wanting to get out of this with Charles waving at them. “Have fun” Annabelle said and Olga came up to me. “Do everything I’d do” she said winking at me and Annabelle pulled her back. “Not everything” Annabelle said and I waved at them. “Bye” i said as I left with Charles.

“By the way…if I didn’t say it before, you look great” he said as we walked out of the cafe. “Thank you” i said blushing. I looked around. “What are we gonna do now?” i asked him putting on my sunglasses. “Walking through the Paris” he said softly getting black sunglasses out too. “I think I saw quite everything today” i said amused. “But not with me…I’ll show you some hidden gems” he whispered and I chuckled. I probably didn’t look now as confident as always cause I was constantly looking around and practically hiding myself behind Charles while walking really slow to not stand out or get into trouble. He looked at me behind him. “Don’t worry” he said reassuring as his hand took mine and pulled me right next to him before letting go again. I have never been more unsure and insecure in my life. “We’re in side streets…nothing’s gonna happen” he said chuckling. “I feel like I am the dirty affaire” i said quietly. “You know that it’s not like that…but I don’t mind proving it to you” he said and I shook my head. “You already did…no one ever did something like you for me…coming to Paris for me” i said looking up at him. “Being me has advantages…I got a private jet” he said smirking and I nudged his arm. “You’re famous all over the world…I still can’t believe that I didn’t recognise you back then” i said amused. “You made me curious” he said and I smiled. We walked along the streets and slowly got to a more crowded street. The whole time we walked next to each other I asked myself how I could be that lucky. No one would believe me if I said that me -a girl from Germany- is spending time with THE FAMOUS Charles Leclerc. “How is it being a model?” he asked me and I saw a mocking smirk on his face. “It’s fun…yet it’s fun…but with enough I’m gonna walk for Chanel in about one month” i said smiling excited. “Now that you’re saying it…I have some connections” he started and I stopped and looked at him. “What did you do?” i asked him unsure. “I just played a little around and found a connection to Dior…just in case that you want to improve your future” he said snd my jaw dropped. “Are you insane?” i asked shocked. “Who knows what’s gonna happen in the future? You are really talented and you should definitely think about it” he said turning to face me. I tilted my head and shook it. “Why did you do this? You didn’t had to” i said and he just shook his head. “I know but I wanted to do it…as I said…I want to see you up there” he said and I narrowed my eyes remembering when he said that to me back then. “I can’t” i said and he nodded “Of course you can, I did it because I wanted it and you are gonna accept that after all it is just a connection I am telling you about not a contract I am forcing you in the hands” he said chuckling. “I don’t want to be intrusive” i said to him and he looked down at me through his sunglasses. “You aren’t…you are the greatest and most special person I met in a long time” he said and I smiled. Since when is he handsome too? “And you are actually the most handsome guy I’ve ever met and I met a lot” i said with a nod. “Come on…I want to show you something” he said as we walked to a little store. In there were funky painting and I immediately admired all of them. “I knew you would like it” he said proudly crossing his arm. “Look at all the pictures” i said as I showed him one that was completely filled with different shades of pink. “Funky” he said with his french accent and I chuckled. The next stop we made was at an old bookstore. “It’s giving Lana del Rey vibes” i whispered looking through the book that really gave me Lana del Rey vibes since I adored her. I lived books so it was no surprise I was walking out of the store with a bag of books while he led us to a beautiful park through which we walked.

We talked a lot about my exams and school in general. “It’s calming down now…I only have one test left and that one is in art history, we are gonna paint something but not just something…it can be everything but the task is to paint something that really intrigues you and we should dig deep in our brain and soul” i said amused. “And do you already know what you’re gonna paint?” he asked me while looking at me as we still walked next to each other. “I think yes…” i said softly with a smile while looking into his eyes. “Tell me…” he said and I shook my head. “Nuh-uh…that’s gonna be a secret” i said smirking and he groaned frustrated wrapping one arm carefully around my shoulder to pull me close. “Is this okay?” he asked smiling and I nodded. “Hey…can I tell you something” i said in a happy mood. “Everything” he said smiling. “I…I kinda missed you” i confessed looking at him. “That’s the best thing you ever said to me” he said and I smiled. “To be honest…I missed you too” he said pulling me even closer. I rested my head carefully on against his chest. It was weird…I couldn’t really believe it that this was really happening. Every time I realised that it was Charles I didn’t want to look away from him I wanted to scream around but that would be weird.

We ended up going through the whole park because we somehow couldn’t stop talking and since I still had Olga’s beloved bakeries we started to snack them. “Ils sont si savoureux” (those are so tasty). “Oui, c'est vrai?” (yeah right?). I chuckled it away. It was 5 p.m and we were walking through some streets. “And what happened then?” i asked him excited. “I crashed and wrecked the car” he said laughing. “But they told you that it was a bad idea” i said amused. “I was drunk” he said laughing and I started to laugh too. “Please don’t do this ever again, a ferrari is really expensive” i said amused. “But it’s my favourite car too” he said and I rolled my eyes amused. “I wouldn’t have thought” i said sarcastically. “I’m full of surprises” he said and I just nodded. “You are” i said locking eyes with him for a short second. He told me a lot of stories back when he was younger. “Even my friends asked me about you” he said with his arm around my shoulder. “What did you tell them?” i asked him smiling. “What is your love language?” i asked him smiling. “Love Language?” he asked and I nodded chuckling. “Love Language” “Physical Touch” he said and I chuckled. “Mine too” i said amused. “We’re matching” he said and I smirked. “It’s so good to finally have you close” he said again wrapping his arm tighter around me. “You too…The distance is sometimes…killing me” i said moving my head from side to side. “True” he said and we both looked at each other again.

It was 6 p.m and I had to get back for dinner so Charles walked me to the hotel. “What are you gonna do now?” i asked him smiling. “Going back to the hotel” he said smiling. “Can I call you later?” i asked chuckling. “Of course you can” he said and I smiled at him. “Thanks for today” i said gratefully. “You’re welcome” he said and I waved at him before going back inside. As I closed the door of our hotel room I slid down with my back against it, smiling. “How was it?” Olga asked smirking at me. “Beautiful” i said smiling. “Someone seems quite happy” Maureen said and I couldn’t stop chuckling. “I think Charles Leclerc just made our MADLEN the happiest girl in the world” Annabelle said and her and Maureen laughed. “Shut up” i said not stopping to smile. “Are we still going out tonight?” Olga asked. “No way…I’m soo tired from all the walking” Annabelle said dropping herself on the bed. “Yeah…I need my beauty sleep” Maureen said and Olga shrugged her shoulder. “Fine…I’ll walk to the store down the street to get some drinks” she said and left with Maureen following her so Olga wouldn’t get into trouble. “I just chuckled thinking of Charles as Annabelle smirked at me. “Tell me” she said and I immediately jumped next to her to tell her everything.

I was the whole night up reading the books I got yesterday while walking around with Charles. We were going through a museum. I loved the french style people here had, it was no comparison to Germany. I was wearing Charles’s jacket while we walked through the museum. After the museum we visited the Versailles palace which was magnificent and after that me and my girls had a picnic on a bench at the seine. “So he is staying until Friday?” Maureen asked excited as we two were alone. I nodded. “He is a dream” Maureen said and I nodded chuckling. “And you’re wearing his jacket” she said getting emotional while I was cuddled into his jacket since it was a colder day. “Weren’t you scared that people would recognise you?” she asked handing me her cherry coke. “I was and I still am pretty unsure but I just try to not think about it too much” i said taking a sip. “Just think about his girlfriend” she said devilish. “To be honest…I think that he is under a lot of pressure because of it” i said concerned before adding “She isn’t making things easier for them and they don’t talk much…I think it’s going to break…” i said carefully. “Okay…that sounds awful” she said and I just nodded. We went shopping and bought super cute clothed and I had the chance to improve my style. We walked down the streets with our bags. “What about you and Charles?” Annabelle asked me since the other two were already going without us because we took too long. “He said he would pick me up at the hotel” i said smiling. “Good…I’ll get your bags and you can go” she said as we walked to the hotel. “I hope no one’s noticing” i said looking around. “Trust me…they’re all in the hotel because of the weather and I just saw Stacie’s story everyone is in the hotel” Annabelle said as we were right in front of the hotel. “Great…could you uhm…” i started and she nodded. “I’ll cover you” she said smirking and I gave her a thanking look. “Give me your bags” she said and I gave them to her. “Alright…thanks” i said and she nodded. In that moment Charles stood behind us. “Bonjour ladies” he said and I smiled at him. “Bonjour” i said and Annabelle just nodded. “I’ll go inside…bye” she said and kissed my cheek. “Bye” i said and she winked at me before waving at us to go inside. “So…you’re ready?” he asked smiling and I nodded. “Yup” i said smiling and he started walking with me. “Where are we going?” i asked him smiling. “Since you are studying art history and probably totally into paintings I thought I’d take you to Louvre” he said smirking and I chuckled. “But I am going there tomorrow” i said softly. “But not with me” he said smirking and I chuckled. “Okay” i said smiling and we started walking to the trains in the underground.

I was wearing a wine red top with a collar and long sleeves, boots in the same colour and a white skirt with black check pattern, Charles’s black jacket over my top. “You look great…the jacket is fitting perfectly” he said in a whisper and I chuckled. “Thanks” i said and he wrapped his arms again around my shoulder which kinda gave me butterflies while we walked to the Louvre. Inside I was really stunned cause I’ve never been there and all the art and painting were insane. “You like it?” he asked and I nodded chuckling. “Let me take a picture of you” he asked as I took some pictures with my phone. “You sure?” i asked and he nodded which made me smile as I gave him my phone. I stood right in front of a painting as he took some pictures and then handed it back to me. “Look’s great” he said and I brushed some hair behind my ear.

After we walked through Louvre and argued about some things we walked to the La Galerie Dior. “I’m so excited” i said clapping my hands excited and he chuckled. “It’s just a museum” he said as we walked inside. “It’s not…it’s fashion…fucking fashion…and history…and fucking Dior” i said excited and he wrapped his arm around my shoulder again. “I am shaking” i said as we walked inside. We looked at all the dresses set up there and they were so impressing and I could’ve sworn that I fell in love in that moment. “Look, look, look!” i said pointing at the red dress which was a really special one for me. “You’d look great in it…red is your colour” he said softly and I chuckled. I couldn’t stop taking pictures. As we reached the white dresses I wanted to die, I’d die to wear such a dress. “Unbelievable” i said stunned. It was an unbelievable experience especially as we reached the iconic stairs that we walked up. Charles was following behind me while I found myself adored to all the pretty fashion pieces. “Fashion is a work of art” i said and he laughed from downstairs. Since there also were many teenagers in the museum it was no wonder that a lot of girls ran up to him asking him for a picture or an autograph. As I noticed I walked a little more upstairs so no one could really see me. He took a quick look at me before nodding at them to take pictures, give autographs and answer their questions. I chuckled from upstairs though I was a little scared. I was scared that we wouldn’t find a quiet moment anymore. He followed upstairs to me after he left them and asked if I was okay. “Of course” i said smiling brightly which made him sigh in relief. “That’s gonna be quite hard here” i said softly and he just nodded. “Yeah” he said and I kept admiring all the colourful pieces behind the glass while walking upstairs. I never had such an experience. We reached the thing I was excited most about. The dark rooms with the glitter all over the room, even running down and the dresses in there. I gasped in admiration and we went through it talking a lot and chuckling a lot. Cause it was dark there he placed hus hand on the small of my back which made a shiver run down my spine but also made me smile at him from in front of him. There were also some films and moments projected in the rooms which we watched and I noticed him smiling at me while he watched me. I knew that he wouldn’t understand my admiration but he tried his best and that made me weak even tho I tried not to be.

“But it was a good design” i protested. “It was like in middle ages” he said amused and I boxed his arm. “Shut up! It was good” i said annoyed and he just laughed. “I can’t believe you did this with me” i said chuckling. “Me neither” he said and I laughed. I looked at my phone and noticed that it already was 8 p.m, we spent like 4 ours in both museums and I asked myself how the could fly so fast. “And now?” i asked him smiling. “Dinner?” he asked and I nodded. “I’m down” i said smiling and I dialled Annabelle’s number. “Who are you calling?” he asked looking at me with a smile. “Annabelle…she should excuse me for dinner” i said as I held the phone to my ear. “She really is a good friend if she does this” he said laughing and I just rolled my eyes. I told her about going for dinner with Charles and she laughed but said that she’d excuse me whereupon I thanked her. “We can go…I have a headache” i said smirking and he smiled. “Where do you want to go?” he asked me as he got his phone out. “I don’t know I’m not familiar with the restaurants here” i said walking next to him. “I could show you my favourite” he said smirking and I nodded. “I’m excited to see” i said smirking and he led us to the hotel with me following him. “You’re gonna like it” he said and I chuckled. In the meantime we walked I posted some pictures.

Next part

[april-is]

April 3, 2024: Positivity, D.A. Powell

Positivity D.A. Powell

“Anyway, it isn’t forever,” Chris said, “eventually you’re dead.” And we laughed

Besides, everything is better now. Not us but implants, blenders, children, heart attacks. There’s never been a better time to be alive than when you are. If you are. Black-throated blue warbler says chewchewchewchewchewww drawing the last chew out like a sucking drainpipe to say he has mated and is satisfied. Say what you will about that. His joy is uncontainable

and yet it has a form, a measure, to make it clear he’s not upset or feeling anxious. And if he’s bragging, well, it’s no shame to brag that you’re happy.

Honeybees cavorting on the goldenrod are working toward a common goal they’ll never see achieved. They lay down the walls of their cathedral of honeycomb and will not cope the spire, busy in the present task, trusting that the work continues. I’d like to write a children’s book called everybody dies. Upbeat, of course, and pragmatic. You only got so many days. Don’t think about death; when you’re ready, death will think about you. Go out tonight with your friends, like Chris, who went out big or not at all. Have a ball. Plan ahead.

--

Hear the poet read this aloud.

also by D.A. Powell (shared in year 1 of this project!): [this is what you love: more people. you remember]

More like this:

Overjoyed, Ada Limón

you can’t be a star in the sky without holy fire, Frank X. Gaspar

Today in:

2023: Picture This, Jiordan Castle 2022: Alba, Madeleine Cravens 2021: July, Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz 2020: Poem Beginning With A Retweet, Maggie Smith 2019: Waiting for Happiness, Nomi Stone 2018: United, Naomi Shihab Nye 2017: If You Are Over Staying Woke, Morgan Parker 2016: High School Senior, Sharon Olds 2015: Dog in Bed, Joyce Sidman 2014: Persephone Writes to Her Mother, Tara Mae Mulroy 2013: Hook, James Wright 2012: How to Build an Owl, Kathleen Lynch 2011: Expecting, Kevin Young 2010: The Choir, Luke Kennard 2009: I Come Home Wanting To Touch Everyone, Stephen Dunn 2008: Visible World, Richard Siken 2007: Anywhere Else, Maggie Dietz 2006: After Work, Richard Jones 2005: The Sheep-Child, James Dickey

[psalm22-6]

"John the Jack" is a children's adaptation of Les Mis by Australian clergyman and schoolmaster Stacy Waddy, published in 1915, soon after the outbreak of WWI and the book's proceeds benefited the Red Cross. The book is 104 pages and was printed as Macquarie Streets, Parramatta, New South Wales. It begins by introducing the cast of characters:

People who come into this story: John: A man just out from gaol, after nineteen tears. He is hunted by the police all his life. Javert: The police-inspector who took the lead in hunting John The Good Bishop: Who was so kind to John that he changed John's heart Father Madeleine: This was what John called himself at one time in his life. Petit Gervais: A little Italian organ-grinder. Cosette (or "The Lark"): The little girl whom John saved and made happy. Marius: The man Cosette married in the end. Thenardier and His Wife: The only really bad people in this story. Gavroche: A plucky, witty little gutter-boy Fauchelevent: An enemy of Father Madeleine; but Father Madeleine saved his life.

Here is the book's intro to give you a feeling for the book's tone and messaging:

WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT I am going to tell you the story of a man who found life very hard. His name was John. Everything seemed to be against him, from the time he was born till the time he died; life pressed very hard upon him, and he nearly became a very, very bad man. Only you will hear how, just at the right time, he met a very, very good man; and that changed John; and always afterwards John tried to be very good himself. And he had some wonderful adventures, but he always behaved like a hero; and he was tremendously strong, and could lift great weights, and could climb any wall, and hit the mark with a bullet every time. And while we are telling his story we will hear about other people too who found life press very hard upon them. There is little Cosette, who had no father or mother, and was very cruelly treated by the savage Thenardier and Thenardiess (they are the only really bad people in these stories). And there is Javert, who hunted Old John for years and years—but John saved Javert’s life. And there's sharp, plucky little Gavroche, and Fauchelevent, and the two little stray children, and Marius, and the dear good old Bishop who changed John’s heart. And we shall see what happened at the Bishop's house, and at the Convent of the Petit Piepus, and inside Gavroche’s elephant, and when Marius watched through the peephole into Thenardier’s room. And these things happened—not long, long ago, but only about a hundred years back from to-day. The great Napoleon was Emperor during part of the time; the dear old Bishop knew him; then Louis was king; then Charles the Tenth. And we will hear about the terrible battle of Waterloo, and about the people fighting against the soldiers behind a barricade in the streets of Paris; and about the cruel way the French people treated men in gaol (but our English people were nearly as bad). I cannot say that the things in this story really and actually happened. But at any rate they are just like things that really happened to real people. The man who wrote this story was a great Frenchman named Victor Hugo; and his heart was sorry for the hard life that men like Old John had and Gavroche, and poor helpless little Cosette (but Old John saved her, and at last she married and lived happily with Marius). And Victor Hugo wished to make us sorry for such things too. It is true that things are much better now. But there is much still for us to grieve over; and when we grieve over a thing, then we should try to make it better.

Up through the part with Petit-Gervais, it is a fine adaptation for something aimed at children and includes many details. There is even one whole chapter on Myriel, how he went to Italy because of the "terrible French Revolution," how Napoleon made him a bishop, and the episode with the stolen goods from the Cathedral, which probably would be interesting to children? But no Conventionnel of course haha. Myriel is described like this:

He loved all men; and especially he loved to help people who were in misfortue, even if it was their own fault and they had been wicked.

The book is about as Christian as you would expect. Then we get introduced to Javert and are told:

We must not blame Javert too much [for being suspicious of Mayor Madeleine; he was just what the laws made him. They wanted policemen to be like hounds, who only care to follow a scent and hunt down the man they are chasing like a wild beast. This man had to catch men and put them to prison. 0, Father Madeleine, it will be terrible for you if Javert gets an idea you have been in gaol! You must be very, very careful not to give him any sign that you are John. [. . .] We will see that, in the rest of [John's] life, he could have lived happy and rich if only he would have stopped helping people sometimes, when it showed who he was. For Javert was watching and watching. And Javert was like a tiger to people who had been in gaol. He would have hunted his own father or mother if they had escaped from gaol. He said, ‘If a man has been in gaol, he is absolutely bad. No mercy to such men.’’

There is very little Fantine, predictably. (She is never even named.) This is what we get:

There was a poor woman who had become bad just because she could not get any work. [. . .] One night Javert caught this poor woman; he said she had been making a noise on the street. It was not really her, but a cruel man; but Javert said she must go to gaol for six months. [. . .] Javert said, "Policemen, take her away to gaol." Just then Father Madeleine came in, and he made Javert let her go. Javert was terribly angry and that very night he wrote to the head policeman at Paris and said, "Madeleine is really John, and must go back to gaol."

Then we get the trial at Arras which also has some good book details and also "John's" rescue of the sailor and subsequent escape. Surprisingly there is no Sister Simplice though. I guess they didn't want to teach kids that lying is permissible. Now we get to Cosette:

Cosette was terribly afraid of the dark. No one had ever taught her about the good God and the holy Angels who watch.

John takes Cosette to Paris:

I must say that when John saw that he was sent to gaol again, even though he had been so honest and kind while he was called Good Father Madeleine, he had begun to forget about the Bishop a little, and to have bitter thoughts about men like Javert [. . .] but then God sent him Cosette. And that made him loving again [. . .] So we see that the strong man saved the little child, and also the little child saved the strong man.

John and Cosette escape from Javert into the convent and we even get the coffin escape. Now it is time for Marius's backstory.

Later on we will see that John and Cosette went out of the Convent, and met other people. So now I must tell you about those other people, who were going to become part of John’s life and Cosette’s. If you had looked into that old house where Cosette had left Catherine, you would have found that in one room lived a young man called Marius, who wore very shabby clothes, but seemed to be a gentleman; [. . .] His father had been an officer in the army of the Emperor Napoleon, who was always having wars. After each battle, Napoleon would write down the names of those who fought bravely, and often he wrote, “George Pontmercy has been very brave.” That was Marius’s father.

We do get Mabeuf telling Marius about his father although he is not named. We also get Theodule (unnamed) spying on Marius.

The old man [Gillenormand] screamed out bad words about Napoleon and Marius's father. Marius felt as if he had a whirlwind in his head. Then he shouted bad words about the King. [Marius leaves, refusing to accept his grandfather's money] He thought of his heroic father; and he thought about the King, who did not govern well, and he felt, "If ever I get the chance, I will fight for the people, and drive this King away." This is why Marius was poor.

The book briefly mentions that Marius was in love with Cosette and that the Thenardiers were his neighbors (Eponine is not named). The attempted robbery at the Gorbeau house is recounted, complete with John burning his own arm and Javert offering his hat. Next, we meet the momes.

"Haven't you a father of mother?" [Gavroche] said. "Yes, but we don't know who or where they are." (Now I know who they were. And who do you think were the father and mother of those two little boys? Why, those brutes of Thenardiers! [. . .] But God sent Gavroche to them! And, wasn't it wonderful?

No sir it is not wonderful. Also that wasn't God. That was Victor Hugo. Next. This is a children's book of course so there's lots of repetition and not so subtle foreshadowing, like this comment about Gavroche when he gives the momes bread:

"Surely, if he had grown up, Gavroche would have been a loving many like old John!"

Montparnasse isn't named but of course, we do get the story of his attempt to rob John and the subsequent sermon (since this is quite a Jesus-y adaptation that should come as no surprise. Actually the sermon is surprisingly abridged) and he asks Gavroche to help break his father out of prison. Then it takes a quick turn.

[Gavroche] never saw the little ones after that morning, though he told them to come back to the elephant and he would look after them. And now I must tell you the last adventure of little Gavroche. There was fighting in the streets of Paris. The people hated their King, and got guns, and built up barricades with stones and carts, and fought the soldiers. And Gavroche thought, ‘I must have a share in this. How grand!" [. . .] The fighting was terrible. There was a cannon firing at the barricade; the men inside would not surrender, but determined to die. That poor old man to whom Gavroche had flung the purse, was there, and a bullet went through his head and killed him. He would never want food any more.

Then Gavroche gets killed too. Then it flashes back to John and Cosette. It even mentions the scene with the chain gang. It is very out of order at this point and tells us that John wanted to leave France because he saw Marius and Thenardier and Javert all sneaking around his house. Marius finds out Cosette is leaving.

He thought, "I have lost her; I do not care if I die." At that very moment he got a message from some of his friends, saying, "We have built a barricade; we are going to fight against this King and his soldiers; come and join us." Marius rushed off. It would be a relief to him to fight savagely and die, he felt. It was that very barricade to which Gavroche went. The Captain and the other men there welcomed him gladly.

For some reason this is quite out of order and we are back in time to Gavroche being alive so that he can deliver Marius's letter and identify Javert. We keep getting told that Javert is very brave, such as for facing down Thenardier's gun or not crying when captured. Also Marius kills a soldier and saves Gavroche. Things happen as you would expect, John arrives with the fifth uniform, he secretly frees Javert, now it is time for the end of the battle:

All the men were killed at last but the Captain. He threw away his weapon and said, ‘‘Fire—shoot me!” He folded his arms. He was grand; any man is grand who dies for what he believes to be right. The soldiers made a line opposite him. The sergeant said, “Would you like to have your eyes bandaged?’ “No,” said the Captain. “Take aim,” said the Sergeant. Suddenly a man rose up; it was a friend of the Captain’s; he had actually been asleep in spite of all the noise and danger. He said, “Stop.” The soldiers lowered their guns. He said to the Captain, ‘May I die with you?”’ He stood up by his side. The soldiers aimed and fired. They both fell dead.

Then comes the escape through the sewers, about which the narrator/abridger says "of all the things that Old John did, I think the bravest and most wonderful was the way he carried Marius miles and miles through those drains and got him out safe." Thenardier lets John and Marius out of course.

Suddenly, right in front of him [John] saw—Javert! John did not know it, but this was really a trick of that brute Thenardier. For Javert had been chasing Thenardier, and had seen him go into the grating: and he sat and waited. Thenardier thought, “If I let this fellow go out, Javert did not see it was me who came in, and will not, look for me any more.”’ So he let John out.

Javert and John take Marius home. The narrator continues to encourage John, saying "Oh well done John, well done indeed!" Next is the chapter called "How John Conquered Javert At Last," which is this book's version of Javert Derailed. We are told:

"[Javert] walked on and on, thinking more deeply than he had ever thought in his life. At last he came to the river; and he leant on the railing, thinking. His thoughts were tossing in his mind like waves of the sea, just as John's had been when he had met the old Bishop. And it was the same kind of reason."

Javert is torn between the voices of two people in his head, the head of police and a mysterious person: God.

Javert seemed to see John wearing the ugly dress they wore in gaol, but with a halo round his dead. Javert hated to think it. He wished that John has killed him in the barricade, after all.

Throw in some antisemitism for good measure:

[Javert] could not help feeling that [to turn in John] would be like Pontius Pilate handing over Jesus to the Jews, and washing his hands and saying, "I have nothing to do with his fate."

Javert writes his letter containing "some things that he wanted to tell the head of the police" and goes back to the river.

"Well then, I must not live; I must die" [thought Javert.] And next minute, if you had been there, you would have seen Javert fall into the water. Old John had beaten him at last, not by being clever, but by being good.

That's not good! So Marius and Cosette get married but John leaves the party.

His brave heart seemed to break. He hid his face in Cosette's old clothes. If you had been there, you would have heard terrible sobs. John had defeated Javert, and harder still-- he had defeated every thought of self in his own heart.

Then Thenardier shows up with "one of his daughters." ("The other daughter was dead; poor girl, she was not so bad as the rest.") He tells Marius he wants to go to America to find a gold mine. He tells Marius about John's supposed crime ("Truly the ways of God are wonderful," comments the narrator) and Marius says he already knew about it (even though he never saw John tell Marius about his past.) Marius gives Thenardier the money to go to America "but [Thenardier] did not become a better man. He became one of those cruel men who buy and sell slaves. He is the only really wicked man in all these stories." Then the narrator says hey remember that daughter that I said was not as bad as all the rest? What happened to her? Then he jumps back in time and tells us how Eponine stopped the robbery at the Rue Plumet and died to save Marius. Then the narrator says btw let me tell you what happened to the momes :

I don't know what happened to the little fellows after [the episode with the bread in the garden.] They had to look after themselves, just like Gavroche. Perhaps they grew like him-- knowing a lot of bad things and bad people, but brave and willing and kind. Perhaps they got into prison like Old John; and if they did, perhaps like him they did not become bad, but met kind friends and turned out good true men. Poor little fellows!

Now time skips back and John decides to tell Marius about his past.

I am afraid that Marius was so horrified to know that John was from gaol that he wished him never to come near Cosette again.

Without Cosette, John becomes very sick. The doctor gives him a crucifix which keeps him alive for a while but he is about to die when Cosette and Marius come to ask his forgiveness.

John was gazing at Cosette. He was quite calm. Suddenly he arose, and seemed to be strong. He walked firmly to the wall, took down the little figure of the Saviour on the Cross, laid it on the table and said, "Behold the great Master." Then he sank back in the chair.

To the book's credit I guess they do include that John declined to see a priest.

With his last words he told them where he would like to be buried, and talked about Cosette when she was little, and told them to give money to help poor people. [. . .] He said that from the Invisible World he would watch them. Then as they knelt by him, each holding one of his hands, and choking with tears, he fell back dead, with the light from the old Bishop's candlesticks on the white old face turned up to heaven.

The End.

[earlgreyinpajamas]

00q fic recs: pining!bond

1. whistle and i'll be there by cicer

Two years after the events of SPECTRE, James Bond is living peacefully in Jamaica. He's adjusted to civilian life, sorted out a few of his personal demons, and spent a lot of time pretending he doesn't have any particular regrets.

But a sudden accident forces him to realize that he still has some unfinished business with a certain person back in London. Maybe it's time to get that sorted out.

(In which Bond is repeatedly subjected to the horrific, torturous, mortifying ordeal of being known...but does, in fact, end up with the rewards of being loved.)

~~~

fhsakhf the mundanity of the accident but the enormity of its result for bond1!11!!1!

2.  as permanent as stone cathedrals by pdameron (@slverjohn)      

Q has been in love for two years, six months, and twelve days when James Bond walks away, leaving him with a bleeding head and a broken heart on a dark and noisy London bridge.

~~~

i screamed when bond thought he was too late

3. questions & quarrels by Mlle_Heloise              

When Madeleine returns with Bond to the Pevsner Hotel to find room 12 empty, she starts to see a different side of him. She isn’t sure at first what she has walked into, but after a series of questions and quarrels, Madeleine starts to see everything for what it is.

~~~

i love wingwoman!madeleine

[ldagence-royal]

Princess Madeleine of Sweden arrives for the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden - Storkyrkan Cathedral on June 19, 2010

[believing-is-seeing]

The Cathedral of the Madeleine

Lego model

The Leonardo

December 2022

[kingsbridgelibraryteens]

Literary NYC: A Literary Landmark Honoring Madeleine L’Engle!

[fastesttortoiseintheworld]

Attacks against churches and anti-Christian violence reach record levels in Europe in 2019, yet continue to target magnificent Christian landmarks to this day

“France has been one of the great nations marked by the Christian faith since the dawn of history; and after the fall of the Roman Empire, it was the first nation of the West to declare itself the daughter of the Church, the “eldest daughter of the Church”. For centuries, France made a special contribution to the Catholic Church through the enlightened and heroic testimony of her saints, the doctrinal power of her masters, and the apostolic courage of missionaries …”John Paul II, Fiumicino, May 30, 1980 before the departure to Paris.

Sadly, France has recently experienced a wave of vandalism against Catholic churches, including burning and sacrilege.

Vandals have destroyed crosses, knocked down tabernacles, scattered or destroyed the Eucharist, and broken statues, raising concerns that anti-Catholic sentiment is on the rise in the nation. The french interior ministry  said , "there were 878 attacks on Christian buildings and cemeteries, including 252 in cemeteries, and 626 on places of worship in 2017."

Just than 1,000 incidents of vandalism against Christian structures and cemeteries were documented in France in 2018 alone.

"One religious building is disappearing in France every two weeks."

That is the conclusion of Edouard de Lamaze, president of the Observatoire du patrimoine religieux (Observatory of Religious Heritage) in Paris.

The historic Church of St. Sulpice in Paris was burned down on Sunday, March 17, 2019, shortly after noontime mass.The French Interior Ministry recorded 996 anti-Christian acts in 2019, an average of 2.7 per day. 

Just a smattering of recent church attacks in France include:

·         The fire which devastated St Paul in Corbeil-Essonnes in July 2020; 

·         The vandalism of Notre-Dame, Dijon, in February 2019;

·         The arson attack at Notre-Dame de Grâce in Eyguières, Provence, on Easter Sunday 2019; 

·         The desecrating of the tabernacle of Saint-Pierre in Montluçon, Auvergne, in April 2019;

·         The burning to the ground of Saint-Jacques in Grenoble, Rhone-Alpes, in January 2019;

·         The arson attack at Saint-Pierre du Matroi in Orléans, with ‘Allahu akbar’ scrawled on its surviving walls in July 2018;

·         The vandalism of the holy font and placing of the Koran beside the chopped-off arm of a broken statue by a Syrian woman with an axe at Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, Vézelay, in April 2017. 

In a rare candid moment, German media reported at least 200 cases of damaged churches in the region of Bavaria alone every year.

Edouard de Lamaze, president of the Observatoire du patrimoine religieux (Observatory of Religious Heritage) in Paris, explained that only 15,000 Catholic sites are officially protected as historical monuments, while the other 30,000 buildings are practically left to decay.

A structural fire started in the cathedral's roof area on April 15, 2019, just before 18:20 CEST. Notre-Dame de Paris is a historic Catholic church located in Paris, France. The cathedral's spire had fallen, the majority of its roof had been destroyed, and its upper walls had been seriously damaged by the time the fire had been put out.

The blaze at Notre-Dame de Paris in 2019 was preceded by a fire at the Cathedral Saint-Alain of Lavaur in Tarn, southern France, and followed by fires at the cathedrals of Rennes and Nantes in 2020.

7th of July 2023 In Drosnay, in the North-Eastern area of France, as new violence has erupted in the nation, a 16th-century church was attacked and set ablaze. There is a video available that shows the church being completely destroyed by fire. Police believe this may have been a protest against the teen's death at the hands of a police officer in Paris.

Sources:

[charlotte-of-wales]

Happy 48th wedding anniversary to King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden!

The couple tied the knot on June 19 1976 at the Stockholm Cathedral, having met 4 years prior at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich; Silvia was assigned to be Carl Gustaf's translator during the games. Carl Gustaf acceded to the throne in the following year following the death of his grandfather.

Their engagement was announced on March 12 1976; the King proposed with a 2-carat ring that belonged to his late mother.

Their chosen date of June 19 is a symbolic date for the Bernadotte family and one in which multiple family members have gotten married on, including Carl Gustaf and Sofia's eldest daughter, Crown Princess Victoria.

They have three children and eight grandchildren: Crown Princess Victoria, Duchess of Västergötland (46), mother of Princess Estelle (12) and Prince Oscar (8); Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland (45), father of Prince Alexander (8), Prince Gabriel (6) and Prince Julian (3); and Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland, (42), mother of Princess Leonore (10), Prince Nicolas (9) and Princess Adrienne (6).

[dcbbw]

Hey, I have two question and one request for The Commoner's Wife. How will Drake and Margarite react after they find Liam and Riley naked in Liam's office? And what will their relations be like in the future?

Hiiii, @busywoman! Thank you so much for this ask.

I am currently working on updating chapters of fics from the Whatever Happened To ... files: Discontent, Object of Affection, The Commoner's Wife, The Life We Lived, and the Platinum AU.

Also in the works is a Commoner's Wife one-shot (snippet below):

She and Drake had wanted a small wedding, just family and friends; Drake wanted it outdoors, Riley wanted a small church.  

Except she was now Cordonian nobility. 

Except the country’s King was still single despite his social season.  

Except the county’s leadership needed to show strength, solidarity, and support to not only their ruler, but the world.  

The marriage of Cordonia’s newest Duchess to the well-known Commoner could provide that. It was decided the couple would have a celebrity wedding held at Bossina Cathedral.  

Without their input.  

Drake wanted to ride his horse down the aisle of the church, because that would cool. As fuck.  

That idea was quickly shot down.  

“This is NOT some American western movie!” Madeleine seethed.  

“The cathedral is SACRED GROUND!” Bertrand yelled, his face as red as a beet. 

“The eyes of the entire world will be upon you, Drake. Tradition is best,” Liam offered in a conciliatory tone.  

Drake reluctantly acquiesced.  

Riley’s gown and reception dress was being fashioned personally by Ana De Luca. Her jewelry would be from the Crown’s vaults.  

Drake’s wedding suit from tie to socks and everything between was being tailored by Gieves & Hawkes of London. The esteemed tailors were one of two companies to hold three Royal Warrants of Appointment in both England and Cordonia, a testament to both their craftsmanship and discretion.  

Riley noticed Drake’s withdrawal from the festivities planning; it was gradual and understated, noticed by her and Liam; understood only by Riley. Despite a lifetime in the lifestyle, Drake was still an outsider when it came to events of the Crown. 

She told the Planning Committee that she and Drake would orchestrate the reception, no outsider suggestions necessary. The time of the wedding was changed to 8am to allow for a reception consisting of Drake’s favorite breakfast foods. 

 Riley and Drake would join the guests at the reception by entering the grounds of Valtoria on horseback.  

Little things.  

Riley owed Drake her very life.  

But she was no longer certain she owed him a marriage.  

Of course she did.  

Riley loved Drake enough. She would make it work.