May 1813

"What in heaven's name happened?" Lady Ingrid Frost spluttered as her youngest charge was marched inside by the housekeeper.

Emma was only eight, but seemed to be going on twenty. She stood looking wildly angry, covered in flour as tears streamed down her cheeks. "He's terrible!" Her chin trembled. "He's mean and-"

"Who?" Ingrid asked, trying not to laugh at the ridiculous sight.

"The young gentleman staying with Lord Nemo, my lady." Mrs. Potts supplied as she chivvied Emma to the staircase.

"He is not a gentleman." Emma added hotly.

Ingrid made a note to speak with Mrs. Potts later so as to keep an eye on her mischievous charge- she was planning something in retaliation. Emma had a quick mind and was quite creative. Perhaps tea with the two children and Lord Nemo would help resolve the matter between them.

Instead, an invitation arrived that afternoon for Lady Ingrid and her young ladies to tea with Lord Nemo. She smirked before sending her acceptance. It seemed that she was not the only one wishing to orchestrate peace between them.

Lord Dakkar Nemo, the younger son of the Maharaja, moved to England after the death of his wife. His country estate bordered her own and they frequently entertained outside of the London season. She was certain the young gentleman staying with Lord Nemo was his nephew.

Arriving at the estate, Ingrid mentioned the lovely gardens and artwork Nemo favored to her girls. Elsa and Anna's manners were of no concern. While Anna could be a bit rambunctious, she usually followed Elsa's example as close as possible. Emma on the other hand, continued pouting in the carriage.

"Emma, please remember that Lord Nemo is our host." She raised an eyebrow and Emma sighed and nodded.

Nemo greeted them all warmly. He kissed Emma's hand and she giggled quietly before accepting his request to escort her to tea. A young boy was waiting in the drawing room. His dark hair looked a little wind swept and he had the forget-me-not blue eyes of Nemo's sister Alice..

"Lady Frost, Miss Frost, Miss Anna Frost, and Miss Emma Frost? May I introduce my nephew, Lord Killian Jones." Nemo smiled.

Lord Killian bowed politely and kissed each of the girl's hands just as Nemo had, until he got to Emma. A sly grin tugged his mouth. "Hello, Cygnet."

Emma pulled her hand away and stomped on his foot before turning and leaving the room. Killian winced in pain and his ears turned pink under the disapproving glare of his uncle. Elsa slipped out to get Emma before they all sat down for tea.

"I do apologize, Lady Ingrid." Lord Nemo said quietly while the children were distracted. "Seems my nephew has taken to calling Miss Emma, Cygnet. He said she looked like a fuzzy baby swan after the flour incident."

She sighed. "I'm not sure what she's planning, but she probably won't let it rest."

Nemo's eyes sparkled. "I would be disappointed if she did."

It wasn't a fortnight later when Emma came back inside beaming. Her hair was missing the ribbons that had tied back her long golden curls and she had a small purple stain on her dress, but nothing else seemed amiss. Lady Ingrid was immediately suspicious.

Mrs. Potts came rushing in looking more harried than usual. "Young Miss? Where did you run off to with that pie?"

"Pie?" Ingrid felt dread and amusement wash over her in equal measure.

"I had tea outside with my dolly." Emma said innocently before her expression turned to horror. "I left her outside!"

Mrs. Potts followed after her out to the garden. She returned shaking her head while Emma happily took her doll upstairs to her room. "I've no idea where the pie plate is ma'am. That was for tomorrow night."

"Which pie, Mrs. Potts?" Ingrid closed her book and tried to keep her composure.

"The blackberry, ma'am." Mrs. Potts cut a look to the stairs and the two of them burst into laughter.

"Well, hopefully this will settle matters between them." Ingrid shook her head. That headstrong girl of hers.

May 1814

Emma sat in the gardens by the blackberries that bordered the lakes. She had a lovely shady spot to read or play. Her new governess at least gave her time in the sunshine if she got through her lessons without too many corrections. With Elsa officially out in society, Emma was expected to stay out of the way as much as possible. That made her happier than when she was put on display and treated like a doll.

Her lessons now included languages, the pianoforte, singing, and drawing. When she grew bored, Ingrid allowed her to study mathematics and the violin. Emma far preferred the violin to the pianoforte any time she was left to her own devices.

Singing drifted over the hedge and she peeked to see who it was. Protected as she was in her spot, she felt at liberty to scowl and roll her eyes. Killian. She was still angry and hurt at how he tricked her the previous summer. The blackberry pie she'd gotten all over him - once again - was worth it. More surprising was how she wasn't punished for it. But then he was likely plotting revenge on her this summer.

"What are you doing, Cygnet?" His bright blue eyes popped over the top of the hedge.

With a huff, she turned back to her book only for him to come up beside her. "I'm reading."

With a frown, he picked up the book and looked at the page she'd pressed a flower into. "This book is bigger than you are."

This time, Emma didn't bother hiding the way she rolled her eyes. "Come with me, Cygnet." His grin only seemed to widen as she scowled at him. "Or don't you like adventure?"

She straightened herself up to her full height and they chased each other through the gardens until they were both winded. Eventually, they were both lying on the grass looking up at her shady tree. Maybe he wasn't as evil as she remembered.

Something fell on her head and she jumped. "It's your crown." He laughed.

Emma reached up and found a flower crown sitting on top of her braids. "What am I the queen of?"

"You're the queen of the fairies." He adjusted the flowers. Standing quickly, he offered his hand to her with a deep bow. Your Majesty, may I have this dance?"

With a giggle, she accepted his hand and he led her in a dance. She had only had a few lessons, but he made it feel effortless. As he spun her about, she realized that he was humming under his breath. For a moment, Emma felt …singular. Somehow this boy made her feel special.

That evening, Elsa helped her press the crown to keep it. Elsa and Ingrid, sometimes even Anna received flowers, but Emma was still too young.

Night was the only time Emma allowed herself to think about the sad events that had brought her to a distant relative. But if her enemy, Killian Jones, could give her flowers, maybe…maybe she could find a family who loved her when she grew up.

May 1820

"Keep your wrist up!" A voice shouted from the field adjoining the Frost and Nemo properties. Emma peeked through the trees and saw Killian and his instructor fencing. By the frustrated look on his face, Killian wasn't doing as well with this lesson.

The instructor put his sword down and said something she couldn't hear and returned to the house. Killian threw his foil to the ground in frustration. "You already know what you're supposed to do." Emma surprised both of them by speaking.

He scowled and blew out a long breath. After a moment, he straightened like a gentleman and faced her. "Miss Emma. How would you know anything about swords?"

She rolled her eyes at him and crossed the distance between them. "You've had these lessons for how many years?" Picking up his foil, she handed it to him. "Close your eyes."

His blue eyes looked like they might burn a hole into her. "I beg your pardon."

Emma stood behind him and touched his hand. "Close your eyes." She whispered.

Together, Killian called out positions and Emma's hand stayed on his wrist as he brought the sword around. When he stopped, he leaned his head closer to hers. "Emma,' his voice was low and soft.

There was a noise from behind them and Killian quickly stepped forward to leave a respectable distance between them. He wouldn't meet her eyes as he stared at his sword. "Your faith in me, Miss Emma, is humbling."

"I should return to the house before I'm missed." She mumbled and took off at an unladylike speed until she was clear of Killian and his lessons.

The following day, Emma sat on her swing by the blackberry bushes humming under her breath. It was a rare break from her lessons this season. Next year, she would be presented to the queen and would find someone to marry her. It was moments like this when she missed her parents most, despite not being able to truly remember them.

"Cygnet?" Killian called out as he walked around from the lake. "Are you alright, lass?"

"How were your travels this year?" She asked as she tried smiling at him.

Worry flickered across his face as he watched her. He was twenty years old compared to her five and ten. He probably thought he was talking to a baby. It was no wonder he always called her Cygnet. A baby swan.

He sat on the grass facing her and plucked blackberries from the bush behind him. "Greece and Cyprus were dazzling. I hope my future wife enjoys traveling because I would wish to return. It's the sort of trip one should share with another."

With a grace she envied, he leapt up and tugged her hands. "Come for a walk, Cygnet. You're looking much too gray on a day like today."

Killian had a way of teasing a smile from even her gloomiest moods. Soon they were laughing around the edge of the lake. Abruptly, he stopped her with his hand in hers and pointed between the reeds. "Look there. It's a swan and her bevy." He whispered.

"Why are we whispering?" Emma asked watching the cygnets be gathered onto their mother's back. Tears burned behind her eyes as she watched.

"Because even cygnets are vicious and bite -" His words were cut off by a yelp as she shoved him into the lake as hard as she could.

She would always be a baby to him.