Hello all! Thanks again for tuning in! More Beatrice and Alcina in this next chapter.
December 17th, 1925
Alcina hid behind the thick oak tree, daringly peeking out to spot her, but there was no sight of her. She was elusive. Clever. She would not have been surprised to find Beatrice up in the tree and hit her with a snowball.
"Where could she have gone?" Alcina debated whether to begin scouting the area for footprints when she heard the spine-chilling sound of Beatrice screaming. "Beatrice?" The game was forgotten. She stepped out from behind the tree and ran as fast as she could to the screaming. It was a task for her. Wearing heavy boots, coat and pants to get through the knee high snow.
Her breaths were coming out in great puffs as she got closer to the source of the screaming.
"Beatrice!" she yelled out, fresh sweat accumulating over her body. "Where are you?"
Splat!
Alcina gasped as a snowball hit her directly in the face. She stood frozen in shock. The screaming changed to hysterical laughter.
"Oh, Alci!" Beatrice appeared from behind a tree, holding her stomach as she continued to laugh. "You should see your face!"
Rage boiled through the eleven years old veins. It was hot enough to melt the snow around her. She scooped up a handful and chucked it at Beatrice.
Splat!
The snowball hit her directly in the chest.
"Hey!" the fourteen year old was still giggling, picking up more snow and launching it back at Alcina.
Back and forth they threw the snowballs at one another until their gloves had become wet, making their fingers grow numb from the cold.
"Let's go home," Beatrice said. "I bet Aggy has hot cocoa waiting for us."
"That sounds delicious!"
"Race you there!"
"Hey!" Alcina said, Beatrice having started running before saying 'go'. "Wait for me!"
Beatrice was laughing blissfully, offering her hand out to Alcina and running side by side with her.
"Well look at you two!"
The two girls having burst in through the kitchen door. Their faces and noses red from the cold.
"Off with those boots, hats, gloves and pants before you catch a cold."
"Is there cocoa, Aggy?" Beatrice asked.
"Of course there is!" she said with a smile. "Place those wet clothes by the hearth there."
Alcina and Beatrice both wearing almost identical dresses underneath, the two hung their attire up near the hearth and took a seat at the table. Both were barely able to contain their excitement for the chocolate cocoa and fresh cookies.
"Be very careful now," Aggy said, setting the steaming cups and cookies on a tray in front of them. "The cocoa is very hot."
"May I have some milk?" Alcina asked.
"You may, indeed," Aggy said,
"What should we do after this?" Beatrice asked, snatching up a cookie and dunking it into the cocoa.
"Whatever you want," Alcina said, copying Beatrice by dunking her own cookie into her cocoa. Her mother would have never allowed her to do that, but she did not care. If Beatrice could do it, so could she!
"There you are, my dear," Aggy said, pouring some of the milk into her cup.
"Thank you very much!" Alcina said, blowing on the cup before taking a cautious sip. "That is hot! Ow!"
Beatrice snorted out a laugh.
Aggy looked a little alarmed, pouring a tad more milk into her cup.
Once the two had finished with their drinks and cookies, Beatrice led the way up to her bedchamber. From there they would spend hours dressing one another up in different dresses. Placing different makeup on their faces and fixing up one another's hair.
"I am growing bored of this," Beatrice yawned. "What else would you like to do?"
"I am getting a little hungry again," Alcina confessed.
"So that was your tummy rumbling."
Alcina blushed.
"Do not be embarrassed, in fact, let us make a game of it. Let's see if we can steal something without anyone noticing us."
"Is that a good idea?" Alcina said. "What if someone catches us?"
"My mother will give us an earful."
"My mother is scary when she gives me an earful," Alcina said.
"Do not worry," Beatrice said, taking her hand. "This will be fun. Now we must not look too suspicious when we walk downstairs. Act normal."
"Okay," Alcina said, following Beatrice down the hallway. She would look at the window glass to inspect her face to ensure she did not look guilty. Once they reached the stairs did Beatrice come to a halt.
Alcina nearly bumping into her.
"What is wrong?"
"I hear my mother's voice." Beatrice listened closer. "I wonder where she went?"
"Do you think she is in the kitchen?" Alcina whispered.
"I'm not sure," Beatrice said. "Let us see."
"What?" Alcina exclaimed, being yanked down the stairs by a fearless Beatrice.
"Do you hear anything?" Beatrice whispered as they neared the kitchen door.
"No," Alcina squeaked. "I hear pots and pans clanking."
"Good."
"Beatrice, what are you going to grab?"
"What do you want? Cookies?"
Alcina nodded her head guiltily.
"That is going to make you even hungrier," Beatrice said. "How about an apple?"
"Fine," Alcina said.
Beatrice drew near the door, using the tips of her fingers to open it a crack and peer inside.
"I do not see anyone."
"Isn't that strange?"
"This is the servants' tea time before they prepare lunch," Beatrice said. "So here is the plan. I am going to go in and snatch a few things, you wait out here."
"Why? What if someone comes?"
"You will be on the lookout. If someone arrives, I want you to casually back into the door, like this." Beatrice turned around with her arms crossed and hit the door with her back. "Like that."
"What will you do?"
"Don't you worry about me," Beatrice said, poking her gently on the forehead. "I will be back in a jiffy."
Alcina had never felt so anxious. She kept looking left and right down each hall. Thankfully there was no one in sight, but that did not ease Alcina's nerves. She wished Beatrice would hurry and come out of the kitchen already.
"Come on," Alcina whispered, looking back at the closed door. She was tempted to look inside and see how Beatrice was coming along. The pull grew greater and greater until she finally did. "Beatrice?" she called out to her.
"Alcina?"
Alcina squealed out in fright, turning at the sound of the Countess herself. She was looking down at her with a smile. A smile that must have known what was going on.
"C-Countess…"
"Is everything all right?"
"I am fine," Alcina said, hitting her back against the door just as Beatrice had said only it slammed shut, making Alcina jump in fright.
Countess Bogdan quirked a brow, her smile never wavering as she took a step closer to the door.
"Shake your head for no and nod for yes," she whispered.
Alcina stared straight at the Countess, unblinking.
"Is my daughter in there?"
Alcina shook her head.
"Alcina."
Alcina shook her head again.
"Very well…" the Countess conceded, grabbing hold of the doorknob and opening it.
Alcina turned slowly around as the Countess entered inside. She was terrified for Beatrice. Envisioning her with an armload of food and being caught red handed, but there was no sight of her. She had completely vanished.
The Countess eyed around the room, checking under the table, the pantry and in some of the cupboards, but Beatrice was nowhere to be found.
The Countess straightened her posture, turning to look at Alcina, who was looking around with a perplexed countenance.
"The hide and seek game continues," Countess Bogdan said, patting Alcina on the head as she exited the kitchen. "Would you care to join me?"
"Yes, my lady," Alcina said, looking back at the kitchen.
An hour had passed and both still had not found Beatrice. The Countess giving up on the hunt, she left Alcina to search the remaining rooms. Alcina did not have to search very long to find Beatrice as soon as the Countess had left.
She had returned to Beatrice's room to find her seated on the bed and eating an apple.
"Beatrice?"
"Hungry?"
"What happened? Where did you go?"
Beatrice laughed at her words.
"I heard you speaking with Mother outside of the door. So I slipped on my boots and ran outside and hid. I thought I was going to freeze to death, but thankfully you both left the kitchen. I scurried back into the room, placed my boots back in front of the fireplace and slipped my way back into my room."
Alcina did not look happy.
Beatrice smirked at her.
"Apple?" she tossed it over to Alcina, who just barely managed to catch it.
"I thought I was going to get into serious trouble with your mother," Alcina said, taking a seat beside Beatrice on the bed.
"Nonsense. I would be the one who would get wacked," Beatrice said.
"You better prepare yourself, then," Alcina warned her. "She was looking for you."
"She is always looking for me. This is not the first time I have snuck into the kitchen to steal something to eat."
"Has she ever caught you?" Alcina took a bite of the apple.
"Once, but I have gotten better at sneaking about," Beatrice winked at her.
Alcina started laughing.
Beatrice joining in on her laughter.
Unknown to the two girls the Countess had been by the door listening in on them with a smile.
{...}
That night:
Alcina and Beatrice slept in the parlor. Both in separate beds with a small bedside table between them that had a lamp on it. The two talking about school, boys and the 'mean' girls from the academy.
"I wish I could be more like you, Beatrice," Alcina sighed, turning on her side to look over at her.
"What do you mean by that?" Beatrice said.
"You are so fearless. You challenge those girls who tease us, but I have never had the guts to. I always rely on you to speak up first, and soon you will graduate and I will be alone."
"You will not be alone, Alci, you still have Gwen and Lily with you."
Alcina lowered her gaze.
"It will not be the same."
"You should not worry yourself, Alcina," Beatrice said, giving her a smile. "As my mother always tells me." She cleared her throat and spoke in her mother's high proper voice. "'Do not worry about it until you need to'."
Alcina could not help but smile, her impression of the Countess was spot on.
"And besides, Alcina, I will be with you for another four years. You do not need to worry. So tell me what would you like to do tomorrow?"
"Whatever you want," Alcina replied.
"How about ice skating on the lake?"
"I am not so good at ice skating, you know that."
"That is why you need to practice," Beatrice said. "I will help you put on the skates and show you the steps."
"Very well," Alcina conceded.
"Good. We will get up bright and early."
"What?"
Beatrice chuckled, turning off the lamp.
"Goodnight, Alcina."
"Good night, Beatrice."
{...}
Alcina had been in a deep sleep when Beatrice had shaken her awake. She was already dressed ready to head outside with their skates rested on her bed.
"What time is it?" Alcina groaned.
"Time to skate. Hurry up and get yourself dressed."
Alcina moaned in annoyance, throwing the blankets over her head only for Beatrice to yank them away.
"Hurry up!"
Alcina rolled out of her bed, slipping on her clothes and then her winter attire Beatrice had retrieved from the kitchen.
"Come on!" Beatrice said, pulling Alcina along. "When we get to the ice you will see flags that have been put up. Do not go past them."
"Thin ice?"
"Yes," Beatrice said. "Just follow my lead."
Alcina did as she was told. The two slipping out of the house through the kitchen door and outside. The walk took them a good thirty minutes through the snow. No one had made a path to the lake yet, but a few of the servants were to take a vehicle and make a path.
The two were out of breath once they finally reached the lake. Beatrice sitting down in the snow and strapping her skates on by the edge of the lake.
"Tie it like that," Beatrice gave her the instructions. "You got it. Now the second one."
"There," Alcina said. "They feel good and tight."
"Excellent," Beatrice said, offering out her hand for Alcina. "This is the tricky part staying on your feet."
"It is a good thing we are wearing these heavy pants, though I cannot stand them."
"You will be happy to be wearing them, or else you will find bruises all over your back side."
Alcina just rolled her eyes, the two girls helping one another to stand up and slowly make their way onto the ice.
"That's it," Beatrice said, keeping a firm hold on Alcina as they shuffled further out. "Let me know when you are comfortable for me to let go."
"I will," Alcina said, staring down at her feet as she continued to hold Beatrice's hands.
"Think of it like dancing," Beatrice guided her. "You must gain control of your legs and feet. Move your body in a sort of rhythm."
She slowly glided along with one foot in front of the other. Alcina followed behind her and nearly fell if it hadn't been for Beatrice catching her.
"That was good. Keep going."
"It was not that good."
"Nonsense. Let's keep trying…"
The two continued to practice and practice. Beatrice, like Alcina, would fall occasionally, picking herself back up and continuing to practice her form.
Alcina right behind her.
It was becoming a sort of competition. Who could maintain their speed? Who could stay standing the longest?
The two stopped after a little while to catch their breath, the sun now high in the sky since they had arrived.
"What did I tell you?" Beatrice said. "You are already getting the hang of things."
"I know, but my backside is paying for it," Alcina said, rubbing at her bottom.
Beatrice giggled at her.
"Mine, too."
"Are you doing that on purpose to make me feel better?" Alcina asked, watching her skate around again with perfect form.
"No," Beatrice said, making an elegant turn to look back at her. "Why?"
Alcina shrugged her shoulders.
"No reason."
"Would you like to go back soon? I am sure Aggy has cocoa and cookies waiting for us."
"Not quite yet. I want to keep practicing."
Beatrice smiled at her.
Over and over Alcina gained more and more confidence. Soon she was not falling at all. Well, not until she attempted a sharp turn did she land on her butt again.
Beatrice always there to help pick her up.
"Ready to go, Alcina?" Beatrice said, sitting on the shoreline and taking her skates off.
"I am," Alcina said, skating to the shore and falling into the snow.
Beatrice burst out laughing.
"Are you all right?"
"No," she said, flipping herself over on her butt and taking off her skates. "You tied them far too tight."
"Here, allow me."
Beatrice helping her to untie the last part of the skate, the two girls trudged their way back to the abbey. When they had entered inside, they found Aggy waiting for them with cocoa and cookies as per usual.
"Thank you!" they both said.
"Miss Alcina, your mother called earlier. She will be coming to pick you up soon."
Alcina looked quite down at that.
"Thank you for telling me," Alcina said.
"Come on, Alcina, once we have finished our treats here, let's go upstairs and play before she arrives."
Alcina started to smile at her, the two finishing their cocoa and cookies before chasing one another up the stairs.
"Girls!" the Countesses' voice rang out after them.
"Mother?"
"Lady Daciana will be arriving soon. Be sure you have all your things packed up Alcina."
"We will!" Beatrice said, poking Alcina on the shoulder before running up the rest of the stairs, Alcina giving her a little bow of her head before walking up the remaining stairs.
{...}
Lady Daciana arrived later that afternoon to pick Alcina up in the car. The Countess placing two kisses to her cheek in greeting.
"Alcina has been an absolute pleasure. As usual she is welcome back anytime she likes."
"Thank you, Countess," Lady Daciana said.
Behind them Alcina and Beatrice were walking down the stairs with two suitcases.
"Girls," the Countess sighed. "Allow Matthew to carry those out."
A tall, skinny man was walking behind the girls with a worried look on his face. No doubt afraid the suitcases were too heavy and they would crash down the staircase.
"I can carry it, Mother," Beatrice said. "It is not too heavy."
"Matthew will carry them out," her voice stern.
Beatrice finished walking down the stairs and placed the suitcase down.
Alcina followed along.
"Alcina, what do you say to Countess Bogdan?"
"Thank you for your hospitality," she said with a bow.
"As I said to your mother, Alcina, you are always welcome here."
"Thank you, Countess," she said, raising her head and looking over to Beatrice, who looked most upset to see her leaving.
Alcina walked up to her and gave her a great hug, placing a kiss to her cheek.
"See you at school, my friend," she said.
Beatrice could only smile, tears starting to pool in her brown eyes.
Alcina gave her one last look, feeling tears of her own surfacing as she followed her mother out to the car.
"Did you have fun?"
"I did, Mother," Alcina said. "The week went by too fast."
"It always does when you are having fun," Lady Daciana said. "And now you have the remaining time to recover before you return to school."
"I suppose so…" Alcina said, staring out the window at the snow covered landscape.
"What is it, my love?"
"Nothing. I am just tired," Alcina said.
"Then I will keep quiet," Lady Daciana said softly, knowing whatever was on her child's mind would be revealed in time. Never could Alcina keep whatever was bothering her in for too long.
The car ride was a long one due to the roads being slightly slippery. Alcina having fallen asleep halfway home, Lady Daciana was forced to shake her awake once they had arrived.
"Are you hungry?" Lady Daciana asked.
"No, I wish to go to bed," Alcina said, already walking up the staircase.
Lady Daciana watched her go, turning her attention to Phoebe who had just appeared from the kitchen area.
"You look distressed, my lady," Phoebe said.
"It is nothing, my friend," Lady Daciana said. "Alcina is just missing her friend."
"Shall I go up and attend to her?"
"No, Phoebe. I will go up and check in on her in an hour. Thank you."
Lady Daciana climbed the stairs and walked to her study. She kept the door open, wondering if Alcina would make an appearance.
Her child did not.
She continued to pluck away at her endless paperwork. Always paperwork. It made her want to pluck out her own eyes. She worked for another twenty minutes before setting her pen down and rising out of her chair to check in with Alcina.
When she got to her child's door, she found it closed.
"Alcina?" she knocked. "May I come in?"
"Yes…" came Alcina's voice that sounded a bit far away from the door.
Lady Daciana opened the door and entered inside. She found Alcina lying in bed with a book.
"How are you? Dinner should be ready soon."
"I am not that hungry," Alcina said.
"That is hard to believe," Lady Daciana said. "You are always hungry for a good meal."
"I am just not that hungry, Mother, I am sorry."
"You will get hungry later," Lady Daciana said, walking over to the bed and taking a seat on it. "What did you and Beatrice do?"
"We played a lot outside in the snow. The Countess also allowed us to go ice skating on the lake. We could only go as far as the flag and back. I must admit I fell on my backside many times."
"That sounds fun and painful," Lady Daciana said. "Cold, I'm sure."
"I got used to it," Alcina said. "Every time we came back in, Aggy would have fresh cocoa and cookies waiting for us."
"Who is Aggy?"
"The head kitchen maid," Alcina explained, her face lighting up as she spoke. "She is a bit older. On the heavy side, but she is very kind. I only wish I could have stayed longer."
"I know, my love, I know," Lady Daciana grabbed her leg and squeezed to comfort her. "I am sorry you get so lonely here with me, but it makes me so very happy that you and Beatrice have become such great friends."
"We are like sisters," Alcina said, tears beginning to surface in her blue eyes.
"Oh, my darling," Lady Daciana scooted closer to her child and placed a kiss to her forehead. The tears starting to slide down her rosy cheeks. "I love you very much."
"I love you, too," she sniffled. "It is just so hard to say goodbye."
"It is, but your goodbye is not really a goodbye, you know."
"What do you mean?"
"Your goodbye to Beatrice is more of a 'I will see you soon'."
"So what is a goodbye, then?"
Lady Daciana gave Alcina a sad smile.
"A goodbye is a farewell forever."
"You mean when someone dies? That is a goodbye?"
"Yes," Lady Daciana said.
"I do not believe that, Mother," Alcina said, taking Lady Daciana aback by the firmness in her tone. "I believe even in death you get to see your loved ones." Alcina looked up at her mother. Such determination. It made Lady Daciana start to smile.
"Do you think that?"
"You have convinced me."
"Which means we will always be together including Father and the prince.
Lady Daciana held her smile, doing her best to swallow the lump in her throat.
'Quentin… Magnus… Arthur…'
She wrapped her arm around her child, resting her chin atop her thick, black mane.
"What book are you reading?"
"Wuthering Heights."
"Do you care to read it aloud? This is one of my favorite stories."
"Yes, Mother," Alcina said, opening the book and reading from where she had left off.