Alice looked bereft, but said, “Other than dumping them down a well, I have no idea.” Alice laughed. “Oh, that was terrible, terrible. Of course, I do not mean that. They are as adorable as puppies, but I am just about at my wits end withthem.”
It was then the two boys bounced up from the floor, where they had been playing, and began to race around the room in ever increasing larger circles. As they passed by Emily, she caught them in her arms, and twirled them around to loud appreciative squeals. The boys threw their arms around her neck and demanded morespins.
Alice got up from the floor and went over and disengaged the two fromEmily.
“Enough, you two. Miss Emily is a guest not a rocking horse. Time for you two to calm down for aspell.”
“How about if I read to you?” Emilyasked.
“Miss Emily read,” they shouted over andover.
“Would you mind?” Aliceasked.
“Not at all,” she said as she went over to a bookcase filled with children’s books. “How about this?Mr. Midshipman Easy,” sheasked.
“Yes, yes,” they chanted as they came and sat next to her where she sat by thewindow.
As Emily read to the boys, Alice went about the room putting toys away, folding clothes, and generally creating order out ofchaos.
Before too long, the boys had settled down and were asleep. Emily put the book down and asked, “Might you be able to take a breaknow?”
“Help me carry them to their room and then we canchat.”
They took the sleeping boys down the hallway to their room. They laid them in their beds and, after pulling up the covers, the two left the room. As they headed toward the sitting room, Alice tidied up her hair which was hanging loose and falling in strands around her face. Finally, they reached the sitting room and Alice collapsed back into a comfortable chair and stared atEmily.
“What a godsend you are. Thank you for helping out. I had no intention of inviting you here to put you towork.”
“As the eldest sister, I am used to handling youngersiblings.”
“I am sorry about the shopping, but another timeperhaps?”
“Certainly.”
“It is nearly noon, might I offer you some lunch? Nothing fancy, but Cook always has something good onhand.”
“I would lovethat.”
Emily rang for the servant girl, and when lunch was finally ready, Alice looked much better, more rested, and became her charming selfagain.
After some polite, innocuous conversation Emily asked humorously, “So tell me, how are you related to ReginaldBlake?”
Alice laughed, “You might say he and I are mysteriouslyrelated.”
“I see. And might I one day have the honor of meeting this very talented relative ofyours?”
Alice raised her eyebrows. “He is quite the recluse, and I am his spokesman. But one day he may make an appearance, and I shall surely introduce youthen.”
“Well, I am a great admirer of this fine composer and would love to have a new work of his to take with me on my European tour. Perhaps you might pass that request along tohim.”
“I certainly shall, and I can say with some certainty that he is working on a piece at this very moment, which you might find useful for yourtour.”
“I look forward to playing it when it becomesavailable.”
They both laughed softly at the openruse.
They then got into a conversation about Emily’s hopes for the European tour—when it might happen and what she hoped to accomplish byit.
Emily knew few details about the tour, as it had not been arranged, and was dependent on Mark’s active participation in organizing thetour.
