“Were you kidnapped in that year?”
She did sigh now, loudly.
“Aunty Sam is annoyed.”
“Aunty Sam is frustrated, Daisy, not annoyed.” Reaching across the carriage she brushed the girl’s soft cheek. “Is there a time limit on this house arrest?” Samantha then asked her brother.
“Hardly that.” Max scoffed.
Which told her exactly what she’d already known. She would not be allowed out of the house without at least three chaperones for some time to come.
“And we are here,” Max said. “Now we must all behave and of course listen to Uncle Dev and Uncle James’s instructions.”
“Again?” Luke sighed. “I could recite them word perfect by now.”
Giggling, Samantha stepped from the carriage and then turned to help a child, which turned out to be Kat, as Luke had Daisy.
Mr. Rolland's Circus of Strange and Ridiculous Curiosities had been a constant in the Sinclair and Raven families lives for many years.
Samantha stood outside the building that still listed slightly to the right and had faded red flags fluttering above, with the rest of their family. They were now in a large gaggle, awaiting the lecture that would inevitably come.
“I can still remember our first visit here,” Dorrie whispered.
“Oh, yes. It was wonderful, except for the fact you and Somer were kidnapped,” Samantha said, remembering the day and the fear they’d all felt.
“That was terrifying, but the performance before was fun,” Somer said.
She looked at the round wooden building. It had been rebuilt since the fire and subsequent issues that the Sinclair and Raven clan had rained down on Mr. Rolland. The family gave them yearly donations, which had appeased him.
A large banner above the entrance explained visitors would be treated to delights and wonders when they stepped through the doors.
“Eyes and ears here please,” Dev said as they formed a half circle around him. “There will be no pushing or shoving, and you will be on your best behavior. We shall proceed in an orderly manner to the front door. All children are to take the hand of an adult.”
Merry raised hers.
“Yes, Merry.”
“How can I direct my ears your way, Papa? Because it would be a neat trick, and I should like to learn it.”
The other children added their agreement, the older ones just to heckle.
“It was a figure of speech, daughter,” Dev said patiently.
Merry, who was holding Warwick’s hand and swinging it back and forth, frowned.
“What is a figure of speech?”
“Ask Uncle Warwick,” Dev said.
James took over the lecture next. “Yes, Kat?”
“Who will share out the sweets so we get even amounts, Papa?”
“Me.” Alice held up a large bag. “Nicholas and I are the best at counting after all.”
Adults grumbled, as it was the truth, even if they would like it not to be. Alice and Nicholas were fiendishly clever with numbers.
“I wonder how many times we heard this very lecture in our youth?” Dorrie asked.
