They love to dance, all 5 of them. They are renowned throughout their kingdom. Marguerite, the oldest, Teri, the second eldest, Serafina, the third, Petronia, the fourth, and the youngest, Cecile.
They all have their virtues.
Cecile is dutiful, Petronia is wise, Serafina is beautiful, Teri is graceful, and the oldest, Marguerite, shines like the sun upon a blue sea, they say.
Their mother, Queen Antoinette of Enna, is a wise and good ruler.
XXX
Serafina runs through the halls, laughing. ''You won't catch me, Cecile!'' she calls behind her, before bumping into Petronia.
''Just what are you doing?''
''Cecile and I are playing catch and tag.'' Serafina says, face glowing, eyes shining.
''Mama said you ought to be sewing.'' Petronia reminds her older sister. ''Where are Marguerite and Teri?''
Serafina thinks. She truly can't remember. Oh, yes. ''They're in the gardens. Why?''
''Mama wants to speak to them.''
XXX
Marguerite and Teri walk into the throne room, curtsey to their mother. ''You sent for us, Mama?''
''You are old enough to find a suitable husband, and as such I have sent for the prince of a neighboring realm to meet you, and whichever one he likes, he will marry.'' Queen Antoinette declares.
Marguerite and Teri look at each other. A marriage?
''Who is the prince?'' Teri questions.
''Prince Phillippe of Celesia. You may know of him. His younger brother's run off and no one knows where he's gone.''
Ah. Marguerite danced with him once at a ball. If she recalls correctly, he wasn't a very good dancer, and she had told him that he ought to get an Ennian dance teacher. She does hope that he has gotten better over the years.
XXX
The prince is received with great fanfare. He greets the queen with almost-annoying delight, and asks where her daughters are, saying that he would like to meet them. So the queen has her three eldest daughters summoned.
Serafina comes in first, dressed in olive green with slashed sleeves and her dark hair tucked into a jeweled snood. She drops into a curtsey, and smiles at him. Too dark, he thinks.
Then Teri walks in gracefully, gowned in pale blue with a pleated, off-shoulder neckline, and blue ribbons in her hair. Philippe studies her. Pretty, but I don't think so.
Finally, Marguerite comes in, and Philippe remembers her as the girl who critiqued his dancing. She wears a pale pink frock with sleeves that puff out around her shoulders, and a skirt that bells out around her tiny waist. Her golden hair falls down her back in loose curls, and she wears a diamond tiara.
Yes. This one will do.