Page 41 of A Stormy Season

“We named one of the fish Prince Regent.” Luke grimaced.

“The one with the spot,” Jeffrey said, excitement vibrating his voice.

“He is a very fine fish. Have you named any of the others?”

But Jeffrey was too excited to pay attention to her question. He suddenly jumped up and ran around to the other side of the pool.

“Be careful,” Luke called, trotting after him. “Remember how much you disliked falling in. You cried and Sally had to give you a bath. Remember?”

Jeffrey simply squealed and pointed at a fish. “That one!”

“It’s a blue one, isn’t it? What shall we name it?” Jane asked.

“Bluey,” Jeffrey said.

“Bluey is a good name. What about that white one with black and orange spots? What should we name it?”

“Spotty.”

Luke glanced up and their eyes met. He smiled so wide, with his whole face, that she felt his joy. She had to make an effort to suppress a laugh.

Jeffrey soon grew restless with looking at the fish and started pulling on Luke’s hand and calling, “Miss Gilch’ist, come!”

“I’m coming.”

They let the little boy lead them into the trees where he pointed at the ground. “Badger’s house.”

There was a hole in the ground big enough for a badger to squeeze in and out of.

Before they could warn Jeffrey not to get too close, he held out his little arms and said, “Stay back. Badger mean.” He scrunched his face in what he probably thought was a fierce look, curling his fingers like claws.

“They are scary sometimes,” Luke said. “We should probably go so we don’t disturb the badger.”

They all moved away from the hole. Jeffrey went from one thing to the next, calling their attention to a brightly colored mushroom, then a bird feather, and then a broken and empty bird’s egg.

After about an hour of exploring, Jeffrey raised his arms to his father and said, “Thirsty.”

Luke picked him up, then lifted him up on his shoulders, holding on to his legs while Jeffrey held onto Luke’s hair.

“We are very informal here,” Luke said, as if apologizing to Jane.

“Info’mal!” Jeffrey shouted.

“I like informality,” Jane said, barely holding back a laugh.

They went back to the house with Luke pretending to gallop like a horse, jolting and jostling Jeffrey, with the little boy squealing and shouting, “Go! Giddyap!”

Sally was waiting for them at the back door and took Jeffrey to the kitchen for something to eat and drink.

“I believe we are late for tea,” Luke said, his brows raised in apology. He made his way through the hall toward the indistinct voices somewhere ahead. “Forgive me, Miss Gilchrist. You will think me a very bad host.”

“Not at all. I am enjoying myself immensely.”

They entered a large sitting room where Henry and Penelope were already having tea.

“Forgive us for starting without you,” Penelope said, “but the servant said you were exploring the garden with Jeffrey and we didn’t know when you’d return.”

“Forgive me for being late,” Luke said.