“We only have fish in the lake.” Peter shook his head as if Ellie were daft.
“Well then, you’ll just have to tell me what you call this particular fountain.” Ellie led them along, surreptitiously checking every few minutes to be sure Peter followed.
“Oh, you mean Neptune’s fountain.” Maggie let go of her hand and ran to sit on the side of the dry fountain. She put her hand on one of the fishes. “I thought you meant there were fishesinthe fountain.”
Ellie laughed, pleased that the children were so invested in what she had to say. “That makes sense. I should have been more precise in my wording and said ‘the fountain with five concrete fish on the edges and a baby on the top.’”
Peter pointed to the baby. “Neptune.” His tone made it very clear he thought she was not very intelligent.
She studied the sculpture in the daylight. Now she could see where that the water would come out of three spires of a trident the baby leaned back against. “This must be when Neptune was just born. What a clever fountain.”
“Mother said that he was born of the Earth and the stars.”
Ellie glanced over Maggie’s head to see Peter bending down and looking at something. “You’re correct. He’s supposed to be the son of Saturn, who represented the universe, and Terra, who was considered the Earth. No wonder I am able to see the stars so well from here. It’s as if whoever placed it had stargazing in mind.”
Maggie looked over her shoulder. “Peter, where are your mitts? Put them on right now, or you’ll catch a cold.”
“No.”
Ellie walked around the fountain to see what had Peter so enthralled. “I’m sure not having his mitts on for a few minutes won’t hurt.”
Maggie jumped down from the fountain. “He was born too early. Nursemaid says he will get sick before anyone else.”
“Will not.” Peter rose, a black ground beetle in his hand.
“Will too.”
Ellie bit down on a smile. “I’m not so sure, Maggie. Peter looks rather sturdy to me, and he’s almost as tall as you already.”
Peter stood straighter, and his little chest puffed out. “I’mhardy. That’s what Mrs. Torbett said.”
“Indeed, you are. What is it you have there, Peter?” Ellie lifted her brows as if she had no idea.
He thrust his hand out toward her and Maggie. “Beetle.”
“Eek!” Maggie scrambled behind Ellie.
Peter’s shoulders fell.
Ellie’s heart squeezed at his disappointment. “That’s quite a brave fellow to be out here in this cold. He’s braver than Maggie.”
That seemed to make Peter feel a little better, but the bond between the siblings was strong.
“Come, Maggie. Have a look. Beetles move slow in winter, so it won’t jump on you or anything.” Ellie looked behind her. “If this little beetle can brave the cold, surely you can be brave enough to look at it.”
Maggie grabbed on to Ellie’s arm and slowly stepped around her to peer at the beetle. “It’s not very big, is it?”
Peter shook his head. “No. I think he’s little. I’ll put him back so he can go home to his family.”
Ellie barely kept herself from sighing. The child was such a sweet boy who just needed some love and affection.
After depositing the beetle where he found him, Peter stood.
“Don’t forget your mitts,” Ellie pointed to the ground.
Peter’s eyes widened—he had obviously forgotten them already—and he bent down to retrieve them.
“I’ll help you.” Maggie stepped forward.
