The Princess's Birthday

[Seneca Lestrange]

Seneca usually liked to steer away from conflict, but with two of those attacked crying and most of the guests being too young or scared to speak, it only seemed sensible that she should be the one to say what had happened. She had a reputation of being good and proper, her cousin would have no reason not to believe what she said.

“I believe it began when Meta told Miss Thorne not to eat from the lemon cakes yet. Miss Mulciber wondered on the reason why we had all these sweets if we could not eat them and then Meta declared that anyone who is not a Lestrange was not allowed to eat any of the food. Any act of unkindness from Gretchen’s part was to try and lighten the atmosphere by urging the guests to enjoy the food anyway.”

Her tale sounded neutral enough, without making it obvious whose side she was taking. In that way, she was merely a witness, rather than someone involved in her cousins’ mess.

  

[Gretchen Lestrange]

Gretchen shot a grateful glance towards her cousin. It was really bad luck Seneca hadn’t been born her sister rather than Meta, and she was sure she would have been much happier if that had been the case. In any event, her arm wouldn’t have been bleeding if it had been her cousin’s party.

She nodded at her governess, holding her handkerchief over the cut to stem the blood. “I didn’t want to embarrass my sister any more by going to find you or Mama, though I see now that that was foolish. I tried to give Meta a chance to correct herself but I wish I had gone to get someone.” Gretchen admitted, a little quieter than normal. She didn’t like admitting her faults, but Meta would get what was coming to her, she knew that much.

  

[Mirella Lestrange]

• With two against one, and the rest reluctant to speak, Mirella could have little doubt that Meta was, in fact, in the wrong. How had it come to this? Mira had been well on track to become a popular Italian socialite, and now she was a glorified child-minder to children who couldn’t even refrain from throwing their food. Perhaps she should have stayed in Italy.
  
  “Meta, I will have to inform your father,” she said frankly.