Lucia felt like she had forgotten to breathe. She did not like surprises. Especially when it felt like the world was watching her react to them. Her lungs began to burn and she sucked in a breath of air. She smiled and began letting air through her smile. She made sure not to breathe in too deeply and averted her eyes. She surveyed the room noting that the wealthiest and most generous people were in the room. Everyone here was someone.
"We never gawk," her mother said to her and looped her arm through hers.
Lucia let her mother guide her further into the room. They stopped in front of a woman dressed in a black lace dress with a thin silver trimming at the bottom edges.
"Mrs Handhoff," the woman said, "It's a pleasure to have you here."
Lucia saw her mother smile but she knew how she hated being called that. Josephine Handhoff was once the crown princess of Rhodes. Every time someone called her "Mrs", it reminded her of her loss. No one but her husband, anyway.
