“Good,” Bray said abruptly, and clapped him on the shoulder before he could change his mind. “Go tell her. I’ll bring the girls over. And, Seaton, I owe you.”
“I’ll collect one day.”
“I have no doubt.”
Bray waved to his friend, and walked back to the carriage in much brighter spirits than when he’d left.
“How would you young ladies like to see a puppet show?” he asked.
“Yes!” they all screamed at once.
“Well, it just so happens this is your lucky day to be in the park. There’s going to be one in about half an hour.”
The sisters squealed, clapped, and jumped up and down again.
“Careful, girls, you’ll scare the horses,” Bray said. “Come, Miss Sybil, you get down first. You can play and have refreshments with the Seatons and their grandchildren and then watch the puppet show with them while Miss Prim and I ride for a little longer.”
Bray reached for Miss Bonnie and helped her down, too, but when he reached for Miss Lillian, she remained sulking in the seat, her arms tightly pressed to her chest.
“I don’t want to stay with them,” Miss Lillian said. “I don’t know them. I want to go with you.”
It surprised Bray that she objected.
“I don’t care if I don’t know them,” Miss Sybil said. “I want to see the show.”
“Me, too,” Miss Bonnie piped in.
“Lillian,” Louisa said, but Bray touched her arm, and when she looked at him, he indicated for her to let him handle this.
“You are the oldest, Miss Lillian. The younger girls want to see the puppets. You must stay with them and be responsible much in the same way Miss Prim has always been responsible for you.”
Her bottom lip quivered. “I don’t want to. There are boys. I’ve never played with boys before.”
“Then this will be a good learning experience for you. You’ll manage just fine. Come on and let me help you down. Keep remembering you are the oldest and act like it.”
She still didn’t move.
Bray struggled to hold on to his temper. Miss Lillian sniffed and looked as if she might start crying at any moment, and Bray felt as if he might start yelling at any moment. But he bit down on his tongue and refrained.
Staying firm, he asked, “How many times do you think your sister has done things for you she’d rather not do?”
Miss Lillian remained quiet, so he said again, “How many?”
“Often, Your Grace,” she finally mumbled.
“That’s right. Has she ever complained and said she didn’t want to play a children’s game with you and your sisters, or sit by your beside when you were sick?”
Miss Lillian raised her head and shook it. Tears collected in her eyes.
Louisa started to speak again, and he gave her a warning look. She returned it.
“That’s right, Miss Lillian, and neither should you.”
“I don’t want to stay,” she said, and the first tear rolled down her cheek.
Bray reached into the chaise, took her by the upper arms, gently lifted her out, and stood her on her feet. He heard Louisa gasp, but he didn’t even look at her as he continued talking to Miss Lillian.
“Now, as for the young boys, they scream and yell and run around as wildly as you and your sisters do. I have no fear that if they step out of line with any of you, you have the fortitude to snap them right back in their place with a few choice words. Now, come along so we can go meet the Seaton family.”
