A Dangerous Dance [BOOK ONE]

Chapter Eleven

A WEEK LATER, THE FIRST PRINCE arrived. He was from an exotic country very south of High Marland that Althea couldn't pronounce. It had a lot of rolling letters and accents.

The prince did too, his accent so thick they could hardly understand him, let alone pronounce just his name.

He didn't stay for very long. Althea was sure all he did was complain about the cold and how their palace wasn't as grandeur as his back home. He didn't even try to 'solve the mystery,' as King Nathanael put it.

Althea was glad to see him go.

However, it only meant the next prince would arrive soon.

They went through the entire month of November cycling through princes, most of them only there because Althea was the heir and would rule the country after Nathanael. Althea mostly ignored them and focused on her sisters. They celebrated Magdalena's birthday at the end of the month, but Althea couldn't help thinking that Magdalena just looked gray and tired and far too old for turning seven.

Dancing was draining the life from all of them.

Curious enough, she didn't see a lot of Etherson in those days. He still took meals with the Royal family, but that was really the only time Althea saw him. Dark circles began to collect beneath his eyes and a scowl dominated his features. She was intrigued, however, not enough to approach him.

In contrast, she found herself seeing more of Jamie, who was often invited into their sitting room to play games and spend time with the princesses. Althea decided that she liked him very much, as did the other girls. He always had a smile, was always upbeat and trying to keep the girls in good spirits.

He took a particular liking to Dahlia, which was no surprise to any of the other older girls. Dahlia, when asked about this, would only blush and refuse to speak of the subject.

After Magdalena's birthday, the prospect of Christmas wasn't even enough to lighten the mood that had settled on the girls. Hopelessness and dread.

"My, my, you are quite a cheery bunch, I must say." Jamie exclaimed, entering their sitting room to find that a rather gloomy atmosphere had settled over the girls.

Althea was of no help. Her mood rarely strayed from simmering anger or a sort of hopeless gloom.

Immediately, the younger girls brightened up as Jamie closed the door behind him, grinning as he said, "Is it too late to give Magda her birthday present?"

The sun was dull compared to the dazzling smile on Magdalena's face, "It isn't! It isn't!"

"Very well then." Jamie took a seat on one of the couches as Magdalena, and the other younger girls, crowded around him.

Althea even found herself leaning over to watch as he removed twine from a small, square object covered in brown paper. He then removed the paper and all the surrounding girls, including Althea, gasped.

It was a small music box made of polished black stone that looked as though it was made of jet. Delicate swirls of silver peppered with diamonds graced the top and sides. When he opened it, a delightful melody began to play.

"A waltz!" Cried Magdalena.

Jamie nodded, "It isn't much. But I know how much you love to waltz, Magda, so we went out in search of this specific music box."

Althea could hardly believe his kindness. He had no connection or ties to their family, yet he had gone out of his way to...

Wait a moment.

"We?" Althea inquired, looking at him with interest.

Jamie blanched, "Oh dear. It was supposed to be a secret."

She tilted her head, "What do you mean?"

He sighed, "Well, Blake was the one who suggested a music box. And he helped me look for it in the city."

"Oh." Magdalena carefully snatched the music box away from him and ran, giggling, over to her own spot with the rest of the younger girls crowding around her.

Althea wasn't quite sure how to feel about that. Etherson had been so distant of late, yet he helped Jamie find such a personal gift for Magdalena?

"Care for a game of cards?" Holly asked, holding up their battered deck.

Jamie grinned, "If you're prepared to loose again."

"You're on." Joined by Evelina and Faith, Jamie moved to play with them.

Althea pulled herself up from the couch, hiding a groan, and stiffly made her way to the door. It was impossible these days to hide her limp, which stiffened and ached with cold weather and locked up because of the dancing.

"Thea, up, up." She sighed and stooped down to pick Phoebe up, letting out a grunt as she did.

"You're getting too big to be picked up, duckling." Althea exclaimed, tickling her little sister in her stomach.

Phoebe giggled, "No duck! Phoebe."

"That's right, my dear, you are."

At least Althea was smiling as she left the sitting room in search of Etherson.

"Going, Thea?" Phoebe asked, patting Althea's collarbone to get her attention.

Althea smiled, "Hopefully, we're going to say thank you." Phoebe didn't care, so long as she was with Althea. She was happy to just be carried by her sister, and Althea was desperate to keep Phoebe innocent and protected for as long as she could. She deserved to have a happy childhood, to stay a child for as long as possible.

She found Etherson on her way down the stairs, an unexpected place, and she almost stopped herself from calling out to him. He looked so lost in thought that Althea didn't want to bother him.

"Ahem. Lord Etherson?"

It was almost comical to see his startled face as he completely turned around a few steps above her and Phoebe. Althea couldn't help but chuckle a little.

He flashed her a flustered smile with hidden dimples she hadn't known about, "Forgive me, Your Highness."

Althea cleared her throat, suddenly just as flustered as him after that smile, "No, please, I didn't mean to disturb you."

"Was there something you wanted to discuss, Your Highness?"

Althea shifted Phoebe over to her other hip, "No, I just..." she swallowed, "I just wanted to say thank you."

Etherson looked surprised, "Thank you? For what?"

"For Magdalena's birthday present."

Etherson blinked, then sighed and shook his head, "Jamie told you, didn't he? That devil."

Althea nodded, "Well, he didn't mean to tell me. But all the same, thank you. For doing that. It does mean a lot, more than you know."

"Of course, Your Highness."

Silence descended between them like thick clouds. Etherson looked as though he wanted to say something, but was fighting against it.

"Why haven't you tried?" Althea broke the silence first, so curious that she couldn't contain it.

"Tried what?"

Althea gestured vaguely, "Why haven't you tried to solve the mystery, as my father calls it. The invitation was to all the princes of every country."

Eyherson's eyebrows shot up in an amused expression, "If I didn't know you any better, Your Highness, I'd say you're asking me to try."

Blood rushed to her cheeks, "N-no, not all! I was just curious, that's all."

He smiled, flashing those dimples for an instant, "Well, I hope I have quenched your curiosity, Princess. Please excuse me."

She watched him, unabashed, continue the rest of the way up the stairs and out of her sight. The thing was, he hadn't actually answered her question. He had just avoided it by sidetracking her. And she was even more curious than before.

What was he planning?