“It worked, didn’t it?”
“You are insufferable.” But her lips twitched like she was trying to suppress a smile. “So what would you like to talk about?” She reached a hand up self-consciously to her hair.
“No need to fuss.” He smiled, wanting to memorize her current state. “I don’t mind your hair down.” He drew in a breath. “It’s lovely.” She shot him a quizzical look, but he continued. “I prefer your shade over all others.”
“Oh... thank you.” She raked through her locks again, and her cheeks started to match the color of the pinkish-colored stones of the castle.
Alex toed the gravel. He wanted to talk about a great many things and waited for her to contribute to the conversation, but perhaps she felt as nervous as he did. Finally he raised his voice a little louder. “I do rather like acquiring a crick in my neck, I assure you, but my main purpose for the pebbles was to ask if you were planning any trips to your woods soon, on horseback or otherwise. I could happen to be in the area at the same time, just by chance.”
This time she smiled with her whole face and nodded. “That kind of happenstancewouldallow for a most sustainable conversation, but it would require a chaperone.” Her hands grasped the balcony as she leaned her head out farther. She glanced at the horizon thoughtfully. “I could probably devise a way to take Walter for an outing. I owe him more attention. I fear my mother’s return has occupied almost all my time.” She sighed. “Though, it will take a good plan and some sound convincing to extricate myself from my odious first-mate duties, for she is an austere captain.” She drummed her fingers on the balustrade. “Perhaps—”
“What are you doing here!” a small voice echoed off the edge of the stone castle. Alex’s eyes darted toward the sound as Charlotte’s face whipped to the left. The only other window with a balcony was across the way and on the first floor. The nursery. “Here I am, trying to sleep, and all I can hear is you two going on!”
Walter rubbed his eyes and yawned. Alex stole a glance toward Charlotte, whose face had blanched.
“I’m so sorry.” Alex bowed deferentially toward the boy. “I... was just coming to ask when I could visit again. I can see I addressed my questions to the wrong window.”
Walter’s face scrunched up in question. “Why do you always come so early?”
From his periphery, Alex saw Charlotte’s head dip back in a laugh. “What an excellent question, Walter.” She smiled, turning toward her brother. “And perhaps you could ask him why he didn’t choose to use the front door.”
Walter considered his sister thoughtfully. “Yes, Charlotte’s right. Why aren’t you at the door?” His small finger pointed toward the ironclad entryway.
Alex raked a hand through his hair and smiled. “Clearly I’ve gone about this all wrong.” This wasn’t what he’d planned, and he desperately hoped no other brothers popped out of any other windows.
“Walter,” Charlotte inserted into the pause, “have you seen many birds near the garden lately? I’ve noticed there aren’t as many as usual. Mama has been keeping me so busy these past few days, but what if we went on an outing tomorrow and caught a whole jar or two of worms to draw in the birds with?”
Walter eyed her and then smiled, exposing a few gaps made by absent milk teeth. “Oh, that would be great fun!”
“Splendid,” Charlotte replied. She dropped her voice to a near-whisper. “Now, I don’t want to invite Joseph or George because they’ll want to torment the little creatures or perhaps tell on me because a grown girl is trying to catch dirty bugs, so it’ll just be our secret.”
Walter nodded and mimed ashhhwith his finger over his lips.
Alex sighed, grateful for Charlotte’s quick thinking and hopeful because she’d accepted his invitation. “You know,” he interjected, “I am an expert at finding worms, especially in these woods. Would you mind, Walter, if I came along?”
The boy’s large eyes studied him and then turned tight. “How do I knowyouwon’t tell on Charlotte?”
“Ahh.” Alex chuckled. “Astute young man, you are, caring for your sister in such a gentlemanly way.” Walter’s chest puffed out. Alex crossed his finger over his heart in anx. “You have my word, from one gentleman to another, that I won’t tell a soul.”
“Hmm,” Walter replied. “I think I heard Joseph say once that you aren’t a gentleman, but he’s probably wrong.” He bit his lip in deliberation. He shrugged. “You can come!”
“Why, thank you.” Alex tried not to bristle at the honest admission. His glance swept back to Charlotte, and he noticed her hands tensed on the balcony railing.
“Excellent!” Charlotte met Alex’s eyes. “So good of you, Mr. Jenkins, to offer your worm-hunting skills. Tomorrow, then, we will be in the south forest near the shallowest part of the river. Perhaps two hours after noon?” Her eyes arched expectantly.
“Certainly. I will bring whatever supplies I think are most beneficial.”
***
The next morning Charlotte tucked two pilfered glass jars from the kitchen into the small linen bag she carried. She felt a little deceptive for devising this plan, but how else could she get out of her mother’s clutches? She cut a small scrap of fabric from her sewing basket and rolled up some twine to tie a lid. She added that to her bag along with a cloth to clean her hands and then met Walter on the back steps.
“You can sit on the front of Penny,” she said, and they made their way to the stables.
Once situated on their horse and headed to the south woods, Walter started to prattle on about how excited he was at the prospect of the worms, brandishing a spoon he had independently stolen from the kitchen.
Charlotte’s motive wasn’t entirely selfless, but she was glad to spend time providing enjoyment for her brother. It had taken more than luck for her mother to acquiesce to her suggestion that she take a nap this afternoon after all their hard planning and agree that they could reconvene later that evening with plenty of time to organize for the ball in twelve days.
Charlotte wasn’t wearing her best day dress, but considering the outing before her, her hair and gown had never received more attention for an afternoon among the grass and dirt.
