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"If I climb up there will you tell me why you ran from your nurse?"
"Climb up here? Girls don't climb trees."
"This girl does."
"My nurse says that is unladylike behavior."
"Yes, well unladylike or not, I climb trees and enjoy it."
It was curiosity more than anything that had Nickie agreeing. Quinn studied the tree and knew she would have no problem at all climbing it but that was when she was wearing shorts or jeans not yards of heavy skirts. Making an executive decision, she managed to unfasten her gown and pulled it off so she wore only her chemise and petticoats which were still an obscene amount of fabric but easier to move in. She jumped up to the lowest branch and easily pulled herself up onto it and then, as nimble as a monkey, she climbed until she was just at the branch where Nickie stood.
"Do you suppose you can hold on for a few minutes more while I go up and release your kite?"
Nickie was looking at her in awe. "Yes."
"Good."
Minutes later Quinn untangled the line and dropped the kite to the ground below before climbing back down to Nickie. Just as she reached him a voice called from below.
"Nickie, are you in that tree again?"
"Mr. Tilward," Nickie whispered.
She hoped the butler wouldn't notice her discarded gown when he called up again.
"Miss Shaughnessy, are you up there as well?" Discovered!
Why she felt like she was getting reprimanded she couldn't say but she replied in a voice dripping with contrition.
"Yes, sir."
"She's helping me get down," Nickie shouted.
"Very well. I'll wait here to catch you if necessary."
Nickie leaned really close to Quinn and whispered, "He acts mean but he's really very kind."
"Good to know. Okay, can you follow my steps down?"
He looked nervous but Quinn had to give it to him for manning up. "Yes."
She took her time leading Nickie down, branch by branch, until they were just above Mr. Tilward but then Nickie's foot slipped off the last branch and he started to fall the 15 feet to the ground. It was instinct that had her grabbing his shirt and pants in a death grip but the momentum of his fall pulled her forward. She made sure that Nickie was in Mr. Tilward's reach before she screamed, "Grab him!" She released Nickie and pushed herself back so she wouldn't land right on top of them which had her crashing down hard on her side; all the air was forced from her body by the impact. She felt a searing pain that started at her shoulder and went all the way down to her hip. Nickie and Mr. Tilward were at her side instantly. Quinn noticed that there were tears in Nickie's eyes.
"Are you hurt?" she inquired.
"No, but you are."
"Oh, well, yes but I don't think anything is broken."
"Let me get help," Mr. Tilward said as he started to rise which had Quinn and Nickie both reacting.
"Not my father!"
"Not Lord Scarcliff!" They said in unison.
Quinn looked over at Nickie. "Why not your father?"
He looked guilty before he answered, "I'm not supposed to climb because I could fall."
