Colin glanced at them and went quiet.
Margaret coughed, stealing Jane’s attention from Colin.
They had to get them up their rooms “Let’s take them to their rooms first,” she suggested. Colin nodded and bent to carry Louisa.
But, Louisa's eyes came open. She squinted as they adjusted to the room’s light.
“Aunt Jane,” she squealed, stirring Margaret from her sleep.
Colin and Jane groaned as Margaret yawned and scrubbed at her eyes.
“Where have you been all day?” Louisa accused.Colin snorted and earned a glare from Jane.
“You told us you would be back soon. And you took a whole day. We waited for you.” Margaret was better at her accusation.
Jane let out a rather faint grin, as she knew she already had something to help pacify their agitation.
“Why are you smiling?” Margaret inquired with an offended expression.
Jane bent over to her level, still grinning.
“Because, I got beautiful gowns for my girls,” she proudly announced.
The smiles that lit their faces were proof she had succeeded in distracting them.
Colin seemed to have caught up with her ploy. He shook his head in mock disapproval.
“Did you?” Louisa asked in excitement
“Let me see,” Margaret shouted.
“Yes, let's see them.” Colin gave a small laugh. The sound of it filled Jane’s stomach with butterflies. She flushed when she caught the linger on his face.
“Okay, then.” She raised her hands in mock surrender. “How about we go over to your room and we'll find out, hmm?”
Screams filled the night as Louisa started jumping on the seat, filled with joy while Margaret stood there, smirking to herself.
Colin groaned at Louisa's cheerfulness. “Stop with that fooling around and jumping,” he commanded.
Immediately Louisa sat down back on the settee, smiling sweetly at Colin as if to disarm him.
“What are we waiting for, then?” Margaret asked impatiently, “Shall we go try them on?”
“Yes, we shall,” came Jane's response and as Margaret was about to take a step forward, she added. “However…”
“Oh, what now?” Margaret grouched.
“Now, we have to know if any of the maids are awake.”
“That's not a problem, we'll wake them up even if they're asleep!” Margaret frowned. Jane gave a disapproving shake of her head.
“Lanny is up.” Louisa provided. “She promised to read a bedtime story to me. So, she will be in my room waiting.”
Jane could tell that the girl was fond of her maid. Unlike Margaret who always got into a fight at every chance she got with almost everyone in the house.
“That’s good,” said Jane. “Now go up to Lanny and let her help you try them on.” She finished.
“Then you’ll come down and show us,” Colin added.
