Rosie giggled and tapped my nose. “No, silly! It’s high noon.”
She stretched onto her tiptoes, lifting her arm high above her head. “That’s what Malik calls it. He said, ‘It’s high noon,’ and I can reach it if I stand tall.”
I shot Emily a quizzical look. Malik… playful? That didn’t quite fit.
“Who did you have the tea party with? Cook?” I asked Rosie.
She clasped her hands together and rocked from side to side. “Not Cook. Malik! Malik and I had a tea party.” Her face lit up with excitement. “And now he said to come get you for lunch!”
Before I could react, she twirled and darted out the door like a baby bird taking flight.
I turned to Emily, eyebrows raised.
“Malik had a tea party with Rosie?” I shook my head. “Stranger things have happened, I guess.”
Emily crossed her arms, unconvinced. “I don’t know… this one is pretty strange.”
We both burst into laughter.
“I’ll be right down after I change,” I said, moving toward the armoire. “Don’t worry—we will ask about the missing page.”
A long, high-waisted day gown in a striking shade of blue caught my eye. I slipped into it, smoothing the fabric over my hips before heading downstairs.
The scent of roasted meats and warm bread filled the air, guiding me toward the dining room. As expected, a feast had been laid on the table, an extravagant spread that seemed excessive for just a few of us.
As I entered, Malik looked up from his plate, his emerald eyes locking onto mine with unsettling precision.
“Good afternoon, Olivia,” he greeted. “How are you?”
Rosie sat beside him, absently rolling peas around her plate with a fingertip.
“We don’t play with our food, sweetheart,” Malik murmured, gently covering her hand with his.
Rosie stilled immediately. “Okay,” she whispered.
His focus shifted back to me, waiting for my response.
I stretched my arms, a yawn slipping free before I could stop it. “Groggy,” I admitted. “Didn’t get much sleep last night.”
Malik’s smile was polite, but something remained unreadable—like he knew exactly why I hadn’t slept.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Do sit down and restore yourself with food and beverage.” He gestured to the lavish spread before us.
I settled next to Emily, whose plate was already piled high with meat, potatoes, vegetables, and a small ramekin of custard.
As I filled my dish, I cut straight to the point. “There’s a page missing from the journal. It was ripped out.” I lifted a turkey leg to my lips, nibbling at the crispy, golden skin. “Do you know where it is or what it said?”
Malik’s expression remained neutral. “I’m afraid I don’t.”
His gaze flicked to Rosie, who sat swinging her feet under the table. “Sweetheart, why don’t you see if Cook needs help?”
She shook her head, her glossy brown ringlets bouncing. “I want to stay with you.”
Malik chuckled. “If you want to stay with me, you’ll have to sit very still, like stodgy old adults.” His lips curved in amusement.
Rosie straightened her back, her face suddenly serious. “Okay, I’ll behave like an old adult.”
Malik let out a quiet laugh.
