jumped
out before it had come to a full stop and stretched.
"Finally, it feels so good to get out of
that torture box!"
"Hellion. I didn't realize we were such
terrible company." Alastair said as he stepped down. Mirabelle pulled a
face and shrugged. He pivoted around, appraising the grounds and the front
facade of the house. "Impressive." He turned to assist his mother
from the carriage.
Celine stepped out and her face lit up as she
took in the serene beauty.
"Magnifique! No wonder Gilles is so content
to stay!"
At the mention of his name Gilles walked briskly
through the front doors and skipped down the steps. Mirabelle and Alastair
exchanged glances.
"You made good time! I'm so glad you're
here!" Gilles lifted his mother into an exuberant hug.
"You're well, mon garçon?" Celine
asked as she searched his face.
"I'm very well." He kissed her
knuckles then reached for his sister.
"I'm glad you survived the trip!" He
swung Mirabelle in his arms and kissed her forehead.
Finally, he turned to Alastair and pulled him
into an embrace, slapping him heartily on the back before letting go.
"I'm so glad you're all here! Come
inside!"
Gilles lead them up the steps, stopping at the
entry to introduce them to Holderson.
"Welcome to Longwood, if there's anything
you require, please let me know."
He showed them to the Blue Parlor and bowed out.
Gilles watched Alastair's eyes. As usual, his
pupils bounced about, cataloging details.
Mirabelle stuck her head out the door
inelegantly.
"The decor in this hallway is quite
unusual."
"Mirabelle!" Her mother scolded.
"Come in here and sit down."
"We spent hours sitting, maman." She
pirouetted, examining the decor in the parlor.
"It is unusual." Alastair muttered as
he looked out the window at the grounds.
"This room is more in the usual
style." Mirabelle remarked as she examined the figurines on a side table.
"It's rarely used."
Everyone looked expectantly at Alastair.
"The upholstery shows no sign of wear and
the curtains are evenly faded on the backside from being closed for long
durations."
Celine shook her head and turned to Gilles.
"You needed a chaperone?" She smiled
expectantly at him.
"I'm surprised it took you this long to
ask."
Celine shrugged.
"You're brother and sister insisted on
discussing the decor."
"But, really? Did Longwood double as a rug
showroom when the late earl was alive?" Mirabelle asked.
"I promise, it will all make sense shortly.
If you'll excuse me for a few minutes." Giles turned to leave then turned
back around. "You might want to assume that anything you say will be
heard, even if you whisper." He strode quickly out of the room, leaving
his family puzzled.
"What do you suppose that means?"
Mirabelle asked, her head once again in the hallway. "There are tapestries
everywhere! Absolutely everywhere!"
"Come in here now and behave as if you have
manners, mignon!" Celine demanded.
Mirabelle sighed and looked to Alastair.
"What do you make of it?"
"I believe he means that you shouldn't say
anything uncouth." He smiled as she stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm
not certain but I think someone is quite sensitive to
out before it had come to a full stop and stretched.
"Finally, it feels so good to get out of
that torture box!"
"Hellion. I didn't realize we were such
terrible company." Alastair said as he stepped down. Mirabelle pulled a
face and shrugged. He pivoted around, appraising the grounds and the front
facade of the house. "Impressive." He turned to assist his mother
from the carriage.
Celine stepped out and her face lit up as she
took in the serene beauty.
"Magnifique! No wonder Gilles is so content
to stay!"
At the mention of his name Gilles walked briskly
through the front doors and skipped down the steps. Mirabelle and Alastair
exchanged glances.
"You made good time! I'm so glad you're
here!" Gilles lifted his mother into an exuberant hug.
"You're well, mon garçon?" Celine
asked as she searched his face.
"I'm very well." He kissed her
knuckles then reached for his sister.
"I'm glad you survived the trip!" He
swung Mirabelle in his arms and kissed her forehead.
Finally, he turned to Alastair and pulled him
into an embrace, slapping him heartily on the back before letting go.
"I'm so glad you're all here! Come
inside!"
Gilles lead them up the steps, stopping at the
entry to introduce them to Holderson.
"Welcome to Longwood, if there's anything
you require, please let me know."
He showed them to the Blue Parlor and bowed out.
Gilles watched Alastair's eyes. As usual, his
pupils bounced about, cataloging details.
Mirabelle stuck her head out the door
inelegantly.
"The decor in this hallway is quite
unusual."
"Mirabelle!" Her mother scolded.
"Come in here and sit down."
"We spent hours sitting, maman." She
pirouetted, examining the decor in the parlor.
"It is unusual." Alastair muttered as
he looked out the window at the grounds.
"This room is more in the usual
style." Mirabelle remarked as she examined the figurines on a side table.
"It's rarely used."
Everyone looked expectantly at Alastair.
"The upholstery shows no sign of wear and
the curtains are evenly faded on the backside from being closed for long
durations."
Celine shook her head and turned to Gilles.
"You needed a chaperone?" She smiled
expectantly at him.
"I'm surprised it took you this long to
ask."
Celine shrugged.
"You're brother and sister insisted on
discussing the decor."
"But, really? Did Longwood double as a rug
showroom when the late earl was alive?" Mirabelle asked.
"I promise, it will all make sense shortly.
If you'll excuse me for a few minutes." Giles turned to leave then turned
back around. "You might want to assume that anything you say will be
heard, even if you whisper." He strode quickly out of the room, leaving
his family puzzled.
"What do you suppose that means?"
Mirabelle asked, her head once again in the hallway. "There are tapestries
everywhere! Absolutely everywhere!"
"Come in here now and behave as if you have
manners, mignon!" Celine demanded.
Mirabelle sighed and looked to Alastair.
"What do you make of it?"
"I believe he means that you shouldn't say
anything uncouth." He smiled as she stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm
not certain but I think someone is quite sensitive to
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