Chapter 23 postscript

"...No, that's not the most exciting part," Annabelle said enthusiastically, waving a stack of papers in her hand to signal the Bowman sisters to be quiet.The three women nestled in Annabelle's Rutledge suite, dangling their stockinged legs and sipping rum. "Let me read on...' We stopped in the Loire Valley to see a sixteenth-century chateau under restoration, and Miss Hunt met an unmarried American gentleman, David Keel, who accompanied his two cousins ​​on the trip .Apparently he's an art historian and he's writing a scholarly book on what, and he and Miss Hunter had a lot to talk about. According to the two mothers - that's what I'll call Mom and Mrs Hunter from now on, because They were always inseparable, and seemed to share the same brain—'"

"My God," Lillian cried, laughing, "does your brother have to write such long sentences?" "Hush!" Daisy scolded. "Jeremy is about to tell what mothers think of Mr. Keel. Go on, Annabelle." "—they agreed that Mr. Keel was a pleasant, handsome gentleman—" read Annabelle. "Does that mean handsome?" asked Daisy. Annabelle grinned, "Of course. Jeremy went on to say that Mr. Keir had asked permission to write to Meredith, and he planned to visit her when she returned to London!" "It's wonderful!" cried Daisy, raising her glass to Lillian. "Pour me another glass, dear—I want to toast Meredith's future happiness."

They all drank happily. Annabelle put the letter aside and sighed happily, "I wish I could tell Evie." "I miss Evie," Lillian said with a surprisingly sad face. "Perhaps soon her caretakers — sorry, her family — will allow us to visit." "I have an idea," Daisy commented. "When my father comes over from New York next month, we will visit Stoneword with him again. Naturally, Annabelle and Mrs. Hunt will also be invited because of their friendship with Westcliff. Maybe we can Ask for Evie and her aunt to be invited too. Then we can have a proper wallflower meeting—not to mention another game of running stick."

Annabelle groaned exaggeratedly, and gulped down the wine in the glass. "God help me." She put the glass on the table beside her, and fumbled in her pocket to produce a small paper package containing something, "I remember - Daisy, can you do me a favor?" ?” "Of course," the girl replied quickly, opening the paper bag.Seeing a piece of needle-like metal, her face wrinkled curiously, "What the hell is this?" "I pulled it off Lord Westcliff's shoulder the day the factory caught fire." She grinned at their surprised expressions at the long piece of iron. "If you don't mind, you can take the stone letter Manor, throw it in the wishing well."

"What should I wish for?" Annabelle chuckled softly, "Make a wish for poor old Westcliff as you did for me last time." "Poor old Westcliff?" Lillian snorted, looking at the two of them suspiciously. "What did you wish for Annabelle last time?" she ordered to her sister. "You never told me." "I never told Annabelle either." Daisy muttered, looking at Annabelle with a curious smile. "How do you know what it is?" Annabelle smiled at her too. "I figured it out." She crossed her legs, leaned forward and whispered, "Now, about finding a husband for Lillian... I have a very interesting idea..."

(End of the book)