fixing yer hair.”
She spends an eternity brushing and pinning, and by the time she’s done, I’m dangerously close to falling asleep. Then she tells me to wait while she fetches some sewing supplies. When she returns, she carries a needle and thread and my valise. “Thought you might want this, miss.” She places it on the floor at my feet.
While Maddy fixes the tear in my dress, I search the valise for the gift I brought from Siam for Father. My thoughts are momentarily distracted when my fingers brush the newspaper from the dock, still within the front pocket, and I’m reminded again of the chilling headline I read.
Luckily, I’m also able to find a second gift amongst my meager belongings and it doesn’t take long for Maddy to finish her task before she is dressing me again. I stow the treasures for Father and Grandfather safely away in my side pockets.
We take a different staircase downstairs, and this one leads us to a cavernous room with dark brown walls and large paintings. Without Maddy as my guide, I fear I shall never find my way back to my bedroom.
“This is the great room,” she says.
Maddy returns to the kitchen and I’m startled when the adjoining doors next to me suddenly slide apart. A very tall man steps out from behind them, wearing a black suit. His hair is white, and he has the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. “Ahhh, you must be Annabel,” he says with a smile. “I am your grandfather. But please, call me Grand-père.”
I bow deeply. As the head of this family, he deservesmy greatest respect. “Grandfa—Grand-père. I am honored to meet you.”
“A bow!” His eyes light up. “What fine manners you have. It’s good to see that the heathens have not ruined you.”
“Just the opposite.” I straighten and reach into my pocket for one of the gifts. “The people of Siam have great respect for their elders.”
“Good. Good. I’m glad to hear it.”
Holding out my hands, I present him with a tiny carved wooden elephant. “This is for you.”
He takes it and examines it closely. A look of delight crosses his face. “Exceptional craftsmanship. Thank you, my dear. I shall treasure it.” He places it carefully in his breast pocket. “Now let’s call for your father so that you can meet him. Then we shall adjourn to the—”
A sound comes from the stairs, and we both turn to look at a figure standing near the top.
“Ah, there you are, son,” Grand-père says. “We were just about to send for you.”
The man on the stairs slowly starts to descend, leaning heavily upon the bannister. As he gets closer, I can see the reason he has need of support. His left foot is twisted—bent at an unnatural angle—and he must usehis hands to lift his leg and then propel the lame foot forward with every step he takes.
I bow to him when he reaches us. “I’m honored to meet you, Father. Thank you for inviting me to your home.”
He stares at me but does not say anything.
“Markus, this is your daughter,” Grand-père chides. “She has traveled a very long way to be here. Surely you can say something polite.”
“Polite?” Father takes another step closer. Deep lines mark his face. He looks almost as old as Grand-père. “She bowed like a man, for God’s sake. Her manners are sorely lacking, and until they have been improved, I shall not encourage her.”
My stomach pitches. It feels as though I’m back in the carriage again, lurching forward for the first time. “I meant no disrespect, Father. Please forgive me.” My fingers bury themselves deeply in my pockets, searching for the other gift, and I offer him the most precious thing I have. “This is for you.”
He glances down at it. “A rock? What am I to do with a rock?”
“It’s a stone from the holy temple of Chiang Dao, blessed by the seven monks who live there. It will bringyou good luck and fortune.”
“Good luck saw fit to turn her face away from me many years ago. No holy rock or stone will ever change
She spends an eternity brushing and pinning, and by the time she’s done, I’m dangerously close to falling asleep. Then she tells me to wait while she fetches some sewing supplies. When she returns, she carries a needle and thread and my valise. “Thought you might want this, miss.” She places it on the floor at my feet.
While Maddy fixes the tear in my dress, I search the valise for the gift I brought from Siam for Father. My thoughts are momentarily distracted when my fingers brush the newspaper from the dock, still within the front pocket, and I’m reminded again of the chilling headline I read.
Luckily, I’m also able to find a second gift amongst my meager belongings and it doesn’t take long for Maddy to finish her task before she is dressing me again. I stow the treasures for Father and Grandfather safely away in my side pockets.
We take a different staircase downstairs, and this one leads us to a cavernous room with dark brown walls and large paintings. Without Maddy as my guide, I fear I shall never find my way back to my bedroom.
“This is the great room,” she says.
Maddy returns to the kitchen and I’m startled when the adjoining doors next to me suddenly slide apart. A very tall man steps out from behind them, wearing a black suit. His hair is white, and he has the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. “Ahhh, you must be Annabel,” he says with a smile. “I am your grandfather. But please, call me Grand-père.”
I bow deeply. As the head of this family, he deservesmy greatest respect. “Grandfa—Grand-père. I am honored to meet you.”
“A bow!” His eyes light up. “What fine manners you have. It’s good to see that the heathens have not ruined you.”
“Just the opposite.” I straighten and reach into my pocket for one of the gifts. “The people of Siam have great respect for their elders.”
“Good. Good. I’m glad to hear it.”
Holding out my hands, I present him with a tiny carved wooden elephant. “This is for you.”
He takes it and examines it closely. A look of delight crosses his face. “Exceptional craftsmanship. Thank you, my dear. I shall treasure it.” He places it carefully in his breast pocket. “Now let’s call for your father so that you can meet him. Then we shall adjourn to the—”
A sound comes from the stairs, and we both turn to look at a figure standing near the top.
“Ah, there you are, son,” Grand-père says. “We were just about to send for you.”
The man on the stairs slowly starts to descend, leaning heavily upon the bannister. As he gets closer, I can see the reason he has need of support. His left foot is twisted—bent at an unnatural angle—and he must usehis hands to lift his leg and then propel the lame foot forward with every step he takes.
I bow to him when he reaches us. “I’m honored to meet you, Father. Thank you for inviting me to your home.”
He stares at me but does not say anything.
“Markus, this is your daughter,” Grand-père chides. “She has traveled a very long way to be here. Surely you can say something polite.”
“Polite?” Father takes another step closer. Deep lines mark his face. He looks almost as old as Grand-père. “She bowed like a man, for God’s sake. Her manners are sorely lacking, and until they have been improved, I shall not encourage her.”
My stomach pitches. It feels as though I’m back in the carriage again, lurching forward for the first time. “I meant no disrespect, Father. Please forgive me.” My fingers bury themselves deeply in my pockets, searching for the other gift, and I offer him the most precious thing I have. “This is for you.”
He glances down at it. “A rock? What am I to do with a rock?”
“It’s a stone from the holy temple of Chiang Dao, blessed by the seven monks who live there. It will bringyou good luck and fortune.”
“Good luck saw fit to turn her face away from me many years ago. No holy rock or stone will ever change
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