1- Christine

Daria stared intensely at the handkerchief she was embroidering. She bit her upper lip as she listened to the women's conversation on the other side of the parlour and at the same time concentrated on the small flower she was sewing.

"Christine was perfect! When is my niece not? She danced and danced with the Prince who would not dance with anyone but Christine." Daria's mother smiled as she informed her large group of friends of the events of the Ball last night.

"You should have seen it. The Prince spoke most highly of her to me and Christine did so too of him," Her mother stopped for suspense and then added "I am expecting an invite to their wedding any day now."

At once the room was filled with whispers and mutterings. Some women could not believe it, while others nodded knowingly.

Daria looked up and frowned at her mother, her black eyes narrowed behind her thick spectacles. She should not be jumping to conclusions like that, she could get into trouble, and they didn't need anymore of that. If Christine married the Prince it would be very good for them, but the pair weren't even engaged yet! She set aside her unfinished handkerchief and smiled slightly as her friend Eleanor approached her.

"Do you think it's true?" Eleanor asked her, nodding towards the gossiping women.

Daria sighed.

"I hope so. If Christine marries the Prince, it would be very good for our financial state…I know I can confide in you about this Eleanor, you are my dearest friend," My only friend, she added silently.

Eleanor nodded. "You can," she said surely and sat down beside Daria.

Daria took Eleanor's hands in hers. "Ever since father died, we haven't had enough money. And if I were to marry, mother would be all alone and…Do you think I am terrible to be hoping that Christine marries the Prince for our financial safety?" She asked quietly but quickly.

Eleanor considered this.

"You want her to be happy too, don't you Daria?" Eleanor asked, her green eyes wide.

"Of course I want her to be happy…but who says she can't be happy with a rich husband?"

They both chuckled.

"What are you two laughing about so secretly?" Lady Loretta, Daria's mother asked shrilly as she got up from her seat, leaving her friends behind to gossip about the latest Court scandals. She was a large woman, with a double chin and watery blue eyes. She waddled over to them.

Daria rolled her eyes and Eleanor laughed.

"Your mother…ever the nosy bat," Eleanor whispered to her friend.

"We were just talking about the…the…" Daria combed her memory for a valid excuse.

"Christine's party next Thursday, it will be good fun," Eleanor finished with a smile, folding her arms over her chest.

Loretta sniffed. "How could my niece's goodbye party be 'good fun'? I will miss her terribly!" Loretta collapsed in a heap beside Eleanor.

"Yes…we'll all miss her," Daria said, not realising her voice sounded a little bitter.

It wasn't that she hated Christine, far from it. Her cousin was kind and caring, beautiful and gentle, the apple of everyone's eyes. Daria loved her dearly but it was only human to be a little bitjealous of a cousin who held the affections of everyone, including Daria's own mother, wasn't it?

"…I remember when she was only a baby; I suggested the name 'Christine'…" She heard her mother tell Eleanor, who nodded as if she were interested. Daria pretended to ignore them; she went back to her sewing. Her name had been given to her by her father; Daria had been her father's mother's name.

"Oh, that's nice Daria…" She heard her mother say. Something leapt in her heart at those words.A compliment, from her mother?

"Of course Christine's embroidery is impeccable!" Her mother added. Daria felt her heart deflate, she sighed. She caught her pitiful reflection in the mirror; whenever she looked at herself she always compared herself to her beautiful cousin, which she didn't like one bit as she always ended up depressed. Shimmering golden hair that fell to her waist, expressive blue eyes, a button nose, rosebud lips and rosy pink cheeks. She was tall, but not too tall, slender, but not too skinny and graceful. Daria, in comparison, was dull.

'An ugly name for an ugly girl…' She thought, accidentally pricking herself with the sharp needle.

If you've read this please review becausefeedback would be appreciated:-)