17 - The Banquet

Her banquet would be held in the garden. Cayden escorted her down to meet the other ladies who came, her hand lightly resting on his folded arm. For once, he kept his posture straight. Anemone couldn't hate her brother. He did try hard in his endeavors. When they turned into the garden, she noted how lavishly decorated it was for a garden party.

Ornate tables and chairs were positioned on the sides with dark green hedges that towered over them for privacy. Each table had an umbrella for shade and flowers decorated around the pole. Small candles were snuggled in the vines on the table. Small plates and teacups were set on each placemat. At the end of the room was a long table filled with treats.

There were already girls ranging from ten to fifteen sitting down. Due to the season being spring, each girl wore a pastel colored dress with a full skirt. Anemone looked down at her gold dress and wondered if she had worn the wrong color. Earthy colors were only worn for autumn.

Cayden escorted her to where her parents were. Her father wore a matching outfit like Cayden. Her mother was dressed in a sky blue dress with silver jewelry. She had placed white anemones with baby's breath crowning her flame colored hair updo. Anemone let go of her brother's arm to hug her mother. Her mother beamed at her.

"Anemone! My, you look very beautiful today!"

Anemone smiled back. "Thank you mother. You, as well," she responded before looking around again. "Hello, father," she greeted hesitantly.

Her father nodded to her. "Anemone, why don't you go on and meet the other nobles. It'll be important to make connections now as it will help early on."

Anemone's gaze lowered as she curtsied properly. "Yes, father." Rising up, she turned and walked towards the nearest group. As she reached a group, she curtsied in greeting. "I am Lady Anemone. Pleased to meet you."

There were three girls who sat at the table. The left wore a canary yellow dress with pink mini roses and her brown hair was combed up into two braids with brown eyes. The middle wore a dark green dress with her curly burgundy hair loose down her back with green eyes. The one on the right had on a periwinkle dress and her honeyed hair was loose to her shoulders with ribbon interweaving which flattered her black eyes.

The middle covered her face with a pink fan but not before Anemone saw her smirk. "It's nice to meet you too Lady Anemone. I'm Lady Ruschia. These are my friends, Lady Natalia and Lady Fioriana."

The brown hair girl nodded at Natalia and the other at her name. "Thank you for coming to my celebration. Please enjoy yourselves," Anemone responded graciously as she rose from her curtsey. As she turned to move on, Ruschia stopped her by placing her fan on her arm.

"Since you are new and coming into the Ladies Circle, a fair warning. Don't chase what you can't have," Lady Ruschia said lightly with a smile.

Anemone thought it was strange and furrowed her brows as she nodded. "Thank you, Lady Ruschia." Anemone curtseyed again and walked off.