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"Even if we had weeks, it’s never going to be long enough to prepare her for a grand ball," said Puffylips "A soirée, uests, but a ball, possibly even in the presence of the duke and duchess--out of the question I can only assu hie’s eyes were chilly "He most certainly is not," he said "And it is not for you to cast doubt on the count’s decisions Gwyneth will ht, won’t you, Gwyneth?"

I didn’t answer My self-estee over the last two hours If it was only a case of not et by I’d just stand in a corner and wave my fan about Or rather, not wave htas no one disturbed me or asked me about the Marquis of Stafford or wantedthe piano keys She was playing a pretty little tune in the style of theto earlier Gideon went to stand beside her, and she looked up at hi I couldn’tso loudly

"We have tried teaching her the basic steps of the minuet in the conventional way, but I fear we shall have to resort to other methods"

In spite ofCharlotte’s ability to talk, look Gideon in the eyes, show her delightful little dimples, and play the piano all at the saraht help, or chalk circles on the floor, we could try…"

"You can go on with the lessons toe interrupted hi, Gwyneth?"

I nodded, relieved, and picked upLet off the hook at last! My sense of frustration instantly gave way to a certain excite well, today I’d be sent to elapse to a date after ht to find the key and the password in the secret hiding place

"Let ave o home You don’t look nearly as tired today as yesterday We’ll find you a nice quiet year--how about 1953? Gideon says it’s very coraph room He tells me there’s even a sofa there"

"Nineteen fifty-three is perfect," I said, trying not to sound quite so enthusiastic Five years afterwith Lucas! I could expect hi out in all that time

"Oh, and Charlotte, Mrs Jenkins has ordered a car for you You can take the rest of today off"

Charlotte stopped playing the piano "Thank you, Mr George," she said politely Then she put her head on one side and set the rest of the day off now, too?"

Hello? Was she about to ask if he’d like to go to the cinema with her? I held oing to elapse with Gwyneth"

Charlotte and I must have looked equally surprised

"You are not," said Mr George "You’ve already fulfilled your quota for today"

"And you look exhausted," said Charlotte "Which isn’t surprising You ought to use the time to catch up on soreed with Charlotte If Gideon cao in search of randfather

"On her oyneth would be spending four totally pointless hours in the cellar," said Gideon "If I go with her, she can learn soht sht and left I’ of thelessons!

"I have homework to do," I said in as unfriendly a tone as possible "And my Shakespeare essay is due tomorrow"

"I can help you with that, too," said Gideon, looking at me It was difficult to interpret his expression To anyone who didn’t know hiht seem innocent, but I knew better

Charlotte was still s, but without the pretty little died his shoulders "Well, if you say so Then Gwyneth won’t be on her own, and there’ll be nothing to be afraid of"

"I like being on ly "’Specially when I’ve been with people all day, like now" With totally stupid people

"Oh, yes?" asked Charlotte sarcastically "But then you’re never really alone, because you have all your invisible friends, don’t you?"

"Exactly," I said "Gideon, you’d only be in the way"

Go to the cine, why don’t you?

Well, that’s what I thought But did I reallyI wanted randfather and ask what he’d found out about the Green Rider On the other hand, vague memories of all that oh and h in ether and think of all the things I’d found to hate about Gideon