Dawn Read Free Page B

know what a luthier is?”
    “ Yes, ma’am. One who makes lutes, mandolins, guitars and the like.”
    “ Excellent! Well, and you no doubt guessed, as the Second Mother, I’m responsible for your education as well as tending to the smaller children.” Maria cleared her throat as they started walking again, “The house itself: first floor is the workshops, kitchen, library, dining room and great hall. You are free to rummage the kitchen at any time so long as it doesn’t interfere with a given meal. Are you used to three or four meals a day? We do only three.”
    “ Three is what we did as well, ma’am,” replied Dawn as she started to get dizzy from the blinding pace of Maria’s speech.
    “ That works out well then,” she continued. “The library is locked to keep small hands out of it.” She shot a quick glance at Heather who beamed in return, “Ask and we’ll unlock it for you at any time. Second floor is the sitting room, nursery, Heather’s bedroom and the master bedroom. Your bedroom is on the third floor. There are full bathrooms on every floor…”
    Dawn nodded as her mind raced to try and store everything she had said. Suddenly she wished her uncle had covered all of this before. Her bedroom was on the third floor. What? Was she being stuck in the attic?
    As the forest gave way to a clearing, Dawn’s concerns suddenly seemed unjustified: the house was massive. Three stories proper and then an attic! A smart looking timber frame house built with the largest timbers she had ever seen. Rounding it out were large windows everywhere. Two chimneys poked out of its slate top, while all around the base of the house was another parade of wildflowers.
    “ It’s not much, but we like to call it home.” Llewellyn remarked with a smile.
    Maria poked Llewellyn playfully, “It’s massive and you know it. The Shukurae actually helped set the beams and frames for it,” Maria explained for Dawn’s benefit.
    Dawn realized that the Shukurae she had met before obviously had known her uncle, but was surprised nonetheless to hear that they helped build their house. There was certainly a story or two to be heard there!
    Maria led them to the front door, which was opened wide to the mudroom beyond. A set of dutch doors, the top one open for air, connected to the interior. As Dawn stepped inside, her claws clicked on the hardwood floors and she had to consciously retract them. No sense messing up a nice floor! No sooner had they entered than a hallway door opened and out stepped an elegant lady. Reddish-orange and white like Heather, she sported even longer and brighter red hair. She smiled broadly and gave Llewellyn a quick embrace that was warmly returned.
    “ I hate it when you have to run off like that,” she murmured before turning her attention to Dawn. “You must be Dawn. I am Ivy, First Mother of the house. We are glad to have you here,” she said fondly.
    Dawn bobbed politely, “It is a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” Just then two more ladies stepped into the hall. They had coats like jaguars and shortly cropped red hair. Oh, how she envied those rosettes! They were spitting images of each other from head to tail and they were dressed alike as well.
    “ Dawn, this is April and May, our Third Mothers,” said Ivy.
    Dawn bobbed again while the twins spoke, “Delighted to meet you. We do hope you enjoy things here.” They spoke in almost musical tones, sometimes alternating words and sometimes speaking together. It was dizzying and amusing to listen to and Dawn giggled in spite of herself. The twins smiled mischievously back, enjoying the effect they had created and relishing the confusion.
    “ Delighted to meet you two, too,” Dawn managed to get out between the giggles.
    “ Pardon me, but I’m going to go ahead and take her things up to her bedroom,” interrupted Llewellyn and started around the corner to the stairs.
    April (or was it May?) batted at his tail playfully as he passed while the