Three Peach Roses

Dream

Chapter 6

That evening the Devereaux sisters dined a few tables closer to the Royal Table and Katerina sent down hot meat to Marianne with a smile.

"You are moving up quickly!" Valentina teased as she slipped in beside Magnolia. Magnolia giggled.

"Just doing our duty!" She replied.

"Did you join on the hunt today?" Valentina asked.

"Yes. It was very enjoyable. Different from going hunting with my Father and brothers." Mahogany said. She was the keen horsewoman out of the Devereaux sisters and had impressed the King and his party with her immense skill horse riding.

"Yes. I heard Sir Alexei and Sir Ivan discussing you. They admired you greatly." Mahogany smiled to herself, she enjoyed compliments and Sir Alexei Glazkov was a very handsome young man.

"Alexei Glazkov?" Mahogany asked lightly. Valentina grinned, she fancied herself and matchmaker.

"Yes that's him. He was very taken with you." Mahogany laughed at this statement. She glanced up to the Royal Table where Alexei had been admiring her laughter. He had remarked it sounded like a Spanish maid, deep, foreign and seductive. Her long, luscious, deep brown hair was glinting in the sunlight and her eyes gleamed like emeralds. She was radiating beauty.

Magnolia stood quickly, noticing the look on her sister's face.

"Mahogany, Marianne. Come. I'm sorry Valentina there is much we must do this evening. Letters, sewing and such." Magnolia said sweetly but sternly. Marianne followed obediently. Mahogany signed but followed too. She knew Magnolia was watching her every move for the love she had for her siblings.

Back in the Devereaux room the girls were having a meeting and preparing to write a letter to their father, Lord Edward.

"Mahogany. I saw the way you looked at Alexei." Magnolia said quietly. Mahogany was silent for a few seconds.

"You do not need to worry, dear sister. Alexei is only my pawn. I will use him as I see fit." Magnolia could see through this lie and Mahogany knew this. "Trust me, Magnolia." She said. The two sisters diverted their attention to Marianne.

"Things went well with Olga?" Mahogany asked.

"Better than I expected. She invited me to sit with her but we only talked about poetry really." Marianne replied.

"That is good. You must get her to like you and trust you. Is there anything else?" Magnolia said, patting Marianne on the hand.

"The relationship between Olga and her sister, Aleksandra, was interesting. It seemed like she relied on her a lot but their relationship was very weak. Aleksandra hates her; she looks at her as if she is in pain just to be near her." Mahogany thought for a minute.

"Then the bond could easily be severed if needs be." She said.

"How?" Marianne asked.

"It's simple. Just tell them both the other has been saying cruel things while the other isn't there. They will not speak about it, just get angry." Mahogany said matter-of-factly. Magnolia raised her eyebrows.

"It's strange how much you know about splitting up siblings!" Magnolia said.

"Well why do you thing I'm the most liked sister?!" Mahogany said winking. The girls giggled quietly.

"There's no point writing a lot to Father, Marianne. Just tell him we are settling in and trying to get into the King's inner circle." Mahogany ordered. She got into bed as Marianne got up to write this letter.

"I am going to sleep, sisters. Goodnight."

Mahogany had a dream that night, which haunted her for the next few days and stuck with her forever. She dreamt she was in a beautiful orchard and a cool breeze was ruffling her hair which was free and blowing down her back.

"Mama!" A little girl was running towards her and jumped into her arms. Mahogany remarked on the little girls innocent beauty, her big green earnest eyes and her long brown hair- just like Mahogany's- scooped up into bunches was tied with peach ribbons.

"Masha! Darling have you found Mama?" A man's voice shouted. It was Sir Alexei. The look on his face made Mahogany stop dead. It was a look of complete adoration. The little girl, Masha, leaned over and pressed her soft little lips to Mahogany's ear.

"Mama. Why do you want to kill me? You kill me by not being with Father. I love you so much, Mama. This is yours, me, Father and my siblings: Malena, Milek and Maya. You kill us all as you kill your happiness." Mahogany woke, her face wet with tears. She thought about the dream and it paralysed her. By the morning, it was hazier however the bitter sadness was sharp and hung around her your days. She was mourning the child she wouldn't have.