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“I can see that now.” He broke off a piece. It was still warm from the oven, fragrant and comforting as only fresh-baked bread could be.
“Next you’ll be saying that our beef isn’t cooked correctly,” he said.
“It’s not!” declared Michel. “It’s too dry.”
“One mustn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, Michel,” said Miss Perkins.
“And how is the infamous P.L. Rabbit doing? Escaped from Drew the Destroyer, I trust?” asked Edgar.
Michel’s jaw dropped. “You know about P.L.?”
“Everyone knows P.L. What adventures has she had lately?”
“Yesterday, she mixed cook’s baking powder with some vinegar and made an awful mess trying to make a volcanic eruption,” said Adele.
“Sounds like old P.L.’s a better pirate than a chemist,” Edgar laughed.
“Today, she’s going to voyage round the world with Captain James Cook and meet some penguins,” said Michel.
“Miss Perkins says penguins waddle like this.” Adele stood up from the table and performed a lurching, sideways walk with her arms glued at her sides.
“Sit down and finish your bread, if you please,” said Miss Perkins, but there was a smile on her lips. “The children can hardly contain their excitement about Lady India’s antiquities exhibition, Your Grace. She sent a note to say that they will have a role in the historical tableaux she’s presenting.”
“We’re going to wave palm fronds,” said Adele.
“Always making a spectacle, my sister,” said Edgar. “She loves to set tongues wagging. When we were children she was forever mounting theatricals but she was never interested in playing a supporting role. It was always Cleopatra or Joan of Arc for her.”
“I like Lady India,” announced Adele, with a nod of her head.
“I’m quite sure you do,” said Miss Perkins. “Will there be many guests, Your Grace?”
“Two dozen, I believe. Everyone has accepted. Antiquarians and nobility. The Duke of Ravenwood will be here. Haven’t seen him in years.”
“Another duke?” asked Miss Perkins.
The way she said it made it sound like another duke would be the worst possible thing to appear.
“He wouldn’t miss it. He’s India’s sworn enemy.” He turned to the children. “Just like P.L. and Drew the Destroyer.”
“Why are they enemies?” asked Michel.
“Well that’s a long story. We grew up in neighboring houses, and they used to be very good friends, but they had a falling out. They both have a passion for antiquities, but extremely different methods of going about it.”
“We’ll be learning about Egyptian antiquities in preparation for the exhibition,” said Miss Perkins.
“Do you think Lady India will battle the Duke of Ravenwood with her dagger?” asked Adele eagerly.
“I shouldn’t be surprised,” said Edgar. “There was an incident several years ago with a vase. He thought it was a priceless Ming Dynasty piece, and she proved it was a fraud. By cracking it over his head.”
Finally, he’d made Miss Perkins laugh.
“I suppose that wouldn’t necessarily endear her to him,” she said.
Adele grinned. “That’s why I like her.”
“Why isn’t Lady India married?” asked Michel. “She’s ever so pretty.”
“That’s a good question, but don’t, I pray you, ever ask Lady India that,” Edgar warned. “Women tend to dislike questions about being unmarried.”
