“You speak too soon.” She pointed skyward, and Daniel looked up, squinting against the sunlight. A sudden chill went through him.
A swarm of pirate battlehouses was descending upon the scene like seagulls at a picnic, albeit enormous seagulls, wooden, architecturally designed, and—
Just give up, his brain advised wearily.
“How did they know where to find us?” Alice asked.
“Pirates have an unerring internal compass for drama,” Ned told her, and both Daniel and Alice jolted, belatedly recollecting his presence. Daniel released Alice’s hand and she stepped back.
Ned did not smirk, but his whole demeanor exuded such a smirkful attitude, Daniel felt tempted to punch him. The pirate shifted his daughter from one hip to the other, and Evangeline reached toward Alice, grasping for something to steal.
“Hello,” Alice said with mild reproof... then withdrew from her sleeve a lace-trimmed handkerchief embroidered with Latin and roses. This she handed to Evangeline, who scrunched it in her tiny fist.
Beeeeep! Beeeeep! Beeeeep!
Now Ned was the one to jolt as the handkerchief began screeching. But Evangeline giggled and flapped the cloth.Beeeeep! Beeeeep! Beeeeep!Ned whipped a deadly look at Alice, who gazed back with the placid ignorance of everyone who gives a noisy present to a small child.
“Atrocious!” someone shouted over the clamor. They turned to seeMrs. Rotunder striding across the field, her enormous pink bustle swinging from side to side and her skull-and-crossbones earrings a-clatter. She jabbed the tip of a furled lace parasol into the grass ahead of every step, testing for cow pats. “Why did you not wait for us before blowing up your cottage?!”
“Actually—” Daniel began.
“And what do you think you are doing, Mr. Lightbourne, exposing The Baby in such careless fashion to the Great Peril?!”
“Captain,” Ned said automatically, but Mrs. Rotunder ignored him. She flicked her wrist, and the parasol opened with athwompthat sounded like disdainful commentary on Ned’s parenting ability. Reaching out with her free arm, she removed Evangeline from him.
“There now,” she murmured to the child. “No risk of freckles under Aunty Gertrude’s shade.” Casting a black look at Ned, she marched away.
Ned blinked rather stupidly. Daniel and Alice exchanged a glance that didn’t know whether to be amused or anxious, but that mostly wished it could go sit in a corner somewhere and read a book.
“Dear,” came Cecilia’s cool voice. Everyone turned to see her exit Puck House. “Did you just allow Mrs. Rotunder to kidnap my child?”
“I—” Ned began.
Beeeeep! Beeeeep! Beeeeep!
“Good God!” Mrs. Rotunder could be heard exclaiming. “Give me that at once, Evangeline.”
“Waaaaahhh!”
“No, don’t cry...”
Beeeeep! Beeeeep! Beeeeep!
Five seconds later, Ned had Evangeline back in his arms and Mrs. Rotunder was hastening away, muttering something about going for a nice quiet cup of tea (splashed with rum).
Glancing again at Alice, Daniel noticed her eyes glazing over in away that alerted him to her overwhelmed state. He was not feeling particularly calm himself under the barrage of noise. “Shall we leave?” he asked.
“Oh, you cannot go yet,” Cecilia interjected. “Not when there is tea on offer.”
Daniel looked around in bewilderment, uncertain when anyone had offered him tea.
“May I mention the Wisteria Society’s efforts last night to capture us?” Alice said.
“Oh, that was yesterday,” Cecilia told her blithely. “Today you have provided new entertainment, and so all will be forgiven. The Wisteria Society are—”
“Volatile,” Ned said.
“Mad,” Alice and Daniel chorused.
