Dancing on Strings

The Missing

"Darling, we hardly see you these days!" Anna-Beth called back, "We're beginning to think you hate us! Or that a certain long-eared charmer has charmed all your attention!"

"Certainly not!" Mai snapped.

"Uh-huh," Anna-Beth said with an annoyingly all-knowing grin.

Mai glared at her, then sighed.

She was right, of course, she needed to actually sit down with those of the court, show her face once in a while when she could. At the same time, she only had so long until morning classes and she wanted to talk to The Black Rabbit.

"Lady Ophelia is back," Anna-Beth added, nailing the coffin shut.

Mai looked at her in surprise, automatically turning and walking towards the stairs to the balcony.

"When did she come back?" she asked.

"Last night. Very late, by the sounds of it. She's due down any minute now," Anna-Beth said, joining her as they walked into the grand parlour.

As one, everyone in the large room rose and bowed to her.

She nodded in greeting as she handed her cape over to a servant and took a seat at one of the dainty tables that was piled with delicate pastries. A teacup was set before her and the drink poured as Anna-Beth sat opposite.

"I assume there's been no change to my sisters in the hours I was across the lake?" Mai asked.

Anna-Beth's expression took on a rare moment of sombreness. "No," she said, "I'm afraid not. But the doctors went up straight after they had breakfast."

Mai nodded as she took a sip of her tea.

She would wait and say hello to Lady Ophelia, catch up with her for a little before joining The Black Rabbit... assuming she could get through the gates again.

"I hear The Midnight Troop is hosting its next show," Anna-Beth put in.

"Already?"

"Seems it will be hosted after the ball tomorrow night," Mai said.

"So soon, I wonder what the theme will be?" Mai said, right before the doors to the parlour blew open and Lady Ophelia came in in a whirl of red hair locked in rolling ringlets and a dress of white and gold, her sapphire eyes seeking Mai out in an instant.

"Mai! Darling!" she cheered as Mai smiled, standing up.

Ophelia swept through the tables, not caring one wit who got struck by her bustle and frills as she threw her arms around Mai and hugged her.

As slender as a willow and nearly six foot, she dwarfed Mai, her presence made even larger by her huge hair and huge personality but court always seemed so much quieter when she was gone. The presence of a thousand people was doubled as soon as she walked through the doors.

"How are you?" Ophelia asked, standing back and holding Mai at arm's length, looking her up and down and giving Mai a dazzling smile in response to she saw and approved of.

"Very well, how are you? I had no idea you were coming back," Mai said.

"Oh! I felt lonely! Thought I'd stop by. I have to show my face at The Season at least once!" Ophelia said as she waved for Mai to sit down and threw her arms around Anna-Beth. "How are you, darling?"

"Just fine," Anna-Beth said, smiling and hugging her before they both sat down.

Ophelia flipped a lock of hair from her eyes and brushed the feathers of her slanted hat aside before snapping her fingers.