“Indeed, it has,” Ewing muttered more to himself than to the boys.
He got lost in thought, the shilling glistening in his fingers, as the boys hungrily ogled it. He noticed their gaze.
“’Ere.” He threw the silver token into the small boy’s hands.
The others came down onto him like hawks on a dying prey. Ewing didn’t linger on to see whether the boy who received the payment would be the one who got to keep it.
He had his own business to take care of, his own dying prey to feast upon.
Chapter 13
Rosalie spread the picnic blanket near the brook where the girls had first found her. She came to recognize this brook as the place of her salvation, the place of her rebirth. She still remembered how Mr. Loveless called out to her so loudly that she felt his very voice would entangle her feet to prevent them from running. However, despite that she felt a strange sense of serenity here.
He couldn’t find her. He couldn’t reach her. He couldn’t capture her again. She was free. It was these kinds of thoughts that kept filling her mind and soul, and it felt wonderful.
“Should we put the picnic basket here, Miss. Blake?” Madeline asked.
She was wearing a lovely yellow dress that floated around her ankles, revealing white socks and a dainty pair of slippers. Cecilia was dressed similarly, only her dress was the color of ripe peaches. Rosalie wondered if such pretty dresses were adequate for a picnic outside, during which she was hoping to discuss Egypt and the River Nile. Apart from a few sandwiches, the picnic basket held a small book and a map of the world, and Rosalie hoped that the outside could make a slightly boring geography lesson more fun.
“Yes, please, just put it on the blanket,” Rosalie smiled, nodding.
The girls did as they were told, then she could see Cecilia elbowing Madeline softly.
“Go on, ask her,” Cecilia whispered barely audibly, but Rosalie’s sense of hearing had become so acute that she could make out even faint whispers.
However, she said nothing, instead waiting for the girls themselves to reveal what the commotion was all about.
“All right,” Madeline nodded, then turned to Rosalie. “Miss. Blake?” She paused, and Rosalie smiled again.
“Yes, Madeline?”
“Cecilia and I were hoping that we could bring the puppies with us,” she spoke softly, almost apologetically, knowing very well that what she was asking was highly unusual. “Cecilia and I promise to concentrate. We really do.”
Rosalie chuckled. “Madeline, I doubt you can focus on Egypt and the River Nile with two adorable puppies running about.”
The girls giggled. All three of them knew that to be correct, but the mischievous look in the girls’ eyes assured Rosalie that they wouldn’t give up on it that easily.
“However, I have a proposition for you,” Rosalie said this a little more seriously. After all, she wanted the girls to think of her as a friend and confidante, but at the same time, she wanted them to know that it was Rosalie who set the terms. Not them.
The girls watched her with eyes wide open, all hopeful that they would get what they asked for.
“If you listen attentively and show me that you have really paid attention to our geography lesson, I shall allow the puppies to join us once the lesson is finished.”
“Oh, thank you, Miss. Blake!” the girls spoke in unison, clapping with joy.
“All right now,” Rosalie sat down on the blanket, adjusting her gown a little, so that it still covered her ankles. She took the book and started reading. “Egypt is a country located in…”
The girls did as they promised. They listened carefully, and answered all the questions accordingly, as per Rosalie’s instructions. The lesson was followed by a quick snack of delicious sandwiches, and Rosalie almost laughed out loud seeing how the girls were stuffing their faces, in an effort to eat them as quickly as they could.
“May we fetch the puppies now, Miss. Blake?” Madeline asked, a few breadcrumbs still in the corner of her lips.
Rosalie smiled. “You may.”
The girls immediately jumped up from the blanket and started running back to the house.
“I shall wait here!” Rosalie shouted after them, but she wasn’t sure if the girls heard her.
She stood up, then walked over to the brook. It was bubbling softly, the water crystal clear. Cold. Rosalie shuddered, remembering how it had felt against her skin that fateful night. She was wet from the brook water, but also from her own tears.
