The girls! Yes, that was it. She’d go visit the girls. She may not like their father overmuch, but she did like them. Before the wedding breakfast she’d glimpsed a woman whisking them away to what Juliet assumed was the schoolroom. The woman looked a little old to be a governess, but perhaps she’d been with the family so long she’d not wanted to leave.
Thirty minutes, five wrong turns, six curious stares, and three confusing conversations with passing servants later, Juliet entered the schoolroom.
“Juliet! Juliet!” Kate cried upon Juliet’s entrance
Less than ten seconds later, six arms wound their way around Juliet’s midsection, squeezing her so tightly she might have popped if she’d actually eaten more than five morsels at her wedding breakfast.
“Have you come to spend the afternoon?” Celia asked, tucking a tendril of her dark hair behind her ear.
All three of the girls looked so hopeful, Juliet’s heart melted on the spot. “Of course. What are you three doing in here anyway?”
“Learning letters,” Helena said dully.
The side of Juliet’s mouth tipped up. “Hmm, am I correct in assuming you’re not enjoying learning your letters?”
No one responded.
Juliet laughed. “Dislike them that much, do you?”
“How did you know?” Kate asked, her voice filled with awe.
“You told me, or should I say your lack of words and facial expression did.” Juliet said.
“Oh,” Kate marveled. “And what does my expression say now?”
Juliet pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at the little girl, letting her eyes do a slow, thorough sweep of the little girl’s sparkling hazel eyes and giant grin. “Hmmm, I could be wrong, but I think you’re thinking of biscuits. Yes, biscuits. That’s it.”
Kate’s eyes widened so far Juliet was sure they were on the verge of popping out. “How did you know that?”
“Oh, so my prediction wasn’t wrong?”
Kate shook her head wildly.
Juliet bit the inside of her cheek. It would never cease to amaze her the workings of young children’s brains. Who under the age of eight didn’t chronically think about biscuits or a similar treat? Juliet cocked her head to the side and tapped one finger against her cheek. “Now that we have that mystery solved, we have a larger matter at hand. Does anyone know if there are any of these rare little finds somewhere around here?”
“In the kitchen,” Helena and Kate said at the same time.
Juliet furrowed her brows, put her hands on her hips, and adopted a tone of pure disbelief. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Kate said proudly.
Juliet blinked at her. “I don’t believe it. Celia, do you know what they’re talking about? They claim there are actually treats in the kitchen here at Briar Creek. Is that true?”
“Yes,” Celia said with a little giggle.
“Hmm.” Juliet twisted her lips then gave an exaggerated sigh. “Well, what are you three waiting for? Now that you’ve made such a declaration―one I’m not sure I actually believe―I need to see the proof! Let’s go see if we can locate such a thing around here.”
Kate’s little hand suddenly gripped Juliet’s and tugged. “The kitchen’s this way.”
Juliet was sure she’d worn a hole in the soles of her slippers three minutes later when she entered the kitchen. One thing was certain, those little girls sure knew their way to the kitchen. Probably the fastest way to get there from the schoolroom, too.
“What do ye want now?” a robust woman wearing an apron asked, a small smile bending her lips.
“Biscuits!” Kate answered, running across the kitchen.
Cook laughed. “All right. Go get ‘em.” She turned back to look at Juliet. “Excuse me, milady. His lordship sends his girls down here so often for treats, I’ve gotten in the habit of letting them pick what they want.”
Juliet nodded. Living in a simple cottage almost all her life, she wasn’t concerned with servants and their roles. She’d never even had them except for the few years she’d attended school. Other than that, she or her mother had done the inside chores.
Celia and her sisters walked over to a little table in the corner. “Are you coming, Juliet?” Helena called.
“Of course.” She walked over to the table and sat in a vacant chair between Helena and Kate. “Don’t eat too many, girls. You’ll want to be able to eat your dinner tonight.”
“Don’t worry, we will,” Helena assured her, popping half a biscuit in her mouth.
Juliet shook her head. If her count was correct, and they hadn’t swiped more than she thought they had, there was no way those little girls would be able to eat more than three bites tonight at dinner. Good thing this was a lofty household where children ate meals separate from the adults or Juliet might have a lot to answer for.