Christine sat under the shade of her lacey parasol on a red and white picnic blanket. Her curly hair was pulled back as a tight but messy bun, flowing in the summer breeze of mid-day. She sat with her skirts all about, legs underneath her. Christine had laid her white satin gloves and shiny pearls on a square of the blanket. She had also taken off her hat, which Thomas comically wore. Thomas’ smile was so bright that the sun was put to shame. He and Christine’s laughs filled the air in melodic harmony. Both had piercing green eyes and chocolatey red hair. They threw bread into the pond nearby at the ducks and strawberries into each other's mouths. Christine’s laugh slowly quieted and her face grew solemn. Thomas noticed.

“What’s wrong, my love?” He took her hat off of his head. 

Christine crossed her wrists in her lap, “My mother was rather distant today, she even tried to discourage me from joining you for this picnic”

“Why, we always go on a picnic on Sunday afternoons,” Thomas crossed his ankles, his legs out in front of him.

“She took an awfully long time at the confession box at church today as well,” Christine thought out loud.

Thomas let out a chuckle. 

Christine sighed, “I’m serious. I’ll be nervous to go back to the house, I feel very uneasy about this afternoon.”

“What could she possibly say that could ruin our lovely lives together?” Thomas asked. 

Christine’s smile returned but she soon heard her mother’s voice calling her.

“Apparently my name,” she rolled her eyes.

Thomas stood and offered his arm. Christine stood also, parasol over one shoulder, and placed her arm through his. 

“Aren’t we going to clean this up?” she asked.

Thomas shook his head, “later”

They strolled down the green hill lined with wildflowers, taking in all of the sights and sounds around them. 

“Tell me my horoscope,” Christine folded her parasol and hooked it onto her wrist.

“Today you will be visited by providence himself, here to tell you of your many coming blessings. You will-”

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“How do you know providence is a man?” Christine interrupted.

“They, whoever providence may be, will show you your future. You will take a chance and it will pay off…….but far in the future,” Thomas spoke as though he knew every word of his pretend fortune telling was true.

“Christine! Do hurry!” Lacy Octania called again.

“I’m coming!” Christine broke from Thomas, running the rest of the way down the hill. Thomas laughed. Christine’s wild nature was something only Thomas had appreciated. She felt she could be her free and unfiltered self around him and only him. She didn't even feel she could be her true self around her mother. Not since her father’s passing a decade ago. When Christine was seven, her father died of a heart attack. Christine always thought that was why her mother’s heart turned to stone, to prevent her own heart from an incident like that. Her mother’s heart grew colder as the days went by. Christine couldn’t remember the last time her mother had told her ‘I love you’. Lady Octania’s cold demeanor only made Christine want to rebel even more. She stepped through the stone arch leading to the small pathway to the back door.

“Wait here?” She turned to Thomas and kissed him.

He nodded, “Of course”

She walked in and hurriedly brushed grass off of her gingham cashmere dress, as blue as Thomas’ brother’s eyes, which met hers as she straightened up her hair. He smiled and tipped his head. Christine did not smile back.

“Hello James…” she said flatly.

“Good afternoon,” he replied, “you’re messy, as usual”

“You’re haughty,” she walked passed him, “as usual”

“I dare say, won’t my own daughter treat our guests with some kindness?” her mother unexpectedly turned the corner to meet her.

Christine begrudgingly curtsied to James without a word, not letting her eyes meet his. He kissed her hand in the same manner. Lady Octania put on a cumbersomely delighted smile.

“Christine, James has come with his father at a time of unprecedentedness. We are in danger of losing the trust and loyalty of the English people. They do not believe the highest class of our country are living in harmony and fear that we will start a war if they don’t start it first. To aid in the peace (She looked at Lord Waltz) I have decided something,” Lady Octania’s words got further apart as she spoke. 

Her voice trembled slightly. Christine knew what was going to be said. She saw it in James’ occasional tug at the collar of his shirt, her mother’s stiff figure, Lord Waltz rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet. He coughed heavily into his handkerchief.

“I believe what Lady Octania is trying to say is that….well….we’ve decided something,” Lord Waltz talked low and glanced at James, who had closed his eyes and sighed at his father’s reluctance. 

Christine’s cheeks heated up. How cowardly of them all.

“Christine,” her mother said, “you are betrothed to James Waltz and will marry him very soon. This is an effort to please the people and encourage peace. I know this may come as a shock to you, but I’m sure you are mature enough to understand that this is for the greater good”

Christine wanted to cry, but she didn’t. She hadn’t cried since her father’s death. She knew the truth….her mother only hoped for the Waltz’s fortune. They were very rich indeed, but that did not matter so long as Christine stayed with Thomas. The eldest is always the most eligible. Lady Octania had even told Christine when she began to court Thomas, “You do not need his love. Children need love, adults need money” 

Christine did nothing, She could say nothing. She only stared at the wall in front of her. Only one thought came to and filled her mind: Thomas