Eden and Lucy were at breakfast in the family dining room, as there didn't seem much point in going down to the Great Hall. Not only did most people skip breakfast because of their diets, but there'd been such a feast last night that even people who normally ate breakfast couldn't be bothered. They were alone – everyone else seemed to have got up early, or were sleeping in.

"A message for you, Miss Lucy," said Baxter in hushed tones, appearing as if from nowhere.

He reverently bestowed the envelope upon her, before vanishing silently to the sound of her thanks.

Lucy opened it, and said, "It's from Bernard. He wants to see us in his drawing room straight away."

"Both of us?" asked Eden, finishing her cup of tea.

"Yes. He says he needs to talk to you specially," Lucy said as she read through the missive.

After washing and tidying themselves in a nearby bathroom, Eden and Lucy were soon knocking on Bernard's door. Eden brushed down her dress and adjusted her sleeves; she was still wearing Roderick's jacket.

"Good morning, thank you for coming so quickly," Bernard said as he ushered them inside. "Please, take a seat. I hope you had a good time last night?"

Eden let Lucy answer that one.

"Oh yes. The high tea was delicious, thanks Bernard."

"You didn't feel like playing charades?" he asked, sounding slightly concerned. "I noticed you didn't go upstairs with the others."

"No. We sat by the fire and played riddle games," Lucy said. "Then we listened to the old people tell stories."

"That sounds alright, but you have to remember they're from a different generation," Bernard said. "Some of their stories may be rather ... unsuitable."

"A few of the stories did start getting a bit unsuitable, so Lucy and I went up to bed," Eden said, trying to help out.

Bernard's face cleared. "Of course, you're grown up enough now to judge for yourselves if something's not right to listen to, and remove yourself from the situation," he said. "Sorry for being an old nursemaid. Anyway Eden, it's you I'd like to talk to first."

Eden waited as Bernard shuffled papers around his desk, then consulted a sheaf of notes. He looked up at her with a smile.

"I had a meeting with the Police Commissioner, Sir Richard Fort, early this morning," Bernard said. "He followed up on your encounter at the markets yesterday, and put a team of his best men on the case. They were able to fully investigate the person involved, and I have some good news for you."

Eden and Lucy looked at each other in excitement. Finally they were going to learn about The White Mouse!

"The police have questioned the old sailor Ben Gosling at length, and are satisfied that he poses no danger to you," Bernard said. "I imagine that comes as some relief."

"Ben Gosling?" said Eden incredulously. "But what about the poor little boy who was snatched in the lane?"

Bernard flipped through his notes.

"Oh yes, Sir Richard did mention it," Bernard said. "They went to the Mercury Street Gang's lair under the pretext of looking for stolen goods, and made a thorough search for the boy, but didn't find anything."

"Then they need to keep looking," said Eden, beginning to lose her temper. "The gang might have other lairs. He could have run away. Something terrible may have happened to him!"

"Eden, this is a very busy time of year for the police," Bernard said in his calmest and most reasonable voice. "I can't ask them to put any more of their resources into a child you barely spoke to. And I understand from Maeve's report that she offered the boy a chance to come with her, and he refused."

"He was just about to change his mind when the man took him," Eden said. "I know he was. He was coming towards us."

"Isn't there anything that can be done, Bernard?" asked Lucy. "Could you ask Sir Richard to find out who the boy is?"

"Sir Richard has done what he could as a personal favour," Bernard said. "He's said he will make sure the police keep a lookout for the boy, and that's all I can ask."

"It's too bad, Bernard," Lucy said, twisting her hands in front of her. "His mother and father must be so worried about him, and at Yuletide too."

"My understanding is that this particular gang targets children who are orphans," Bernard said. "Most likely this boy lost his parents and his home, and ended up living on the streets. It's very sad, but unfortunately not an isolated case."

Eden tried to control her temper, and think of how her father would approach this.

"I'm a guest in this kingdom, so forgive me if I don't know how things work here," she said slowly. "Can you please explain to me how a young orphan can be left to fend for himself?"

"The Board of Guardians is responsible for the welfare of our citizens," Bernard replied. "Normally they would place such a child in an orphanage where he could be cared for. But they can't be everywhere, and people do fall through the cracks, I'm afraid."

"Is there any way we could tell the Board of Guardians about the boy?" Eden asked.

"I've let them know," Bernard said. "I've given them a description of the boy, the last location he was seen, and the fact that he may be in danger from criminal elements. But Yuletide is a very busy season for them, as you can imagine, and their welfare workers are stretched to the limit."

Eden's shoulders sagged. The situation seemed hopeless. There was a little boy on the streets of Camden who desperately needed help, but everyone was too busy at this time of year.

"I hope either the police or welfare workers can do something," said Lucy, although not sounding very optimistic. "Bernard, may I ask what Sir Richard was able to tell you about Ben Gosling?"

Bernard got a strange, closed-up look on his face. "Mr Gosling has been forgiven in the amnesty, and his slate wiped clean. He is a full member of society once more, and I don't need to say any more about it."

Lucy's little brown eyes, so alike to Bernard's, grew round. She let out a breath of air, gulped, but did not pursue this further.

"Oh. Well. But did they find out how he seemed to know Eden?"

Bernard looked through his notes again and said, "Gosling absolutely refused to admit that he knew you, Eden, or anything about you. Said he knew better than to discuss a young lady's good name. But after a lot of questioning, and asking around, the police felt sure that he was harmless."

"I never thought he was the dangerous one," Eden said listlessly.

"This must be disappointing for you, and I can tell you both care a great deal about poor orphans," Bernard said sympathetically. "That's why I'm placing you in charge of organising the Yuletide party for the children's home, Lucy."

"But I'm the youngest!" Lucy said in shock. "I've never organised anything before".

"The children's party should be for young people, by young people," said Bernard firmly. "And you're the eldest girl now Clarissa is away. All the family will lend their support, and you know how much this means to Pip."

"Yes, of course," Lucy nodded. "It's his children's home, after all."

"Here is the file with all the information you'll need," Bernard said, handing her an intimidatingly heavy leather binder. "Everything has been taken up to the schoolroom for you. You can ask any young courtiers to help, and all the footmen and upper servants are at your disposal."

Lucy looked rather squelched under the weight of the binder and her new responsibilities, so Eden said, "I'll help you, Lucy. It might be rather fun."

⋆⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⋆ ❆ ⋆∘∙⊱⋅•⋅⋆

By the time they got to the schoolroom, Lucy was already having a crisis of confidence. "It's all very well for Bernard to say, That's the spirit, be on your way now, but I haven't had any preparation for this."

"Didn't you help in other years?"

"Yes, but it's not really the same," Lucy said. "Otto and Clarissa always told me what to do."

She swung open the door of the schoolroom, where Roderick and a tall, athletic boy with curly dark hair were lunging at each other with imaginary swords.

"We've just come from our fencing lesson at the gymnasium," Roderick panted. "You should learn, Lu, be so good for your posture."

The curly-haired boy now had Roderick at his mercy, pinned down and almost lying on a long map table, their faces close together. They were both flushed, and Eden somehow felt that this experience was not entirely unpleasant for Roderick.

"Stop messing around," Lucy said. "I'm in charge of the children's party this year, and I'll need your help."

"The burden of responsibility fell on her frail shoulders like an iron yoke," declaimed the curly-haired boy, getting off Roderick. "I say, Roddy. Why is that girl wearing your jacket?"

"I loaned it to Eden last night because she was cold," Roderick said.

"How very chivalrous of you," said the other boy with a grin. "Like Sir Draco Freeman giving his cloak to Queen Isadora the Glorious when there came an unexpected snowstorm in April."

"You can have it back, thanks Roddy," Eden said, sliding it off her shoulders. "I sat on it, but only on the outside of the jacket."

"You are obviously a lady of rare breeding," said the boy, coming forward with rather a swagger. "To only sit on the outside of a jacket. What a sense of natural delicacy."

"Watch yourself," said Roderick amiably. "You're speaking to the crown princess of Westmoreland."

"Just call me Eden," she said, holding out her hand to shake, which he did with a playful earnestness.

"I'm Aubrey Ponsonby," he said. "You wouldn't have had to call me anything special even if it wasn't Yuletide. I'm only a second son."

"Pleased to meet you, Aubrey," Eden said with a smile.

She didn't mind his teasing, because he had the knack of using it to draw people closer, not push them away – as if you were very good friends, enjoying a private joke.

"Bernard is making me organise this party, and nobody is taking it seriously!" Lucy said, her voice becoming shrill with nerves.

"It is my duty to accompany Roderick at his lessons and pursuits, and bring him cheer in all things," said Aubrey solemnly. "So I have no choice but to offer my services to you, Lucy, as a knight errant pledges himself to a great lady." He bowed to her with a flourish.

"The palace gives the same party every year," Roderick said, coming over and linking arms with his friend. "You'll find everyone already knows what they're doing, Lucy. And we'll all help – Aubrey, Eden, and me."

"You'll help Lucy too, won't you Penelope?" Aubrey said, raising his voice to call across the room.

Eden jumped when she realised Penelope had been there the whole time, her head over her Latin book, one finger quietly tapping the page as if to keep her place. She looked up in surprise, and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

"Of course, Lucy, I'd love to help," said Penelope in her monotonous voice. "I don't know what you're doing, but whatever it is, I will assist to the best of my ability."

"Oh ... thank you so much, Penelope," Lucy said. "I would have asked you myself, but didn't see you just at first."

Eden looked from Lucy to Penelope, and back to Lucy again. It was obvious that while Roderick and his study partner had become intimate friends, there had been no corresponding rapport between Lucy and hers. There was only a formal courtesy, and Eden wondered why.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LINDENSEA LORE

Sir Reginald Ranulph Ponsonby, 22nd Earl of Marish (born 10th September 1402 SE)

Parentage

The son of Sir Ranulph Ponsonby, 21st Earl of Marish (1380-1450 SE), and his wife Isolde Hypatia (born 1381 SE), daughter of Lord Reginald Ponsonby-Brabazon-Ponsonby.

Education

Wickham College at Winton.

Position

Member of the King's High Council.

Marriage

Married 18th October 1423 SE at the Temple of Jupiter in the town of Avery to Cybele Matilda Sandwell (born 1403 SE), daughter of the Hon. William Aurelius Sandwell.

Children

Lady Cybele Oriana Estelle Ponsonby (born 1st March 1425 SE). Married her first cousin Reginald William Chatham Sandwell 18th July 1448 SE, and had issue, to wit, Oriana Caroline Matilda Sandwell (born 6th November 1452 SE), Reginald Antony Chatham Sandwell (born 28th November 1454 SE), and Alban Chatham Sandwell (born 6th December 1455 SE)

Lady Matilda Amabel Ponsonby (born 11th February 1428 SE)

Lady Eulalia Beatrix Ponsonby (born 30th June 1429 SE)

Lord Reginald Brabazon Langbridge Ponsonby, Viscount Woodgreen (born 13th September 1432 SE)

Lady Hypatia Melisende Ponsonby (born 10th October 1438 SE)

Hon. Aubrey Harcourt Mordaunt Ponsonby (born 31st May 1441 SE)

From Exactly Who is Who at Camden Court, 1456 Edition, published by Whitman & Co.