Chapter Five The Garden-Fairy Dance
Before they could begin rehearsing Valentine’s show, Angelina had something important to do. “I’m going to phone Miss Lilly and explain everything,” she told Valentine. “She’ll understand.”
When Miss Lilly picked up the phone, Angelina poured her heart out. “Princess Valentine needs our help,” she said.
“I’ll speak with the queen today,” said Miss Lilly kindly.
The next morning Angelina arrived at breakfast dressed in her pink tutu. She was ready to begin dancing!
The queen was sitting at the head of the table, surrounded by the three princesses.
“I have an important announcement to make,” she said. “I’ve decided it’s time for a change. This year Valentine will perform a modern fairy dance in the palace gardens—it will be the start of a new tradition!”
Valentine clapped her hands in excitement, while Princess Penelope and Princess Pearl stared at the queen in amazement. “But we always perform Great-Grandmother’s Goose Lake!” they cried.
“Miss Lilly has been telling me all about modern dance,” the queen continued as she delicately buttered a slice of toast, “and I’m tired of your great-grandmother’s old-style ballet.”
Valentine was so happy that she gave the queen a hug, and then she raced out into the palace gardens with Angelina.
From then on Angelina and Valentine practiced every day, and they made up a lively modern dance about two garden-fairy friends. Valentine was the Tree Fairy, and Angelina was the Lavender Fairy. The royal seamstress made them sparkling fairy costumes with beautiful wings to wear for the show.
The Garden-Fairy Dance had lots of Valentine’s favorite gymnastics, along with Angelina’s favorite jetés—leaps—and pirouettes.
“This is so much fun. I’m not worried about making mistakes anymore!” said Valentine as she twirled around the garden, fluttering her wings.
The queen was very impressed by all their hard work. She ordered the royal gardeners to build a special outdoor dance stage, and the royal musicians to play lovely fairy tunes.
On the day of the performance, the queen invited all the ladies and gentlemen of the court to join her in the gardens.
As the music began, Valentine whispered in Angelina’s ear. “I have some very big butterflies in my tummy!”
“Me too,” said Angelina, giving Valentine a hug, and then the two fairies danced onto the stage together. Luckily Angelina and Valentine had practiced The Garden-Fairy Dance many times. Angelina easily remembered all the fairy gymnastics Valentine had taught her, and Valentine performed Angelina’s ballet moves like a real ballerina.
“What a marvelous new dance!” said the queen at the end of the show as everyone clapped. Angelina was amazed to see Miss Lilly sitting with a cane next to the queen—what a wonderful surprise!
“Well done, Angelina,” said Miss Lilly. “You’ve made me very proud.”
After the show the queen invited everyone to a tea party, and then it was time for Angelina to go home.
Valentine hugged Angelina with tears in her eyes. “Please come back soon!” she said, and Angelina promised she would.
The next day Alice came over to hear all about Angelina’s trip.
“Princesses don’t have such an easy life, after all,” Angelina told her. “I like my own life best, right here at Honeysuckle Cottage and in Chipping Cheddar with you!”