Lily’s attention sharpened immediately.
"All of us?"
"Yes," Eleanor said.
"And Julian?"
A brief pause followed. Beatrice glanced toward the house.
"That will depend on whether he is willing to be persuaded."
"He will be," Lily said with confidence.
"You seem certain," Anne remarked.
"I usually am," Lily replied. "Besides, my brother knows not to say no to me."
That earned a small laugh from Beatrice. As they moved toward the house, the door opened before they reached it. Julian stood there, as though he had already been aware of their return. His gaze moved briefly over the group, settling for a moment on Eleanor before shifting to Lily.
"You have returned," he said.
"They have," Lily replied, as if she were their spokesperson.
A faint shift crossed Julian’s expression, though it was gone quickly. Eleanor watched the exchange without interrupting it. Lily turned slightly then, looking between them all.
"I look forward to joining you all next time," she said firmly, as though she had rehearsed it. "I trust that you will not object to my brother coming too."
And with that, she turned and went inside as though the matter had already been settled. Beatrice watched her go in admiration.
"She is remarkably confident."
Julian’s gaze lingered in the direction she had disappeared.
"She has learned to be."
Eleanor noticed the way he said it, though she did not comment. Instead, she followed them inside, the house closing around them once more. Lily was a strange little girl, one with an incredible vocabulary and a good speaking ability. She was wise beyond her years, and Eleanor wished that she understood why.
They did not go inside immediately.
The following morning, they prepared for another excursion, one that would include the little girl this time. Julian was absent, having sent a servant to explain that he had work to tend to and therefore could not join them, which made the little girl visibly disappointed. Eleanor crouched slightly, bringing herself closer to Lily’s height.
"What would you like to do?"
Lily hesitated, which in itself seemed unusual. Her gaze shifted briefly between them, as though measuring the answer before offering it.
"Something outside," she said at last. "Not walking."
"That narrows it considerably," Anne murmured.
"We could play a game," Beatrice suggested. "Though I warn you, I am very competitive."
Lily looked at her with interest.
"Good. I am too."
Eleanor smiled.
"Then a game it is."