When spring arrived, the Countess had designed that all of us children would go on an expedition to the estate's small lake at the back of the property. The lady's maids and nannies prepared a delicious lux picnic for young and older.

The oldest, Phillipe, who was back for the weekend had been held back from seeking his father out for some hunting causing him to be in a very dark mood.

As became the custom after I met the twins, I had been dressed up by them that day as well.

"She looks like 'une fleurette'." Genevieve smiled across from me, we had all rode in the same carriage while the Countess rode in a separate one. "Phillipe, don't you think so?"

Chantel was leaning over the nanny's lap where I sat giggling as she rubbed her nose against mine, "The prettiest flower in the world!"

Her voice reverberated in the small space and I glanced over at the young master noticing he didn't even flinch as stared out the window of the carriage.

As soon as we came upon the end of the lane, the rest of the way had to be traversed by foot.

As soon as my nanny stepped from our carriage I spoke up. "Descendre s'il vous plaît." My consonants were still a bit rough and I winced a little as I heard the almost 't' sound at the end.

"You'll dirty your pretty dress, Mademoiselle Aubert."

I pouted hoping to use my cuteness but the nanny shook her head, I sighed and looked back towards the shimmering lake not far from where the carriage stopped.

A small dock with a little rowboat stretched from the far right, while a beautiful weeping willow draped its relaxed limbs over the lake's edge on the opposite shores. It was beautiful.

"Bel!"

"Oui c'est joli, Mademoiselle."

The picnic was set out on a large beautiful embroidered blanket that I would have feared to get dirty. I was plopped down in between my two sisters. Chantel immediately wished to share her food with her.

"Chantel, let the nanny feed Estelle."

"Oui, maman."

Chantel's face looked like it was already about to descend into tears, I waved my little hand gesturing for her to lean toward me.

"What?"

As soon as her face was nearby, I gave her a kiss on her cheek. Only wincing slightly when she let out a squeal and pointed to her cheek in excitement telling everyone who already saw what happened.

Genevieve leaned down at my left, "May I have one too?"

I nodded before giving her a kiss on her right cheek.

A merry laugh came from the Countess, a look of pure joy that was rarely seen upon her features, lighting them up so that all were drawn toward her like magnets. Even Phillipe's lips twitched as if he were suppressing a smile.

I set my little plate down and walked over. I didn't have to look behind to see my nanny closely following me as I walked around the quilt's edges until I reached the Countess's side. Her elegant lips pulled up and a flash of teeth could be seen as she leaned down her cheek facing me. I bestowed her a kiss as well and watched as happiness sparked in her eyes before her face returned to its serene countenance. I looked at Phillipe unsure. His eyes seemed yearning while the rest of his body was rigid and turned away, I giggled at him before walking over and patting his shoulder.

When he glanced at me, I knew then he wouldn't lean down and I wasn't about to start climbing him just to reach his cheek, just because his pride wouldn't allow him to receive a kiss. I patted him again before walking back over to my seat between the twins. A long sigh escaped me as I felt tired just from that little walk, but as the sun peeked out from a cloud it had been hiding behind I felt myself perk up. The clearing by the lake grew a bit more warmer and I couldn't help but smile.

After eating, the Countess walked along the lake's edge, her hand holding mine securely (she had dismissed the nannies for the rest of the afternoon so that they could enjoy the beautiful weather as well). She pointed out some ducks that had begun enjoying the warmer water, along with a line of ducklings that followed after their mother.

A shout from the lane caused the Countess to stiffen.

"Phillipe watch your sisters."

The boy let out a sigh but quickly dropped the stick he'd been using to poke at something in the water with in order to come and grab a hold of my hand.

"Chantal stay off the pier." A nanny that had finished her lunch came over to give a hand, she lifted me into her arms while Phillipe went to drag Chantal off the pier where she still played.

A bark came from behind as the Count's hunting dogs lopped onto the scene. I hadn't seen the Count before as I had gotten the impression he had no care to know another 'girl' in his home. The man stood in gentleman's wear by one of the coach's, a hand upon the bridle of his horse, as he talked to his wife. He turned to see one of the dogs sitting by Genevieve while the other was begging for pets from Chantal. A sharp whistle from its owner caused it to swiftly turn its tail whacking Chantal in the face, she let out a cry and faltered as she fell into the shallows. Thankfully it was not deep enough to be a danger to her, but now she was unfortunately soaking to the bone. The nanny who had walked onto the pier to help set me down before rushing forward to help Chantal out of the water.

"Stay here, mademoiselle Estelle."

Phillipe, who had barely managed to stay dry, stood on the shore, his frame seeming to be frozen as he saw his father approach. The man didn't even glance my way, instead he stood before his son.

"Any injuries?"

Phillipe shook his head, "No, Père."

"Good. Tomorrow morning we will go at first light to hunt, your reflexes are sorely lacking." With barely another word the Count turned on his heels and walked back to his horse.

Phillipe stayed only until his father had rode away, "Stupid girls."

He walked away leaving me behind, I tried to follow him only to fall on my face as my small uncoordinated feet had got caught in some poorly placed ropes.

I looked around to find me oddly alone, I seemed to be forgotten. The maids had cleared away the picnic awhile ago and the only remaining nanny had left with a shivering Chantal. Genevieve oddly couldn't be found anywhere either, perhaps she had gone after Phillipe. I shook my head and sat back to focus on untangling myself from the ropes wrapped around my feet. If I had been my true age of one and twenty I could have gotten free in seconds but with my current constraints of fumbling tiny fingers and uncoordinated limbs I was finding it exceedingly harder than necessary.

A horrible creak of breaking wood came from below me, and I could barely let out a cry before the old pier fell apart beneath me, the ropes tangling up my limbs unable to move. Just as my body hit the water a hand grabbed onto the ropes tying me and I was lifted up and away. Tears pooled my eyes, but through them I could see blue worried eyes staring at me and arms that trembled as they held me tightly as I cried on a shaking shoulder.

When I would later wake from a nightmare that night, I would find a hand patting my head.

"Je suis désolé..." Blue eyes would glint in the low light and I would turn over in my little cot reaching my hands through the slats to tug the shadow closer.

"...pardonne, frère ." I would whisper, a small smile on my lips as my big brother would continue patting my head in comfort until I fell asleep.

Translations:
une fleurette - A little flower
Descendre s'il vous plaît - Descend, please
Bel - beautiful
Oui c'est joli - Yes it is pretty
Oui, maman - Yes mother
Père - father
Je suis désolé - I am sorry
pardonne, frère - forgiven, brother