Page 7 of Kingdom of Dance

The protest slipped out before Zinnia could stop herself. She regretted it as soon as she saw the look of pain—quickly mastered—that flitted across her brother’s face. She knew he was hurt by the distance she’d created between them. They had once been incredibly close. If only he could know how it broke her own heart.

But there were things she needed to ask her sisters, and she couldn’t speak freely with Basil present. It wasn’t that she didn’t feel comfortable to do so. Shecouldn’t. And the strain of trying not to distress Basil with her manner when he asked her direct questions which she couldn’t answer was wearing, to say the least.

“It’ll be nice to have you join us,” she said, in a feeble attempt to cover her slip. “Will Wren join us?”

Basil smiled at the mention of his wife, and Zinnia observed him surreptitiously. With everything else that was going wrong, it warmed her heart to see her brother so happy. The pair had been married for several months now, and he still glowed every time he looked at his queen.

“She would have liked to, but she’s covering for me,” he answered. “She’s heroically meeting with delegates from the Blacksmiths’ Guild so I can dodge my duties to spend time with my sisters.”

Zinnia let out an exasperated sigh. “They’re not complaining again, are they? Surely they understand why the iron at the mine isn’t getting top priority.” She smiled as she shook her head. “I’d feel sorry for Wren if I didn’t know that she’s impossible to fluster. She’ll just sit there with her hands folded, listen silently to everything they have to say, then put them in their place with a few words so well chosen that they won’t realize they were being chastised until they’re halfway home.”

Basil laughed. “She certainly has a way with her.”

They’d reached the door of the nursery now, and Zinnia was met with a sudden wave of sound.

“You’re back!”

“It’s Zinnia!”

“We missed you. Why did you stay away so long?”

“Why did yougoaway in the first place?”

This last question came from Wisteria, the youngest of the princesses. Zinnia grinned as she took in the four-year-old’s indignant expression.

“Ask Basil. He’s the one who made me go.”

“Nonsense,” said Basil smoothly. “I’ve been told on the best authority that I can’tmakeZinnia do anything.”

The conversation swelled around Zinnia, a few voices asking about her trip, but many more demanding her attention as they recounted the minute details of their life in her absence. None of it was what she really wanted to know, but she listened with a fair appearance of interest. A skill she’d learned by necessity with eleven younger sisters.

“So when Dahlia’s toothstillwouldn’t come out, Jasmine tied a string around it, tied the other end of the string to a door handle, and slammed the door shut!” Ivy finished a long-winded tale with relish.

“What?” Zinnia demanded, startled into genuine attentiveness.

Ivy nodded eagerly. “The tooth popped right out, and Jasmine said there was bloodeverywhere.”

Zinnia looked from a grinning Jasmine to a faintly amused Dahlia, and a smile tugged at her lips. “Jasmine was teasing you, Ivy.”

Dahlia nodded. “Zinnia’s right. The tooth came out while I was sleeping.”

“What?” Ivy looked so crestfallen at this revelation, Zinnia couldn’t help laughing aloud.

“Never mind, Ivy,” she said. “If you like, I can do the string and door trick when you get your first wobbly tooth.”

“Don’t you dare!” the five-year-old gasped, the words coming out muffled as she clapped a protective hand over her mouth.

The general laugh that followed did Zinnia’s heart good. She hadn’t really expected anything else, but it was still reassuring to see her sisters all well and in good spirits.

“Have you told her the surprise yet, Basil?” demanded Violet.

“What surprise?” Zinnia asked, narrowing her eyes.

Basil raised his hands defensively. “No need to sound so suspicious, Zin. It’s a good surprise.” He grinned. “Unless of course you’re too tired after your journey, and just want to rest this evening.”

Zinnia scoffed. “Too tired? What am I, some soft nobleman’s daughter? What are we doing this evening?”

“Basil’s throwing you a welcome home ball!” blurted out Cassia, apparently unable to help herself.

---