William’s voice. Shall we retire, sister, and let them have their conversation?” Bonny rose with grace and held a hand out to Tasmin. “I shall show her to her temporary abode; please do not distress yourself, mamma. I am sure you have much to say to your son.”
Bonny pulled her up the staircase, refusing to let her get a peek at William. “The secret to getting around Her Majesty is to follow the rules with a rigidity that would shock most people. In fact, it is best to act that way around all members of the family. Even William can, at times, be shocked at the least little impropriety, but he is by far the easiest with whom to deal.” Bonny spoke no further, nor encouraged it, until they were in William’s old room.
The room held no clues to young William’s past; it was clean, the furniture was nice—in short, it looked like no one had ever lived in it at all. She would have thought she were in the wrong room if not for her own cases, stacked neatly at the foot of the bed.
“I never thought William so terrible. He never seemed to mind my oddities,” she said, feeling a bit awkward.
“Well, William will let it slide because of your culture. It is quite understandable that you don’t know any better.” Bonny sighed. “Henriette will not.” She walked over to the window and pushed the curtains open. Tasmin cast Bonny back a foul look.
“You’ve managed to deal well enough,” Tasmin ventured, trying to keep her tone light. Don’t know better, indeed!
Bonny looked over her shoulder and grinned. “Partly because I’m pretty and my fa m ily makes more money than the Almsleys. I was considered quite a boon when the dish threw my name out.” Then, realizing the implications of what she’d said, she winced.
“Don’t worry; I know what William’s family thought of me—exactly what my family thought of him.” Bonny smiled but said nothing.
“What do you think of this whole mess?” Tasmin sat on the edge of the bed, bunching the covers in her fist where Bonny couldn’t see.
“First, I think that it’s very sweet that you came; and he’d better marry you while you’re here. What is he waiting for, until neither of you can produce children? Se c ondly, I think that William’s arrest was all a dreadful mistake, but fortunately it’s been resolved.”
“I hope so.” She smoothed the covers out again carefully.
Bonny came and sat beside her. “Of course things are fine now. We— you and I—will plan the wedding behind the old girl’s back. I’ll tell her that this or that was the style at some nobleman’s wedding, and all will be splendid!”
“Of course.” Her smile was forced; yet she still received a hug for her efforts. A moment later Bonny leapt up. “I am going to go see if Andrew is downstairs and find out his plans. I’ll see you soon, sister. Don’t let the ogre get to you, her sons know her nature.”
Her sons know her nature? Not comforting, really. How often will I have to give way because it is her nature and therefore everyone accepts it?
She crossed to the vanity, studying her hair. She hated having left the sprites b e hind, but she didn’t want to force them to acclimate to another world and then rip them out of it. Also, she hated the idea of having to force them to behave, and she was certain the battle-axe downstairs would not approve of her darlings’ antics.
There was plenty to do. Her cases could be unpacked and her clothes hung, but the very idea made her feel restless and discontent. Bored, she started opening some of the drawers. Each was empty, lined with slightly yellowed tissue paper. The fact they had not changed it made her wonder if they hadn’t expected her, or if they simply did not care.
The very bottom one was filled with children’s clothes no one wanted to part with ... a small jacket meant to look like a naval officer’s, tiny shoes that were badly scuffed, a slightly mangled toy horse. She smiled a little, thinking the odds and
Bonny pulled her up the staircase, refusing to let her get a peek at William. “The secret to getting around Her Majesty is to follow the rules with a rigidity that would shock most people. In fact, it is best to act that way around all members of the family. Even William can, at times, be shocked at the least little impropriety, but he is by far the easiest with whom to deal.” Bonny spoke no further, nor encouraged it, until they were in William’s old room.
The room held no clues to young William’s past; it was clean, the furniture was nice—in short, it looked like no one had ever lived in it at all. She would have thought she were in the wrong room if not for her own cases, stacked neatly at the foot of the bed.
“I never thought William so terrible. He never seemed to mind my oddities,” she said, feeling a bit awkward.
“Well, William will let it slide because of your culture. It is quite understandable that you don’t know any better.” Bonny sighed. “Henriette will not.” She walked over to the window and pushed the curtains open. Tasmin cast Bonny back a foul look.
“You’ve managed to deal well enough,” Tasmin ventured, trying to keep her tone light. Don’t know better, indeed!
Bonny looked over her shoulder and grinned. “Partly because I’m pretty and my fa m ily makes more money than the Almsleys. I was considered quite a boon when the dish threw my name out.” Then, realizing the implications of what she’d said, she winced.
“Don’t worry; I know what William’s family thought of me—exactly what my family thought of him.” Bonny smiled but said nothing.
“What do you think of this whole mess?” Tasmin sat on the edge of the bed, bunching the covers in her fist where Bonny couldn’t see.
“First, I think that it’s very sweet that you came; and he’d better marry you while you’re here. What is he waiting for, until neither of you can produce children? Se c ondly, I think that William’s arrest was all a dreadful mistake, but fortunately it’s been resolved.”
“I hope so.” She smoothed the covers out again carefully.
Bonny came and sat beside her. “Of course things are fine now. We— you and I—will plan the wedding behind the old girl’s back. I’ll tell her that this or that was the style at some nobleman’s wedding, and all will be splendid!”
“Of course.” Her smile was forced; yet she still received a hug for her efforts. A moment later Bonny leapt up. “I am going to go see if Andrew is downstairs and find out his plans. I’ll see you soon, sister. Don’t let the ogre get to you, her sons know her nature.”
Her sons know her nature? Not comforting, really. How often will I have to give way because it is her nature and therefore everyone accepts it?
She crossed to the vanity, studying her hair. She hated having left the sprites b e hind, but she didn’t want to force them to acclimate to another world and then rip them out of it. Also, she hated the idea of having to force them to behave, and she was certain the battle-axe downstairs would not approve of her darlings’ antics.
There was plenty to do. Her cases could be unpacked and her clothes hung, but the very idea made her feel restless and discontent. Bored, she started opening some of the drawers. Each was empty, lined with slightly yellowed tissue paper. The fact they had not changed it made her wonder if they hadn’t expected her, or if they simply did not care.
The very bottom one was filled with children’s clothes no one wanted to part with ... a small jacket meant to look like a naval officer’s, tiny shoes that were badly scuffed, a slightly mangled toy horse. She smiled a little, thinking the odds and
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