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“Miss Perkins!” Adele said. “You came.”
“Yes, dear, I came.” She walked toward the table.
“Who’s this, then?” asked the handsome older gentleman who stood at the central counter.
The duke rose. “Mr. Lumley, the children’s governess, Miss Perkins.”
Mari approached the counter. Mr. Lumley stretched out his hand to touch her hand.
“I’m sorry my dear,” he said. “I don’t see very well these days. But I can tell that you’ve a fetching blue bonnet and red hair.”
“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Lumley. Your shop is delightful.”
“It is,” agreed Adele.
“Thank you, Miss Perkins,” said Mr. Lumley. “We’re one of the oldest toy shops in London.”
The children were obviously enchanted, and well they should be.
Kites soared on the walls along with swords, masks, and musical instruments. The shelves were piled high with sailing ships, dolls, tin soldiers, harlequins and other figurines.
Rocking horses, and horses with carts, balls, skipping ropes, and cricket bats were piled along the walls.
There were looking glasses of all sizes, spyglasses, compasses, and all manner of magnifying glasses and other educational tools.
The large oaken shop counter at the center of the room had a glass top. When she looked inside, Mari saw interesting objects and curiosities. Bones, glass phials, and silver ornaments.
It was a children’s paradise, filled with magical things.
Mr. Lumley smiled and wrinkles wreathed his cheeks. “His Grace used to be one of my very best customers, Miss Perkins. He liked the tin soldiers the best. Even had a custom armory made. Bloodthirsty, he was. Waged vast campaigns against enemy forces. He’d come and tell me that he needed more cannons.”
“Is that true?” Michel cocked his head.
“See?” said the duke. “I wasn’t a proper boring milksop.”
Adele giggled. “He heard you call him a milksop, Michel.”
“I don’t think you’re boring now, Father,” said Michel.
“How magnanimous,” said the duke.
It did Mari’s heart good to see them laughing and talking together.
“Now the duke makes his own miniatures,” she informed the toy maker. “Little toy engines.”
The duke gave her a look, but there was residual laughter in his gray eyes.
“I wonder if children will play someday with toy engines, just as they do with horse carts now?” asked Mr. Lumley.
“I shouldn’t wonder,” said Mari.
“I build small-scale models of my engines,” said Banksford. “I’m working on a fire engine right now.”
“We had a fire here, several years back,” said Mr. Lumley, his hand trembling where it lay on the table. “Nearly lost everything. But I’ve rebuilt since then. Children always need toys.”
“I captured your king. I win, right?” Adele hopped up from the table.
“You did at that,” said the duke.
