The party had started when Snow White had drained her third beer in a drinking competition with two merchants and then demanded they both dance with her as her prize. They were, of course, delighted, and he had no recourse but to give them his nod. After that, the whole inn became infected with her energy and soon word had spread throughout the town that a celebration was in progress and more revellers poured in. That had been several hours ago, and now night had fallen outside but the dancers showed no hint of slowing down. He wished they would. He hated the way his shirt clung to his skin and, more than that, he hated the way his new bride’s shirt clung to hers so every man in the room could see the lines of her body. What was she wearing a man’s shirt for anyway?

‘We should leave soon.’

The prince looked down to see Grouchy standing beside him.

‘And you two should be getting to your bridal bed.’

‘My bride doesn’t seem too keen,’ the prince said. ‘She’s more interested in dancing and drinking.’

‘Well, she’s always loved both of those, that’s true. But she’s also been through a terrible time. She seems a little wilder than normal, I can’t deny it, but what can you really expect? And this is her wedding day. Wild and happy have always gone hand in hand with Snow White.’ He slapped the prince’s arm lightly. ‘Don’t you worry, she can do serene and ladylike when she has to. It just doesn’t come naturally to her.’

‘She’s . . . she’s not how Dreamy described her. When she was in the box. When we’d talk about her.’

‘Ha!’ Grouchy snorted. ‘Why do you think we call him Dreamy? He lives in story books that one. Perhaps thinking of her as she really is was too painful.’ The dwarf paused. ‘But she is the kindest, most beautiful person I have ever met. Look at the joy she instils in strangers. It’s a rare gift, she has, the ability to make people smile. She’ll make you very happy.’

The prince watched his beautiful dancing wife as the crowd applauded her. ‘Yes, she will,’ he said. ‘Yes, she will.’