Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff Page A

doesn’t work exactly that way on this end.”
    This completely bewildered her, and her breathing started to speed up. “What do you mean?”
    At that moment, there was a knock at the bedroom door, and Thomas rose to open it, disrupting Quinn’s oncoming panic attack.
    “Master Thomas, you’re in here!” Mia’s voice was surprised. “I’ve brought breakfast for Miss Quinn.” She carried a covered silver tray; identical to the one from which Quinn had eaten dinner the night before. She set it down on the small table by the window. “Would you like me to bring you up a tray, or will you be eating downstairs this morning?”
    Thomas frowned at her, a strange expression on his face. “Mia, isn’t it your day off today?”
    Quinn watched dark pink color Mia’s round cheeks.
    “Yes, well, it would be, Master Thomas, but I thought I would stay this morning and help make sure Miss Quinn is settling in.”
    Something in Mia’s voice made Quinn think there was more to it than that.
    “That was very kind of you, Mia,” Thomas’ smile was genuine and warm. “I’m sure we have enough help. I will sort out breakfast for myself, thank you. I don’t want you missing your day with your family.”
    “Thank you, Master Thomas.” Mia kept her eyes on the floor near Thomas’ feet. Her blush hadn’t faded.
    “Of course. Have a wonderful time. We’ll see you tomorrow afternoon?”
    “Yes, Master Thomas. Thank you again.”
    As Mia exited, Quinn heard giggling in the hallway.
    Thomas turned to look at her. “I think some of my little sisters are anxious to see who all the fuss is about,” he smiled. “Do you mind?”
    “No, I don’t mind.” And she didn’t. Children had never intimidated her the way other people sometimes did. Curiosity about William’s other siblings momentarily overshadowed her distress.
    Thomas strode into the hallway, and then returned a moment later, three little girls in tow. One skipped eagerly ahead of him into the room. Quinn guessed her to be about six.  She had the same dark, curly locks as Thomas, although hers reached down to the middle of her back. Her gray eyes held the same sparkle of friendliness and spunk as Thomas’.
    Another little girl clung right to Thomas, hiding behind his back. A bit younger, maybe four or so, she reminded Quinn much more of her other big brother, William. Quieter, more serious. Her dark hair was long and straight. These gray eyes also studied Quinn from behind glasses.
    The third child was only a toddler. She nestled in her big brother’s arms, poking her fingers into his mouth, while he playfully pretended to be biting them off.
    The oldest girl walked right up to Quinn. “Hi! I’m Emma. Who are you?”
    Quinn smiled back at her. “Hi Emma.  I’m Quinn.”
     “Emma here is our little instigator of all things giggle-related,” he said, tickling her ribs until she squealed, then smiled winningly up at Quinn.
     He ran his fingers through the second little girl’s hair. “This is Alice. She’s a little quiet until she gets to know you. And this,” he tickled the littlest one under her chin, causing her to reveal deep dimples in her rosy cheeks, “is Miss Sarah.”
    Quinn smiled.
    “Are you really William’s friend from another kingdom?” Emma looked at Quinn expectantly.
    “Um,” Quinn looked to Thomas for help, but he was ready.
    “Of course she is!  It’s nice to have a guest, isn’t it, girls?” Thomas set Sarah down on the floor. They all watched as she toddled around the room, looking at everything.
    Quinn was reminded of Annie’s toddlerhood as Sarah pulled one of the flowers from the vase on the low table and immediately proceeded to put it into her mouth. Thomas quickly retrieved the flower and replaced it, but Sarah’s curiosity was undeterred, and she toddled toward the other table, reaching up for the shiny cover on the tray Mia had brought.
    Thomas sighed, and then grinned sheepishly at Quinn. “You girls must be