Thank you all for reading! This chapter much friction is occurring between Alcina and Beatrice. It is up to Lady Daciana and Countess Bogdan to bring them back together.
July 8th, 1930:
The music swelled in the Dance Hall. The orchestra was playing a fast; playful tune. The gentlemen lifting up their lady partners and twirling them about before setting them back down on the floor, and continuing to spin them around and around.
Alcina was out of breath by the time the music had concluded. Curtsying to her partner who gave her a bow. She walked to the side to pluck a drink from one of the servers.
"Alci!"
Alcina turned to find it was Beatrice. She was wearing her hair pinned up, and donned in a pretty blue dress with a matching collar around her swan-like neck. She placed two kisses upon her cheek, smiling her beautiful smile.
"I am so happy to see you!"
"As am I to see you," she replied, her heart relaxing upon Beatrice acting like her same old self.
"I have been wondering where you were. Having fun with the gentlemen, eh?"
"I am only being courteous," Alcina said with a roll of her eyes. "And what about you? Have you managed to dodge those vying eyes?" Her tone harsher; possessive.
"Not with my mother here," Beatrice whispered. "She continues to bring them to me. I do not know how she is able to find me. I swear she has the nose of a hound. Your mother seems to be leaving you alone, though."
"She does not interfere," Alcina said, taking a sip of her drink. "She knows I will make the best choices."
"I envy you for having a mother like Lady Daciana."
"That is ridiculous," Alcina said. "Both our mothers are special and unique in their own ways. There is no need to feel envy."
"I suppose not," Beatrice said, eyeing around the room and giving her a little nudge with her elbow. "Look there. You have certainly captured someone's eye."
Alcina nearly choked on her drink, looking from Beatrice and then around the room.
"Who?" she said, unable to find the person she was speaking of.
"Him." Beatrice pointed, resting her hand on Alcina's shoulder to guide her.
"Is that not Roderick Stanislav?" Alcina said, feeling a shiver run up her spine.
"It is indeed," Beatrice said. "I never realized how handsome he is."
Alcina stared directly at Beatrice. Those words ringing harshly in her ears, and then the look she was giving him was like stakes being thrust into her heart. She could not bare the sight of it, but found she could not move away from her friend.
"Ready or not here he comes," Beatrice giggled.
"Beatrice, can we—"
"Lady Beatrice and Miss Alcina."
"Good evening," Beatrice gave him a little curtsy.
Alcina attempted at a smile. Roderick was a young man with bright green eyes, and wearing a fine black tailcoat tuxedo jacket and pants. He gave them both a bow, taking their hands next and kissing the top of it.
He gave Beatrice a warm smile before turning his attention fully on Alcina.
"Miss Alcina, would you allow me the privilege to join me in this next dance?"
Alcina glanced to Beatrice for aid, but her friend. Her love was already approached by another young gentleman.
"I will," Alcina said downheartedly, taking his hand and following him out to the dancefloor. He was a fine dancer she had to admit. Twirling her around and around with ease. Many of the other couples moving out of their way as they swept past. For the moment Alcina was smiling. The music swelling in a final crescendo and abruptly stopping. The dancers all coming to a halt out of breath.
Alcina gave him a curtsy; Roderick gave her a bow.
"Thank you," he said.
"Thank you, Lord Roderick," Alcina said, walking away from him, only for him to snatch her wrist.
She froze in place, staring at him blankly as he placed one last kiss to the top of her hand before he turned away from her.
Alcina watched him leave with his hands clasped behind his back. The small interaction unnerving her in a strange way. When she returned to the outskirts, she picked up her glass she had set down and continued to sip it. Beatrice had not regrouped with her after the dance, in fact, Alcina spied her with a group of younger woman around her own age together. They were laughing and giggling, eyeing around at others when their gaze fell onto her. She smiled at them, but the look she received was not a friendly gesture. They came closer together, whispering; then they would laugh.
Alcina turned away from them, beginning to feel angry that Beatrice would stay by them rather than be with her. So she decided to find her mother. Her last known whereabouts she had been talking to the Countess near the doors that led into the Main Hall. As she pushed her way through the crowd, she heard a familiar harsh laughter from a woman. She was loud. Very loud.
Dame Stanislav.
Clearly she had already come with a belly full of alcohol and was about ready to burst with the amount she was consuming now.
"Ahh, Miss Alcina! Did you enjoy your dance with my son?"
Alcina eyed two women who had been speaking with Dame Stanislav. One was very skinny with sharp features and the other was heavy set with a round pudgy face and a snout for a nose. They both wrinkled their noses at Alcina, like she were a rodent running past them on the street.
"He is a masterful dancer, Dame Stanislav," Alcina answered.
"He is indeed," she said, as if that should have been obvious. "Forgive me I have not introduced you to my two dear friends: Baroness Stratus and Lady Congar."
"So this is Lady Daciana's daughter," Baroness Stratus said, sticking her sharp nose into the air upon giving her a quick inspection.
"Ahh, the daughter of Lord Quentin, correct?" Lady Congar said, speaking directly to Dame Stanislav.
"Yes, the one who ran off. Oh, what a terrible thing for you Alcina, and even more so for your mother. Still things happen for a reason, I suppose."
"I suppose they do," Alcina whispered, wishing her mother would appear to save her.
"Wait a moment. I heard a rumor he had run off with another woman…"
"Shh," Dame Stanislav hissed at the Baroness. "Do not say such things in front of the child." She flashed a nasty smile in her direction, clearly biting her lip in order not to titter.
"We will tell you more later." Alcina thought she had heard Lady Congar say.
Alcina turned away from them, unable to tolerate their gossip and vindictiveness. She caught sight of Roderick walking in her direction. He did not appear to notice her and was obviously walking over to meet his mother.
Not wanting to be forced to dance with him more, Alcina scurried forward and crashed straight into one of the servants carrying glasses of red wine. The contents spilled on the man, the floor and all over Alcina's white dress.
The incident did not cause much grievance for the orchestra or people dancing, but at the end of the dance hall people had stopped talking. Some people were staring at her with a frown while others started to chuckle including Dame Stanislav and her friends.
Tears of embarrassment welled in Alcina's eyes as she fled from the room and straight to her quarters. She ran and ran until she reached her room. From there she ripped off the dress and flung it across the room. After that she collapsed in her bed, allowing the tears to flow down her face. All she wanted to do was sleep, but it was eluding her.
Eventually sleep overcame her. She did not know how long she had been out, but was brought back by someone stroking her hair. She blinked her eyes open, which felt puffy due to her crying, and found it was her mother seated beside her. She was still in her evening dress, her long hair kept down and curled at the ends that rested on her shoulders.
"Mother?"
"How are you?"
Alcina did not know what to say.
"I saw you dancing with Stanislav's eldest, you looked quite happy spinning around and around with him."
"He was quite good…"
"Really? He did not step on your feet, then?"
"No, Mother," Alcina said.
"Well that is one positive of the night, but now we must get to one negative, what sent you flying up here in such a fit of despair?"
"Many things all at once," Alcina answered.
"Now that is a riddle," Lady Daciana mused, continuing to stroke through her child's thick mane. "I know you are quite hardy. Your skin is thick and it would take a lot to upset you, but I cannot quite come up with the whos and the whats."
"Dame Stanislav and Beatrice."
Lady Daciana's brows shot up.
"Really? I mean, I am not shocked about the first one, but the second one has me quite befuddled."
"Beatrice wished to be with her party of ladies. They were not the group I wanted to slip into and decided to find you, but I was then apprehended by Dame Stanislav and her witches."
Lady Daciana snorted in a very unlady-like fashion at Alcina's words.
"Come now, Alci, surely her company was not so vile…"
Alcina glared at her mother.
"Oh, my darling. My dearest, I am sorry I abandoned you, and I am even more sorry about tonight."
"It matters not, Mother," Alcina said, turning back on her side and away from her mother's gaze.
"It matters to me," Lady Daciana said firmly. "That foul ogre of a woman…"
"Mother," Alcina said, her lips twitching up into a smile at her words.
"She is truly lucky I was not present. I would have torn her to ribbons."
"I should have," Alcina said, glancing back at her mother. Her smile gone. A fire burning behind her eyes. "I should have given them all a taste of my wrath!"
"It is tempting to act on such a wonderful thought, but sadly we must uphold appearances, and you would be laying here with incredible guilt if you had spit your venom at Beatrice," Lady Daciana whispered. "You love her too much to hold a grudge. To curse her out when she is only acting as most young ladies do. They get swept up in a wave of popularity, power and being socially accepted. It is a phase everyone goes through including myself."
"You?" Alcina turned around to lay on her back.
"When I was your age, of course. I lost a few close friends because of my immaturity," Lady Daciana said, dabbing her on the nose. "I am so very proud of you for not being drawn into it. You have a stronger spirit than I ever did, my love. You are so very powerful in your own right, because you walk your own path. You who are a natural leader unlike those foolish girls who mindlessly follow the herd." She placed a kiss to her child's forehead. "I am sorry for what happened downstairs."
"You are not the one who should be apologizing, but thank you for coming to me."
Lady Daciana rested her forehead against her child's for a moment, smiling. How lucky she was to have a daughter like Alcina. How grateful she was to God to be given one of such strength.
{…}
The next day Alcina was seated out in the gazebo alone and reading a book. The morning air was cool and comfortable. The birds singing overhead and even a few rabbits scurried past the gazebo and into the hedges. No doubt the gardener would have to kill them if they reached the vegetable garden.
Alcina did not want to think of that and focused on her story. She flipped to the next page when she heard the crunching of stone. She did not bother to look up, assuming it was a servant walking past or her mother, she was surprised when the person walked up to her. She lowered the book and nearly dropped it at the sight of…
"Beatrice?"
She smiled warmly at her, waiting on the steps to be admitted into the gazebo.
"How are you feeling, my dear?"
"I am well," Alcina said. "And you?"
"I am doing very well," Beatrice said. "I was wondering if you wanted to join me into town today? A few of the girls from last night are to join me. I thought you would like to join us."
"No," Alcina said, turning her eyes back down to her book dismissively.
Beatrice frowned at her, perplexed.
"Are you sure, darling?"
"Yes, I am quite sure," Alcina said. "I am sure your new friends would not be pleased to have me tagging along with you, nor you for that matter."
"What makes you say such a thing?" Beatrice said, walking into the gazebo and staring down at her with her hands on her hips. "What has come over you?"
"Nothing has come over me," Alcina snapped, slamming the book shut and rising from her seat. "I would prefer to be alone rather than with a pack of hyenas!" she stormed right passed Beatrice.
"Alcina!" Beatrice shouted out to her, dashing after her which became a game of chase. Alcina running straight into the manor's kitchen door and slamming it shut in her face. Beatrice nearly ran into it if she had not caught herself with her hands.
Inside Alcina was trotting through the kitchen, Main Hall and then up the staircase. When she got to the second floor, Lady Daciana had just exited her study and entered the hall.
"Alci, did Beatrice find you?"
Alcina ignored her mother and ran into her room, slamming the door shut behind her.
"Alcina?" Lady Daciana attempted to open her door only to find it locked. "Alcina what is the meaning of this?"
There was no answer.
"You forget I have a key to this room. Either you open it now or I will open it myself," Lady Daciana warned her.
She waited for a minute and then the door clicked and the door opened. Alcina stood with her hands clasped together in front of her, glaring at her mother.
"What a welcoming look," Lady Daciana said. "May I ask what has you in such a tizzy?"
"No one and nothing," Alcina said.
"Did Beatrice find you?"
"She did," Alcina said. "I declined her invitation to join her in town with her new friends."
"You should have gone, Alcina," Lady Daciana said. "You would have had fun."
"No, I can safely say I would not have," Alcina spat. "The way they looked at me at the party last night. I would be left all alone while Beatrice strode on ahead with them."
Lady Daciana did not react. She just turned away from her child and walked away.
'I will have to call the Countess and make an apology to her for Alcina's rude behavior towards Beatrice,' Lady Daciana thought, rubbing her forehead. Just what she needed. Another fire to put out…
For the remainder of the day, Alcina stood staring out her bedroom window. She did not join her mother for lunch, yelling at Phoebe to 'Get out!' as she attempted to dress her and get her ready.
Lady Daciana only shook her head, listening to Phoebe muttering curses under her breath in Romanian as she walked out of Alcina's room.
She could understand why Alcina was acting so differently. Fear and heartache. She would be at the academy for the next two years without Beatrice. It was a conversation she was constantly having with her, and now she felt completely abandoned by her friend and now rejected.
Alcina was afraid, but of course Lady Daciana would never outwardly say that to her face. She was too full of pride and would curse her out for saying that.
Alcina would not appear weak and fragile.
"She is my daughter…" Lady Daciana took a long sip from her wine, lost in her own thoughts. Deciding she best call the Countess only as she left the Dining Hall did a servant approach her and bow.
Lady Daciana's brows shot right up to whom he announced was awaiting for her at the door.
"Allow her in man!" she snapped.
The man bowed again and ran back to the door to reveal none other than the Countess herself.
"Lady Daciana," she said, smiling.
"Countess Bogdan," she said, bowing.
"Do not bow, and for the love of God call me Dorothy!" she said, placing kisses to her cheeks. "I must apologize for arriving on your doorstep unannounced, but I have something urgent I must discuss with you."
"You are always welcome here at any time," Lady Daciana said. "Please follow me into the recreation room."
The two walked inside, Lady Daciana telling the servant to fetch them drinks, she sat down beside the Countess on the couch.
"What has my Beatrice done?"
The question caught Lady Daciana completely off guard.
"I am not sure I understand," she started. "Beatrice has not done anything."
The Countess was clearly not buying that answer.
"She returned home from town with all her friends except one. Alcina. Now I know she came here to invite Alcina, but clearly Alcina did not join in. Did my Beatrice say something to offend her? I wish to know so I can properly punish my daughter."
"You need not do that," Lady Daciana said. "No this is all on Alcina…"
"I do not understand," the Countess said, listening patiently as Lady Daciana explained.
"Ahh, yes, yes that does make the most sense," she whispered.
"I wish to extend my apologies to you and Beatrice for Alcina's rude behavior. I have yet to punish her, but I assure you she will start by apologizing to you both in person."
"The only thing I require from her is to speak with Beatrice. She is most upset by Alcina's rejection, though I do not blame Alcina for rejecting her. My daughter is not in the best company with those whores. They are no good, and I have warned Beatrice about them, but she does not listen."
"Children…" Lady Daciana sighed.
"Children," the Countess said.
The servant returned with a tray containing a bottle of wine and two glasses. He poured them both their glasses and waited in the corner of the room for further instructions.
"We must think of a plan to get the girls together," the Countess said, tapping her nails against the glass. "Perhaps a dinner at the abbey?"
"I believe it is my turn to host," Lady Daciana said, giving her a smile before taking a sip from her glass.
"Is it?" the Countess said. "Well, if that is the case, what time and day would best fit your schedule?"
"Tomorrow at 6:30."
"We will be there," the Countess said. "Even if it means dragging Beatrice here in chains."
Lady Daciana could not help but chuckle, her gaze averting up to the ceiling. Alcina's room just above them.
"I will need to do the same."
The Countess smirked, raising her glass to her.
"To you Daciana."
"To you…, Dorothy," she answered, clinking her glass against hers before drinking.
{…}
That evening Lady Daciana had been struggling to get Alcina downstairs. Unable to successfully get her to move from her room, though thankfully she did allow Phoebe to dress her, she sat at her vanity like a statue. She would not be moved. No matter if Lady Daciana grabbed her and attempted to haul her up, she would purposefully make her legs go limp and drop to her knees.
"Honestly! You are sixteen not six! Get up immediately," Lady Daciana barked at her, having had enough of Alcina's childish game.
She did not answer.
"You will go downstairs and enjoy the evening with Beatrice and Countess Bogdan, do you understand me? Stop being so selfish and grow up!"
Silence.
Lady Daciana growled in anger, storming out of the room and slamming the door shut behind her. She marched down the hallway and to the stairs fuming.
"My lady."
"What?" she snapped at the man, not meaning to be so rude.
He bowed to her.
"Countess Bogdan and her daughter have arrived."
"Open the door, Chandelar," she said, walking down the remainder of the stairs to meet them.
"Good evening." Lady Daciana put on her best smile, placing a kiss to both Dorothy's cheeks. The Countess doing the same back. "Good evening, Lady Beatrice." Lady Daciana directed her attention to the young woman. "I am very happy you came."
"Thank you," Beatrice said politely.
The Countess shot Lady Daciana a wink, clearly she had had trouble just like herself.
"Please go ahead into the Dining Hall," Lady Daciana said.
"Go on ahead, Beatrice," the Countess said.
Beatrice did as she was told, leaving them alone in the Main Hall. Chandelar taking her coat and hat to hang up on the rack.
"You look distressed," she said. "Pardon my bluntness."
"No, you are correct," Lady Daciana said, looking now like a deflated balloon. All her anger and frustration dissipating. "Alcina is upstairs and refusing to come down. I have been trying for the past two hours, but she continues to be non-compliant."
"Allow me to speak with her, and perhaps you can speak with my Beatrice. She has been a puddleglum."
"Dorothy that is very kind of you, but I would not want to impose that upon you."
The Countess snorted at her remark, giving her wrist a squeeze before she ascended up the staircase. Lady Daciana turned and watched her go thanking her inwardly.
The Countess knocked on several doors before she finally found Alcina's room. The child opening the door in surprise to find the Countess on her doorstep.
"May I speak with you?"
"You may," Alcina said.
Countess Bogdan entered the room and took a seat on Alcina's bed. Alcina did not know how to react to seeing her seated on her bed.
"Do not be shy," she smiled at her, patting the spot beside her. "I wish to chat about Beatrice and you."
Alcina took a seat beside her, feeling a bit awkward to be seated beside the Countess herself. How intimidated she felt to be alone in her presence.
"It astounds me how quickly you both have grown. It feels like only yesterday you were both young girls playing together in the abbey. How time flies and now she has finished at the academy. I suppose that is where this friction is originating from, yes?"
"Yes…, Countess," Alcina said, looking down at the floor. Not wanting to express the other reason.
Countess Bogdan stared at her for a moment, leaning a little closer to her and whispering:
"May I tell you something. Something I have never told anyone not even Beatrice."
Alcina looked to her curiously.
"When I was growing up, I had a very dear friend whom I shared everything with. We were practically inseparable, though we did not go to the same academy, we would write letters to one another," the Countess said with a smile. "Shiloh was her name. She is now a Duchess who lives in Hungary. Anyway, I was accustomed to receiving letters from her every week, but then something happened. The first week I did not receive my usual letter, I really thought nothing of it until the second week passed and there was no letter again. I was devastated by this. Wondering if I had done something wrong, or if I had said something to offend her. It was not until three years later did I finally get a letter from her. She wished for me to meet with her, and so I did… I felt a mixture of anger and joy to hear from her. And when I met her did she profusely apologize to me. How much guilt she felt for going silent. I had asked her why she had done this to me. She answered, 'because she did not want it to hurt'."
"'She did not want it to hurt'?" Alcina shook her head. "What did she mean by that?"
"Shiloh had told me she had moved and had been too much of a coward to tell me. She then went silent, because she knew it would be hard to say goodbye to me. She thought the pain would be lessened if she were to slip away quietly. At first I was unable to forgive her. Three whole years I was left wondering what had happened to her. Why she had left me without a word… I suppose I did not want to forgive her, because I thought she was only trying to appease her own guilty conscience," the Countess chuckled. "I was wrong. She remained in constant contact with me after that, and I was able to forgive her. I suppose my point of this story is you are pushing Beatrice away to alleviate the pain of no longer having her with you, because you love her dearly."
Alcina looked to the floor again, tears glistening in her blue eyes.
The Countess wrapped an arm around her shoulders to comfort her.
"Communication," she went on. "I learned that communication is the strongest stability in any relationship. Without it marriages fail, friendships fail, and wars are started…"
"Is she angry with me?" Alcina asked.
"Beatrice would never be angry with you nor am I," the Countess reassured her.
"I love her so very much," Alcina wiped a stray tear off her cheek. "I do not want to lose her due to my childishness."
"You have not," the Countess said. "She loves you just as much."
Alcina turned her gaze back over to the Countess.
"Thank you, and I am sorry for my behavior."
The Countess gently patted her shoulder.
"Be sure to tell that second part to your mother," she said, rising off the bed. "We best be going downstairs, my dear."
Alcina rose off the bed and followed her downstairs into the Dining Hall. Never had she felt so nervous. Her stomach tightening as they drew nearer and nearer.
The servant opened the door for them, the two entering to find Lady Daciana seated at the head of the table with Beatrice sitting close to her. They were smiling and laughing, clearly the conversation between them had gone well.
"Ah there they are," Lady Daciana said, averting her gaze from Dorothy to Alcina. "I am so very pleased to see you both here." She started to rise out of her seat, Countess Bogdan motioning for her to sit down as she took her place at the opposite end of the table.
The mother's did not speak at first. The two watching their daughters stare at one another silently.
Lady Daciana snapped her fingers for the servants to begin serving them.
Alcina walked behind her mother's chair and directly to Beatrice.
"Beatrice? May I… may I sit beside you?"
"You may," Beatrice said, giving her a bright smile.
Alcina felt her heart leap at the sight, giving her a smile in return and sitting right next to her.
Lady Daciana looked to the Countess, who threw her a wink before taking a sip of her wine.
{…}
When they had finished eating dinner, Beatrice and Alcina went for a walk outside. The two embracing in a hug once they were out of sight of the manor.
"Forgive me, Beatrice…" Alcina said, placing a kiss to her cheek.
"You have done nothing wrong," Beatrice said. "It is I who has been most selfish. I am sorry to have abandoned you. I thought you would enjoy the company of those other girls, but I ignored your feelings and in return I got what I deserved."
"I did, too," Alcina said. "I was just so afraid to be alone. We have always been together."
"And we will always be," Beatrice said, taking both her hands and squeezing them. "Just because we will not see one another does not mean we cannot keep in touch. I am sure my mother and yours will have plenty of parties and dinner invitations."
"Or just a visit," Alcina said.
Beatrice gave her an adoring smile, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"I do hope my mother was not too harsh."
"Not at all," Alcina said. "In fact, she opened my eyes to many things. And what about my mother?"
"Secret," she said.
"What?" Alcina said.
Beatrice giggled.
"Beatrice, what is so funny?"
"I swore myself to secrecy," Beatrice said. "So you best ask your mother if you wish to know the details."
"I will," Alcina said. "I must speak with her on other things anyway…"
Beatrice snatched her attention by placing a kiss to her lips, catching Alcina completely off guard.
"Come," Beatrice said, taking hold of Alcina's hand. "Let's finish our walk before they send a search party out for us."
"Yes, yes," Alcina said stunned, keeping a firm hold on Beatrice's hand as they walked down the path.
From the manor, Lady Daciana and the Countess watched their daughters reappear from the garden. Both smiling and laughing as they had always done.
"Thank you for speaking to Alcina," Lady Daciana said.
"It was my pleasure," the Countess said. "And she will be due to speak with you once Beatrice and I depart."
Lady Daciana raised her brows in surprise.
The Countess gave her another wink as she placed her hat on her head. The two then stepped outside to meet the girls. The evening sky was turning to darker shades of blue and purple.
"Come along Beatrice!" the Countess called.
"Yes, Mother," Beatrice said, the two walking up to their mother's beside the car. "I will give you a call tomorrow."
Alcina could only smile, placing two kisses upon her friend's cheek before she got into the vehicle.
"Have a good evening, Daciana," the Countess said, placing two kisses upon her cheeks.
"You, too, Dorothy," Lady Daciana said, taking a step back as she climbed into the vehicle beside her daughter.
"We will see you soon, Alcina," she said.
"Yes, Countess," Alcina said, waving to her as the driver closed the door and hopped into the driver's seat. Both Lady Daciana and Alcina continued to wave until they were out of sight.
"Ready, my love?" Lady Daciana said, turning around only to stop at the feel of Alcina grabbing her arm. "Alci?"
Alcina embraced her mother, her arms wrapped tightly around her waist and squeezing.
"Alcina," Lady Daciana tittered, patting her arm. "Let us go inside and speak…"
She led her daughter into the recreation room, closing the door behind them so they could have privacy.
"I am sorry for my behavior, Mother," Alcina said. "I have been acting like a spoiled brat."
"It is natural for a mother and daughter to butt heads from time to time," Lady Daciana said, taking a seat beside her. "I am just glad it is not /all/ the time."
Alcina tried to smile at her remark, but found the guilt in her heart was just too heavy.
"I have been pushing you away, too."
"You are getting older," Lady Daciana said. "I did the same thing to my own mother. As much as it is difficult for me to sometimes fathom."
"What do you mean?"
"It feels like only yesterday you were safe in my arms," she explained, pretending to rock a baby. "And now you are sixteen. You have grown so fast, Alci…" Lady Daciana rested her arms down to her sides, taking in a deep breath to control her emotions. "I am so very proud of you. The woman you are becoming."
"It is all due to you, Mother," Alcina said. "You have never given up on me. Never. No matter the tantrums I throw."
"Still throw," Lady Daciana mumbled.
"Mother!"
Lady Daciana chuckled.
Alcina could not help but grin.
"In all seriousness, Mother, I am forever grateful that God gave me you."
"And I am grateful to have you, my love," Lady Daciana said, leaning forward as Alcina kissed her cheek. "Now we best get ready for bed. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow."
Alcina started to groan.
"Do not make that sound," Lady Daciana clucked at her. "This will be a good lesson for you." She started to rise only to feel Alcina's fingers still latched on the sleeve of her dress. "What is it?" her tone calm and patient.
"Can we sit here for just a few more minutes?" Alcina asked, staring up at her mother.
Lady Daciana inclined her head in a nod.
"As you wish, my darling…"