ten and rise by six of course she would like to get more work done had the family not remained down the stairs until ten in the evening. Emily wanted to compose a letter

like. She already knew her responsibilities which were the children, to take them to bed by ten as usual but what of the rest of the party? She knew by now that the Mortimers' friends

e party?" asked John who b

eplied Emily, sighi

esn't

y trying to sound stern but h

" started John, scribbling down on his notes

an excuse for your parents to have one after such

hen, you'll be stuck with us," sai

about me," she said, "I c

their parents. Usually, after their studies, the children would play in the garden with the swings, seesaw, and the slide which was surprising to her at first since they

ly?" asked Mildred as she

wenty-

" asked Mildr

ily with a smile, "I suppose you a

. Mortimer were going to show up at any time now. Cecille went back into the house and within a few moments appeared ag

e went up the steps of the garden porch, they were

father, "come hither and h

hey were told and wal

ld obey him as if he were their master and not their father but Emily forced the thought out of her mind, it was just another one of her

ren, Emily?" asked Dolores just

Emily in reply, "we've been getting t

too," said Mr. Mortimer as h

ing my j

reply as he watched the children s

r members of the household preparing for it. The color motif was purple and gold, regal and fancy though Emily did not know what she expected when it came to well-off families

t made her wonder if there was something wrong with the marriage or if they were like the couples of their day, betrothed without getting to know each other, and once married they settled into an agreement with how they were to beh

for the occasion the entire day there was no room for unplanned events that could arise if there had been anything wrong with it. Of course, it was Mrs. Mortimer who was in charge of planning the event from the decorations to the food prep

played hide and seek she doubted they'd be playing at all when the night was over, they were rambunctious children who had the energy like that of raccoons but they wer

ld on the top of his head and made no attempt to cover it while the woman was homely and he

r the party."

o com

r them and they promptly

verness." said the woman brig

miled a toothy smile when sh

ren?" asked the man this t

ded befor

little da

ee heads turned to the stairs, and there stood

out of glass, something she noticed whenever they were in each other's company. When they touched down a

erful as always." said

mer who then turned to face her. "Emily, thi

he introduction and the host

ognizable due to the simple dress she wore in dark colors and her hair combed and fixed in a bun that exposed her entire face. She wore some perfume

ter her charge. Emily thought of herself as a multi-tasker but tonight had been a challenge, she also prided herself on never havin

ne place?" the governess asked her charge not

Emily," they re

nk y

one her age, a few of them discussed their investments in Dark Harbor, and others spoke of their gardens and their plans to redesign while the rest seem glad to just be out of their mansions. There was a queerness about the party thrown for her, the

s the adventure given to her; a party in her name. Even during the party, as the hours passed by, she felt that she was waiting to either wake up back in her family's apartment in Dark Harbor to be told that it had been an elabora

en too much for her but she did not want to make a scene in front of all the visi

side of the living room was just what she was looking for. It had been empty when she first came to the house with n

ing blocks of wood she found laying just next to the hearth and lighting a match for sufficient warmth she noticed a shadow in the r