A Dangerous Dance [BOOK ONE]

Chapter Seven

THE FREEZING SLEET QUICKLY TURNED TO snow, coating the gardens and the palace. The world was crisp and white, the air so cold it hurt the lungs, and pristine.

The girls could hardly wait to go out and play in the gardens, however, Althea and Blythe wouldn't allow them to leave the palace without bundling up first.

"I may not let them out at all if this keeps up." Althea grumbled, watching as maids tried to coax hats, mittens, scarfs, and cloaks onto the younger girls. They were extremely rowdy, a result of pent up energy and being cooped up for so long.

Blythe gave her a look, "Oh, come on, Al, you know it's tradition. You can't take that away from the girls."

Althea sighed. That much was true. It was tradition in their household to go out in the first snow. Their mother had started it when Althea and Blythe were four, around the time she had been pregnant with Evelina. The outing had happened every year after that, even after their mother passed.

Finally, after twenty more minutes of fighting with the girls, Lady Andrea deemed them warm enough and released them to the gardens.

Squealing, Lenora, Magdalena, and Natalie took off towards the kitchen entrance to the gardens. Althea couldn't help but catch on to their festive mood and began to smile as she went down the stairs. She had gotten away with wearing a cloak and gloves without Lady Andrea noticing, a feat that wasn't too easy.

The palace cook, Mrs. Darby, with her hands on her hips watched the girls rush through to the outside, shaking her head and chuckling to herself.

"I'll have hot cocoa ready for you when you come back in, Your Highness." She called to Althea as Kadence excitedly pulled Althea along.

She flashed Mrs. Darby a quick smile, "Thank you!" She managed to call back before a rush of cold and flurries told her that she was outside now.

It was refreshing to be out of the palace. Footprints of many sizes were already seen on the snow covered paths, and she could hear the giggles and squeals of her sisters bringing the garden to life.

"It feels so good to be outside." Holly exclaimed, holding up her gloved hands to catch a few snowflakes.

Althea laughed, "I never thought I would hear you say that, Hol. You hate the cold."

The younger girl lifted her chin in a dignified expression, yellow-green eyes sparking, "I would rather be outside in the cold than locked inside. And I would rather enjoy a winter sun than no sun at all." She went off in search of Iris, leaving Althea alone.

Althea sighed. Holly had always been opinionated, brash and not afraid to say what was on her mind. She hated dancing, more than most of the girls, and was always the first to voice her hatred of it.

She started to walk down one path, lined with cherry blossom trees that bloomed in the spring and summer. However, the branches were barren and lined with snow. Most of the gardens were barren, as a matter of fact, some plants wrapped in burlap and flowerbeds covered in mulch. Althea wondered if they would see any gardeners, then grinned to herself at the though of seeing Alec, one of the gardeners who fancied Blythe. She always loved to give him a hard time because he was sweet on her sister, but really, she felt guilty.

Althea was the only one who's marriage was of any importance. And society dictated that her sisters could only marry until after Althea was. Blythe was free to marry who she wanted and Althea knew that she wanted Alec.

Without even realizing it, Althea had gravitated towards her favorite spot in the gardens. The three swans fountain, it had been her mother's favorite spot too.