‘I am careful. No one will find out.’
Nicholas sighed. ‘We are surrounded by people. You think the servants don’t talk, but they do. One day someone will tell Mother and Father.’
Evelyn began to tie the ribbons back into her hair. ‘I will be more careful.’
‘One day they will notice your skin is burnt from the sun.’
Evelyn rolled her eyes in reply.
‘Your face will turn brown like a pair of old leather boots.’
Evelyn poked out her tongue and began to stroke the lion’s paw as if it was a real animal.
‘And your hands will look like they belong to a labourer.’
‘I don’t mind that,’ said Evelyn.
‘And your face will become wrinkled like Timmins’.’
Evelyn stopped stroking. ‘Our Timmins?’
‘Yes, our Timmins.’
‘I want to see.’ Evelyn abruptly turned and began to walk briskly down the path towards the rose garden.
Exasperated, Nicholas followed. ‘Where are you going?’
‘To see Timmins’ face.’ She beckoned him to catch up with her. ‘Come on. He’s working in the rose garden.’
Shaking his head, Nicholas walked a little quicker. ‘I’m only coming to keep you out of trouble.’
‘Liar,’ accused Evelyn. ‘You want to see his wrinkled brown face as much as I do!’
* * *
They heard Timmins’ shovel methodically cutting and turning the soil, long before they saw his hat above the rose bushes. Nicholas and Evelyn confidently approached him with a plan to engage him in conversation so they could look at his face more clearly. They were on a mission, bonded like soldiers, but at the last moment, when they saw the gardener’s head turn in their direction, they panicked and found themselves crouching behind a bush.
Their bodies heaved and hiccupped with stifled laughter at their sudden act of cowardice. Gradually their giggles subsidedand they sat for a moment looking at each other, their cheeks flushed, their eyes glistening with excitement, just like it had been between them before his illness. Timmins was momentarily forgotten as other forms of mischief sparked in their minds. The sparks did not last long.
‘Hush,’ whispered Evelyn. ‘Was that Mother?’
They tilted their heads to listen, their bodies mirrored but for Nicholas’s rapid breathing. As if on cue, their mother called out again. Evelyn’s eyes widened.
‘It’s all right, Effy,’ he whispered. ‘She is looking for me. I will go and divert her.’
‘No, stay.’
Nicholas shook his head. ‘I have no tutor to occupy me so I am in no trouble. You, on the other hand, should be at your lessons.’
Nicholas heaved himself to standing as if he was an old man. It marked the end of their silly adventure that had hardly begun. Evelyn looked up at him gloomily.
‘Don’t frown so, Effy. You have no reason to look so glum.’
‘I have every reason,’ she mouthed at him.
He shook his head solemnly. ‘No, you don’t, Effy. You really don’t.’
Evelyn, stiff with anger at her mother for ruining their fun and at Nicholas for allowing her to, sulkily watched him leave. She hugged her knees tightly and listened to her mother’s footsteps grinding on the gravelled drive as she approached her brother. She heard her fuss, as if he was a new-born, offering him her shawl and insisting he rested. Her brother’s curt refusal helped to smooth Evelyn’s frown and she immediately forgave him for leaving her. Their voices grew more distant as he encouraged their mother back to the house. She went willingly and Evelyn, who should have been pleased, felt a stab of hurt at the realisation her mother had not noticed she was missing too.
