Dance of Discord 4: A Door & #TDWC

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Saturday, May 3, 2025

Maria Christina swears to Spanish Constitution, by Francisco Jover y Casanova Wikipedia
Maria Christina swears to Spain’s Constitution, by Francisco Jover Casanova Wikipedia 1897

 Welcome back to our new serial story, The Dance of Discord.  We’ve arrived at episode-4.  Here are links to the previous episodes 1: Afoot,  2: A Note , and 3: A Code.

This episode mentions some real-world historic people.  One is Maria Christina of Austria.  In the fictional timeline of this story, she would have fairly recently completed her time as queen regent of Spain, for her son Alfonso XIII.  (Don’t get confused by the history notes.  During that era there were two different queens Maria Christina.)  Read on to learn how she fits into this story.

Thursday Doors Writing Challenge (TDWC)

This episode goes the extra mile.  I’m adding Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors Writing Challenge to this installment.  Who suggested today’s things?  I’m spotlighting Resa McConaghy.  It’s a Resa double-feature today, because I’ve also used one of the door photos that she submitted to the TDWC. 

Resa’s three things are phonograph, the Madame Isaac Pereire rose, and Lenox China.

Now to the new serial story
From last time:

“Will soon sign compact in Washington,” Secret Service Bureau Chief Drummond read the message aloud broodingly.  “I don’t know that the signing of that compact can be prevented, but the signing of it on United States soil can be prevented. You will see to that, Mr. Quick.”

Dance of Discord

Photo credit Resa McConaghy

4. A Door

Not fully relenting, rain drizzled in a gentle patter after the flooding it caused in some parts of town, particularly around the White House.  The sound competed for my attention, but the nearer, visual interruption to my focus won.  The thick white moustache twitched as he spoke.  I watched it, mesmerized.

Outside I heard the familiar voice of Gideon.  In one of his many hats, both figurative and literal, the butler had summoned a horse-drawn carriage for the Secret Service Bureau chief.  Some roads had too much standing water for the older man’s motorcar.

Having instructed Milo Quick regarding his task, Chief Drummond stood and drew on his gloves.

“Dutchess Gattone,” he said to me and made quite a grand bow as he left, although the effect was spoiled for me by the chuckle it elicited from my housemate.

“Well, Felina, you seem to have a new conquest in the chief.  That’s just as well, because you’ll be seeing a lot of him.  At least for as long as a goodly portion of the world is set against us.  All of the Latin American nations, and it’s looking like all of the European countries where ‘romance’ languages like Spanish, French, or Portuguese are spoken…  Our little agency seems outnumbered.  Although, I’m sure you would make an excellent spy if only you could speak…  Oh, don’t give me that look.  I’m not mocking you.  Why, I wouldn’t be in the least surprised if you understood French, Spanish, and a dozen other languages,” Milo remarked.”

Spanish… Elgin spoke Spanish especially when writing letters to Maria Cristina, I thought.  The queen regent!  No, she wouldn’t be that anymore, but still influential, I’d bet.

I tugged at Milo’s sleeve, and then leapt up so abruptly that I almost overturned an ivory-colored Lenox China vase.  Mr. Quick lived up to his name and caught it before it could crash to the floor.  Then I ran from the makeshift office.  I looked back once to ensure that Milo followed.  Puzzled at my behavior he hurried behind me, as I all but flew up the stairs.

Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay
Rudy & Peter Skitterians at Pixabay

“Felina, if you were going to lead me in a merry dance, you could have at least given me time to start the phonograph.  Dutchess Gattone!  What the devil has gotten into you?”

Down the hall I zoomed, ignoring his complaint.  Then up another flight of stairs, finally stopping at a very tall painting.  It depicted a brightly colored musical instrument against pastel coral-colored peonies.

Looking over my shoulder I observed Milo’s blank expression.  Perhaps Mr. Quick was not so quick after all.  Or was it possible that he didn’t know about his late uncle’s special room?

Reaching out, I touched the painting, looking questioningly at Milo the while.  He returned my gaze curiously, but he didn’t seem to understand.

“Does this mean you have a sudden overwhelming desire for lute music?” he asked drolly.  “Oh, wait, that’s a Portuguese guitar, isn’t it.  I always thought that was an odd way to hang this piece.  It should be about a foot higher,” he muttered.  “Come to think of it, there’s something off in how the painting fits into the frame too.”

Again, I pressed against the painting, but harder.  With a soft click, it moved away from its frame to swing inward to a room.  Lightly, I stepped inside.

“Sakes alive!  The old man should have been a spy.  I guess there’s no wonder you’re so sneaky, Felina.  You simply picked up his habits,” Milo teased, and I grunted my annoyance.

Ducking because of the low height of the secret door, Milo stepped up and over the lower part of the carved frame.  Once inside, he moved to the fireplace mantle where several framed photographs were displayed.

“Photographs and miniatures.  Most of these are of the English peerage, and nobles of other countries too.  And more ladies than gentlemen.  Bless my soul, our Lord Elgin was quite a favorite among the fashionable ladies of the beau monde!”

Photo of Edwardian Era princess with pink roses by Teagan via Night Cafe

The room had been closed off since Lord Elgin’s death.  It had not been cleaned.  Gideon, the butler, may have known about the room, but the man had plenty of other more important duties.  Then again, he was a bit superstitious.  Perhaps he feared Elgin’s ghost inhabited the secret room.

Though months has passed, a spicy fragrance lingered from the roses that had dried in their vase.  I went to an enameled letterbox that was beside the vase, to draw Milo’s attention to it.

“The Madame Isaac Pereire Rose,” Milo murmured, leaning down to sniff the still fragrant blossoms.  “I remember Uncle Elgin talking about them at the Botanic Gardens.  He said he sent several young plants to…  Who was it?  Maria Christina Henriette Desideria Felicitas Raineria of Austria — the second wife of Alfonso XII and the former queen regent of Spain!”

He picked up the picture of monarch.  After a moment, he smiled that lazy-looking smile of his.

“She was sympathetic to us.  So was the young king, Alfonso XIII.  I’ll get a message to her.  Well done, Felina.”

♣ ♣ ♣

End Episode 4

♣ ♣ ♣

 Have Felina and Milo found a potential ally?  If they have, will it be enough to help?  Or is it merely a misstep in this dance?

 Stay tuned for the fifth installment of Dance of Discord. Friendly comments are welcome.  Hugs!

♣ ♣ ♣

Of course, here’s the obligatory shameless self-promotion.

Speak Chuckaboo: Slang of the Victorian & Steam Eras

Speak Chuckaboo by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

This volume contains slang from the Victorian Era, as well as the Steam Era, which began before the reign of Queen Victoria, and continued into the early 1900s.  It combines language from the Victorian, Edwardian, and Steam Eras because there was a great deal of overlap.  Have fun speaking chuckaboo.  You’re positively rum ti tum with the chill off!  Simply hunky dory. 

Universal Purchase Links

Kindle:  relinks.me/B0B9W38LDJ

Paperback:  relinks.me/B0B9T8MP1K

♣ ♣ ♣

This is a work of fiction.  Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2025 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved. 

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or provided by free sources, unless stated otherwise.

 

55 thoughts on “Dance of Discord 4: A Door & #TDWC”

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  13. I love your story, Teagan, and Resa’s door…. I have yet to catch up with the plot here… So forgive me Teagan… My time lately has been spent off line… I send you much love though my friend… Your writing skills are always so inventive with many surprises within them.. Lots of love xx Sue xx ❤

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  14. I’m with all who love a secret room, especially when it’s discovered! Nice touch with the lingering fragrance of the roses! Lots of intrigue in a relatively short piece sure makes for a good episode.

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  18. Teagan,

    How cool is it that my submitted painted door became a secret door?

    Very cool!

    I think this makes 2 doors you’ve answered for the challenge. Well done! I’m still working on my 1, but hope to incorporate more than 1 door into it.

    Love the way you used the roses to introduce Maria Christina.

    Thank you for using my 3 things! Such fun here.

    HUGS!

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    1. Thank *you* Resa. You’re right — I’ve done 2, although the other one was very short. I have a 3rd almost done — again very short. It’s really just a comical conversation about slang and abbreviations. Anyhow, thanks for the cool things and door. Hugs winging back to you.

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  21. Flooded streets and a secret door, you have our imaginations running wild today, Teagan. Thanks for helping to promote the TDWC. We’re off to a good start, and this serial is off to an even better start. I hope you enjoy the weekend.

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  23. Very clever and artistic, Teagan. As a child, I created an imaginary world behind an attic door. It was a great escape. 🌞

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  25. Secret doors and all! Felina knows her stuff and the plot thickens. Great idea to combine the Thursday door challenge image as well. I’m Spanish but not at all fond of the Spanish royal family, so I wonder what part they might play in the plot. Thanks, Teagan. Big hugs and loves to the Scoobies.

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