Pearlie's Pet Rescue by Lucia Masciullo Page A

gave her gloves and a parasol. Edward’s was shaped like a book, which was what she really wanted, but it turned out to be a box of glâcé cherries. She glanced at him and he mouthed, ‘Sorry.’ That meant Mother had bought the cherries and put his name on the card. Rose put all her hopes into the last gift, the smallest one.
    She pulled the paper off and opened the little box. Nestled inside was a tiny gold oval locket engraved with birds. ‘It’s beautiful,’ Rose said.
    â€˜Thank you.’ She jumped up and gave Martha a hug and a kiss, breathing in her perfume.
    Martha laughed and smoothed Rose’s hair with her soft hands. She was always dressed so perfectly, her pretty face framed by her swept-up dark hair.
    â€˜What about everyone else?’ Mother said, tilting her head so Rose could kiss her cheek.
    â€˜Eleven now, eh, Rose?’ Father said. ‘You’ll be married before we know it.’ He winked and Rose laughed. Father already knew that Rose planned to become an explorer and travel the world instead of getting married.
    When Rose kissed Edward, he whispered, ‘Here’s your real present,’ and shoved his cricket ball into her hand. Luckily, Mother was already on her way out of the breakfast room and didn’t see.
    â€˜Holy smoke!’ Rose said. ‘Are you sure?’
    Edward nodded. ‘Have a nice birthday. Are you still going to the park?’
    â€˜I hope so.’ Mother hadn’t actually promised when Rose had asked, but she hadn’t said no either.
    Until then, though, it was lessons as usual with Miss Parson, which meant an hour of reading from a storybook Rose nearly knew by heart and then mending her ripped stocking. She made such a mess of the stitches that Miss Parson had to give it to Sally, the housemaid, after all. Rose desperately wished Miss Parson could teach more than needlework and French verbs. Rose wanted to learn geography and history, like Edward, and study insects and fossils. However, she could just imagine Miss Parson turning her nose up at a dinosaur bone!
    At lunch, Mother said, ‘Now, I expect you to be ready by three o’clock.’
    â€˜Isn’t that a little late for the park?’ Rose said.
    â€˜We’re not going out,’ Mother said. ‘Your grandmother and Uncle Charles and Aunt Philippa are coming for afternoon tea.’
    â€˜But what about the park?’
    â€˜Don’t be silly, Rose,’ Mother said. ‘They are visiting for your birthday. You should be grateful. No doubt they will bring gifts.’
    Hot anger rushed through Rose and she clenched her hands. ‘I don’t care! I’ve been looking forward to the park all day!’
    â€˜Fetch Miss Parson,’ Mother snapped to Sally.
    Rose waited in silence, face burning, as Miss Parson rushed in. ‘Yes, Madam,’ she said.
    â€˜Please ensure Rose has on her best afternoon dress to receive visitors,’ Mother said frostily. ‘And remind her of the manners required for taking tea and conversing pleasantly.’
    â€˜Yes, Madam.’
    Miss Parson scowled at Rose and towed her up the stairs.
    â€˜I don’t have an afternoon dress,’ Rose said, wanting to be as difficult as possible. What was the point of having a birthday when she was not allowed to go to the park and explore the stream and climb hills and play cricket?
    Miss Parson opened the wardrobe and selected Rose’s least favourite dress, one made of white lace and frills with a hundred tiny buttons down the back and on the long sleeves. It took forever to put on, and Rose usually spilt something on it within five minutes.
    â€˜This will do fine,’ Miss Parson said.
    Rose groaned, but with Miss Parson’s help she put on the white dress and waited as the governess began buttoning the back.
    â€˜Stop pushing your shoulders forward,’ Miss Parson said.
    â€˜I’m not!’
    â€˜Pull in your