Summoned

Claire did her best to warn Lady Aubergine about what happened at the fountain,  but without Adolphus she could only tell what she had seen. She did not know how the boys had started fighting. The twins railed against Adolphus’ stupidity until Bettina, a red spot flushing each cheek, flung herself at her sisters, screaming “My fault, my fault, my fault!”

Claire scooped her up. “No, not your fault. Any of us would have uncovered those carvings. Father and Mother taught us to value knowledge and discovery. We all would have wanted to see what was under there and why.” She hugged her sister, who for once did not try to squirm away. “It’s just so much more complicated here than at home.”

Adolphus stayed out for hours, returning just before dark, disheveled and haunted. He said nothing of where he had been, nor, once they saw him, did his siblings ask.

Lady Aubergine straightened his hair and smoothed his cowlick more gently than his mother ever had, and tears started in his eyes. He smeared them away, and Eglantine pretended not to notice.

“I was born in trouble, Adolphus,” Eglantine said. “And never for any reason. All my life

I’ve been threatened with terrible punishments just for being born. Once again I shall slip through to continue the wait, or something shall fall on me. Either way, I have never felt so happy as I have with you children here. I could not wish for a better reason to be in trouble than you.”

He managed a shaky smile for her, and she rewarded him with a warm one.

The summons came the next day, late in the morning. Queen Drysi awaited Lady Aubergine and the children immediately.

“Now,  I will do everything I can to keep you safe until your parents arrive. You are brave and thoughtful children, but I must beg you to keep quiet, which I know is unlike you, and behave meekly, which will be difficult. But I must insist that you allow me to do what I can.”

Adolphus could only look at his shoes. The twins and Gerhardt stood close together, and Bettina clung to Eglantine’s skirt. The lady stooped and picked her up.

“Oh, this is all our fault!” Claire wailed.

“No!” Eglantine softened her voice and drew the children close. “You are sane visitors in a madhouse. Remember this: If she does something bad, it is her fault. Not you, not the terrified idiots watching, just her. You can only, ever, be responsible for your own behavior.”

With one last check as to the children’s presentability, she sailed down the corridor, proud as an admiral’s flagship, although behind her was a downcast fleet. Mirabelle caught up with her older brother.

“Look, it was a matter of time before one of us thumped him,” she said. “I just which I’d gotten a lick in.” She squeezed his arm.