The Winter Breeze

Chapter 2

Joy quickly headed to her room to change for breakfast. She didn't want to be caught by Julian dressed in a riding dress. Joy hoped to change fast enough so that her maids didn't need to fret over her. As soon as she reached for a dress her maids burst in her room and scurried around her and started undressing her and helping Joy into a midnight blue gown and pining her pale blond hair in a stylish hairdo.

  Then finally applying some light makeup and adding a pearl necklace and earrings as a finishing touch. Joy didn't even have enough time to blink and she was transformed into a princess. Joy was glad when the maids left she thought that she was going to run out of air, taking a glance at her long mirror and sighed. She wasn't pampered up like a princess only if a suitor was coming to ask for her hand and showoff. The suitors usually stayed a couple of days and left.

  Sometimes Joy wished that she wasn't a princess. She envied Grace because she always slipped out and escaped from her suitors. But being the oldest meant that she had to set a example which in other words meant being the perfect girl. Joy walked toward the dining room and sat down in her casual spot next to Grace's seat. The servants put her usual cup of steaming chamomile tea and a plate of blueberry muffins.

  O Martha thought Joy smiling to herself, the kind plump cook always fretted that Joy was too skinny. As soon as Joy took a bite of her muffin she almost choked when a loud scream erupted the peaceful breakfast.

  "I CAN'T WEAR THIS. I'LL DIE ITCHING MYSELF TO DEATH", Grace screamed storming into the dining room, her ghostly pale servants following behind her like baby chicks. Joy rolled her eyes, her sister can be really dramatic especially over dresses.

  "Joy, can you ask Julian why I have to wear this?” Grace screamed and flung a beautiful shawl with elegant green and gold threads like a dirty rag.

  Joy looked at Grace and raised one eyebrow and gave her why-did-you-disrupt-my-peaceful-breakfast-look but she had to confess Grace looked beautiful. Grace was wearing a slim green gown with gold embroidery around the sleeves and hem. Graces hair was curled she was wearing emerald earrings and emerald bracelets.

  "Oh, don't tell me your slippers are too small, no your stockings are too tight, no your gown is too puffy", Joy said in a dramatic voice.

  "Grace you don't think I haven’t noticed that every time there's a suitor is coming there's always something wrong with your cloths", Joy said sarcastically.

   "Yes Joy I'll have to agree with you that's a very strange coincidence”, the Queen said.

   Joy quickly turned around and saw the Queen sit down at her usual spot at the long dining table. The Queen gave a slight nod to one of the servants to pick the green and gold threaded shawl, and asked Grace to sit down. Grumbling something under her breath Grace sat down and started her breakfast. Joy broke the silence.

   "Mother who's the suitor this time mother", Joy asked politely.

   "The Dukes of Leseltowns sons", the Queen answered; there was some uncertainty in her eyes.

   "Isn't he a trade partner of Fathers?” Joy asked.

  "Yes, I think that they visited us three years back", the Queen said.