disgust or concern Maisie couldn’t tell.
“A climbing boy?” he said in his deep voice. “They took him to the pauper’s hospital in the East End, no doubt.”
“Maisie,” Aleck said, getting to his feet, too, now, “we’ll go there right now. Grandfather, will your driver bring us?”
“Of course, of course.”
“I just knew we’d find him,” Mrs. Duckberry said to Maisie.
“Harrumph,” Mrs. Peacock said. “Let’s just hope the boy is still alive. That’s all.”
At that, Maisie gasped. “He has to be!” she said.
This time when Aleck took her hand, she was too upset to swoon. But she didn’t let go either. That boy’s large, warm hand was the one thing that made her feel safe as together they left the dining room and walked hurriedly to the front door.
CHAPTER 11
FINDING FELIX
A leck and Maisie sat quietly in the carriage as the driver moved through the fog and noise of London. Lost in her own thoughts and fears about Felix, Maisie didn’t consider what might be on Aleck’s mind until his soft voice said her name.
She looked toward him.
“Maisie,” he said again, “I have a strange feeling…”
His voice trailed off and Maisie could tell that he was trying to sort something out.
“That magnet you gave me,” Aleck said, and then once more his voice trailed off.
“Please,” Maisie said, suddenly afraid that Aleck might say the very thing to her that would send themall hurtling back home. If Felix was injured, would he go with them? And if he did, what condition would he be in?
“Don’t say anything,” Maisie said urgently.
Bewildered, Aleck nodded. But an instant later he said, “I’m sorry, but I have to know something. Those coats and boots you were wearing, the…vinyl?”
It was Maisie’s turn to nod now.
“And the magnet and…and…well, everything!” Aleck said, flustered. “The way you showed up in the park and then at our house—”
Maisie chewed her bottom lip, trying to decide what to tell him.
“Maisie,” he said, his voice strong now, “are you from the future?”
Before she could answer, Aleck slapped his forehead.
“What an idiotic thing to say,” he groaned.
“I am,” Maisie said, surprising even herself. “All four of us are.”
Maisie and Aleck stared at each other. Around them, the fog swirled and seemed to wrap itself around the carriage, obscuring everything outside.
“But how in the world—?” Aleck began.
“I’ll try to explain it,” Maisie said. “But you have to promise me something first.”
“Anything,” he said, sitting up straighter.
“Until we find Felix, you cannot tell me anything. Don’t give me advice. Don’t share any insight or information with me. Just listen to what I have to say and save your reactions until later.”
“But how can I promise not to react?” Aleck said.
“That’s the deal,” Maisie told him firmly.
Aleck did not consider for long.
“All right,” he said. “I promise.”
Maisie told him about Elm Medona and Phinneas Pickworth, The Treasure Chest, and that first time they traveled and met Clara Barton. She told him about Great-Aunt Maisie and Great-Uncle Thorne, and
lame demon
, and the Ming vase shard. When she finished, she was breathless and Aleck’s eyes were opened wide with wonder.
“How marvelous,” he said quietly.
“I guess so,” Maisie said. “Except when things go wrong, which they almost always do.”
“Like now,” Aleck added.
Maisie nodded.
“But how does it work?” Aleck asked, almost more to himself than to Maisie.
Maisie shrugged. “It seems like we learn something new every time.”
“Like you’re putting together a puzzle,” Aleck said.
The carriage slowed and Maisie peered out the window into the foggy night.
Is Felix out there? Is he…
She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to imagine what was waiting for her in that hospital.
Aleck touched her shoulder.
“This is the East End,” he said. “Grandfather warned me it’s a tough
“A climbing boy?” he said in his deep voice. “They took him to the pauper’s hospital in the East End, no doubt.”
“Maisie,” Aleck said, getting to his feet, too, now, “we’ll go there right now. Grandfather, will your driver bring us?”
“Of course, of course.”
“I just knew we’d find him,” Mrs. Duckberry said to Maisie.
“Harrumph,” Mrs. Peacock said. “Let’s just hope the boy is still alive. That’s all.”
At that, Maisie gasped. “He has to be!” she said.
This time when Aleck took her hand, she was too upset to swoon. But she didn’t let go either. That boy’s large, warm hand was the one thing that made her feel safe as together they left the dining room and walked hurriedly to the front door.
CHAPTER 11
FINDING FELIX
A leck and Maisie sat quietly in the carriage as the driver moved through the fog and noise of London. Lost in her own thoughts and fears about Felix, Maisie didn’t consider what might be on Aleck’s mind until his soft voice said her name.
She looked toward him.
“Maisie,” he said again, “I have a strange feeling…”
His voice trailed off and Maisie could tell that he was trying to sort something out.
“That magnet you gave me,” Aleck said, and then once more his voice trailed off.
“Please,” Maisie said, suddenly afraid that Aleck might say the very thing to her that would send themall hurtling back home. If Felix was injured, would he go with them? And if he did, what condition would he be in?
“Don’t say anything,” Maisie said urgently.
Bewildered, Aleck nodded. But an instant later he said, “I’m sorry, but I have to know something. Those coats and boots you were wearing, the…vinyl?”
It was Maisie’s turn to nod now.
“And the magnet and…and…well, everything!” Aleck said, flustered. “The way you showed up in the park and then at our house—”
Maisie chewed her bottom lip, trying to decide what to tell him.
“Maisie,” he said, his voice strong now, “are you from the future?”
Before she could answer, Aleck slapped his forehead.
“What an idiotic thing to say,” he groaned.
“I am,” Maisie said, surprising even herself. “All four of us are.”
Maisie and Aleck stared at each other. Around them, the fog swirled and seemed to wrap itself around the carriage, obscuring everything outside.
“But how in the world—?” Aleck began.
“I’ll try to explain it,” Maisie said. “But you have to promise me something first.”
“Anything,” he said, sitting up straighter.
“Until we find Felix, you cannot tell me anything. Don’t give me advice. Don’t share any insight or information with me. Just listen to what I have to say and save your reactions until later.”
“But how can I promise not to react?” Aleck said.
“That’s the deal,” Maisie told him firmly.
Aleck did not consider for long.
“All right,” he said. “I promise.”
Maisie told him about Elm Medona and Phinneas Pickworth, The Treasure Chest, and that first time they traveled and met Clara Barton. She told him about Great-Aunt Maisie and Great-Uncle Thorne, and
lame demon
, and the Ming vase shard. When she finished, she was breathless and Aleck’s eyes were opened wide with wonder.
“How marvelous,” he said quietly.
“I guess so,” Maisie said. “Except when things go wrong, which they almost always do.”
“Like now,” Aleck added.
Maisie nodded.
“But how does it work?” Aleck asked, almost more to himself than to Maisie.
Maisie shrugged. “It seems like we learn something new every time.”
“Like you’re putting together a puzzle,” Aleck said.
The carriage slowed and Maisie peered out the window into the foggy night.
Is Felix out there? Is he…
She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to imagine what was waiting for her in that hospital.
Aleck touched her shoulder.
“This is the East End,” he said. “Grandfather warned me it’s a tough
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