Page 6 of Ladybird

“From where?” asked Regina.

“From home. Your mother sent it.” Concern showed on Madoc’s brow.

“Oh no! Is Mother all right?” asked Regina.

“She’s fine,” said Madoc. “Unfortunately, her note says that your grandfather has died.”

“Nay. That is so sad.” Dot wiped a tear from her eye. With her turned up little mouth even when the girl cried she didn’t look sad but Regina knew her emotions were real.

Regina’s father looked more serious than she’d ever seen him and she could tell he was deeply disturbed.

“I need to return at once to Blackmore Castle,” he told her. “I’ll have to make plans for your grandfather’s funeral.”

“Father, that means you’re the new lord of Blackmore now, since Mother’s father died, doesn’t it?” asked Robin.

“Yes. Yes, I am,” Madoc answered. “We all knew this day would come, and now there is much to do.” He shook his head and looked down at the ground. “We’ve been expecting this for some time with his illness. Still, your mother will be devastated to have lost both her parents now.”

“I think we should all go back to Blackmore at once,” suggested Regina. “Mother will need our support at a time like this.”

Instead of agreeing, Robin and Madoc exchanged an odd look that Regina did not understand.

“What is it?” asked Regina. “There is something you two are not telling us, isn’t there?”

“Yes, I think so too. Is there something else we need to know?” asked Dot, wiping her eye with her sleeve.

“I think it is best if I go home alone,” Madoc told them.

“Why?” asked Regina. “We all need to be there for Grandfather’s funeral.”

“Nay. Something has arisen here at Shrewsbury and it is best if Robin stays back to handle matters,” said Madoc. “Besides, Sage is still feeling quite ill. It would be better if Robin doesn’t leave her or ask her to travel right now.”

“Sage is a healer,” Dot pointed out. “She sure seems to be ill quite often lately. Can’t she cure herself?”

“Not from this.” Robin exchanged looks with their father once again.

“You’d better tell them, Robin. It’s been too long now,” said Madoc.

“Tell us what?” asked Regina.

“Oooh nooo,” wailed Dot. “Is Sage about to die too?”

“Nay,” said Robin, swishing his hand through the air. “We didn’t want to say anything sooner because Sage is superstitious. But you might as well know that she is nearly five months pregnant. With twins, or so the midwife thinks.”

“Pregnant? With twins? That is so exciting!” exclaimed Regina. “Then she swatted her brother on the arm. “Why didn’t you tell us this sooner? What is the matter with you for keeping this from us? We are your sisters and need to know these things.”

“I wanted to tell you, but Sage and Martine thought it best to wait until the morning sickness stage passed even though it seems to be taking forever.” Robin shrugged.

“Martine knew about the pregnancy as well and yet you didn’t tell us?” Regina crossed her arms over her chest and scowled. She felt left out that her brother would have told their older sister but not her and Dot. Especially since Martine was the one whom Robin used to never get along with at all.

“Martine is pregnant, too, remember,” Robin told her. “My wife needed someone to talk to who knows about these things.” Robin tried to dig himself out of the hole he’d fallen into by not telling his sisters the news sooner.

“Well, we are happy for her,” said Regina, flashing a smile. “Still, that is no reason to stop Dot and I from accompanying Father back home for Grandfather’s funeral.”

“Nay, it’s not,” agreed Robin. “However, that isn’t quite what Father meant.”

“There is no reason so important that would keep me from going home right now,” stated Regina. “Mother is in need of comfort. So don’t even try to stop me.”

“There has been a string of burglaries lately,” announced Madoc.