“You should write them,” Marjorie said to Philippa. “I’ll illustrate.”
“Illustrate your way into the carriage.” Tommy motioned them out through the front door. “We’ve dragons to slay and no time to waste.”
The Wynchesters’ coach-and-four awaited them. A smartly dressed tiger helped the ladies inside.
“To the Yorks, please!” Tommy called out, after arranging herself on the bench next to Philippa and Tiglet.
Marjorie and Elizabeth exchanged knowing glances on the opposite side.
Elizabeth gave an exaggeratedly suggestive wink. “Dare I hope?”
“You may hope,” Tommy replied primly, twirling one of her false ringlets.
Philippa cupped her hands to her mouth and whispered, “You would be right.”
Marjorie and Elizabeth burst into delighted applause.
“It’s about time you became one of us,” Elizabeth said. “As soon as we’re free from this carriage, I shall unsheathe my sword and dub you a Wynchester.”
“There’s no such ceremony,” Tommy informed Philippa. “Say no if you value your ears.Ivalue your ears.”
“We should add a knighting ceremony,” Elizabeth said. “Justagreeingwe accept a person into our family lacks panache.”
“Any ceremony sounds wonderful to me,” Philippa said. “I’ve never had siblings before. Or lived with anyone who particularly wished to spend time with me. There aren’t words to express how much this means to me.”
Marjorie brightened. “We have signs to express the things words cannot. When we feel something deeply, or wish to swear upon our souls, we do this.”
All three sisters touched their hands to their hearts and lifted their fingers to the sky.
“I am proud to be a Wynchester,” Philippa said, and copied the movement.
Elizabeth grinned at her. “Welcome to the family.”
“This doesn’t mean you two imps are welcome to monopolize her,” Tommy warned. “You are preemptively forbidden from spending time with Philippa without submitting your requests to me in advance. We have already arranged our calendar, and we have decided never to leave the bedroom.”
“What about breakfast and supper?” Marjorie asked.
“Those are good points,” Tommy admitted. “Especially if there are pies.”
“What about books?” Elizabeth asked.
“Your sisters are skilled negotiators,” Philippa said. “We find ourselves forced to compromise. Tommy can have me sometimes, and the rest of you can have me some other times.”
Tommy crossed her arms. “I did not approve this plan.”
“You don’t have to,” said Elizabeth. “We are the Democratic Republic of Wynchesters and our collective vote outnumbers yours.”
“We’re not that, either,” Tommy whispered to Philippa. “If we were, Elizabeth would find a way to legislate daily sword fights.”
“I’ll teach you.” Elizabeth beamed at Philippa. “Tommy won’t be half so cocky once you’ve sliced off a lock of her hair with the tip of your sword.”
“I’ll illustrate the act.” Marjorie held up her sketch pad. “For posterity.”
“Do I even want to know what sorts of images one might find amongst those sketches?” Philippa inquired.
“You do not,” Tommy said. “But if you do, peruse Graham’s shelves. Marjorie has helpfully illustrated a few choice scenes from the intelligence his network has gathered.”
“That sounds ominous,” Philippa said.
