Both girls shook their heads.
“Then, that is what you shall learn today. Girls your age should be well-acquainted with such things,” Rosalie nodded. “Now. We need a small table. Do fetch your favorite dolls and a small play table, and bring it back here, will you?”
The girls didn’t wait to be told twice.
“On second thought,” Rosalie changed her mind, “I shall come with you, and we can have this lesson in your bedchamber, so as not to take your toys out of your room.”
The girls were surprised by this suggestion. But they liked it. Smiling, they led Rosalie to their room, and opened the door. It was a bright room, vast and with much more natural light than their study room. The carpet on the floor was dark red and plum purple, while the beds were dark oak, pushed all the way to the opposite walls. A small bookshelf lay by one of the vacant walls. A small chest rested next to it. It was closed. In the corner, there was a doll’s house, standing on a small table.
“I think that will do very nicely,” Rosalie pointed at the little table. “Can you put the doll’s house away? Very carefully, please.”
The girls did as they were told. Together, they freed the table, and immediately jumped to open the chest of toys. Madeline chose a brown bear with a red ribbon tied around its neck. Its eyes were two black buttons. Cecilia changed her mind about the toy chest, and instead rushed over to her bed. Her favorite doll rested there, and she took it into her hands. It was a doll with two blonde braids, a blue ribbon at the end of each. Her eyes were sky blue, and her dress, slightly stained yellow at the hems, was the color of poppies in the summer.
“All right then, now we need chairs,” Rosalie continued.
Madeline pushed two small chairs towards the table. “Here, Miss. Blake.”
“Thank you, Madeline. Your toys can sit on the chairs, and the three of us can sit on the floor, pretending it’s a chair for each of us.”
The girls chuckled. They waited for more instructions with enthusiasm. Rosalie was glad to see them like this, eager to learn.
“Now, for the menu,” Rosalie said. “What do you think we eat and drink during teatime?”
“Tea!” both girls exclaimed at the same time, laughing boisterously at their answer.
“All right, all right,” Rosalie joined in, her face lighting up as she smiled. “If you girls are so clever, what else could be served to drink?”
Madeline’s brows furrowed as she tried to come up with the answer. Cecilia didn’t seem to struggle so hard.
“Chocolate!” Madeline came up with the answer first. Rosalie had already learned that this was a general rule with the girls.
Madeline was the one who voiced herself more often, which meant that Cecilia was left silent. But there was so much to this child, and Rosalie aimed to extract it out of her slowly.
“Indeed,” Rosalie agreed. “Coffee is also another option. How is our table laid out?”
“With a white cloth?” Cecilia replied this time.
“Wonderful, Cecilia,” Rosalie praised her. “Anything else?”
“Maybe flowers?” Cecilia added.
“Flowers are certainly a nice touch, and they make any table more appealing,” Rosalie nodded. “Now, what do we offer our guests to eat?”
“Oh, I know, I know!” Cecilia jumped up, waving her hand up in the air. “Sandwiches, biscuits or cake, or thin slices of bread and butter.”
“Most wonderful!” Rosalie clapped. “So, imagine our table is all nicely set up for our guests, Mrs. Bear and -” she paused, allowing Cecilia to say the name of her doll.
“Goldilocks,” Cecilia blushed a little.
“Mrs. Bear and Goldilocks,” Rosalie repeated sweetly. “The flowers are in a lovely crystal vase in the middle of the table. The refreshments are all laid out. Now, who shall pour the tea?”
Madeline and Cecilia look at each other. Then, their gaze focused on Rosalie.
“The lady of the house, of course,” Madeline responded, tossing her head back importantly.
“That is indeed true,” Rosalie nodded. “Why, you girls know everything!”
The joy on the girls’ faces was evident. Rosalie reveled in the sight of their beaming faces. She urged Madeline, who was but three minutes older of the two, to pour the tea. Madeline proceeded to hold an invisible teapot, then pour the invisible tea into invisible cups. Everyone was having a wonderful time.
