Chapter Fourteen
Dresses and Details
The Mysterious Benedict Society sat in a circle in a bedroom on the second story of Rothschild's End. Constance was wrapped in a plaid quilt she found on a cot shoved in one corner and Kate was delightedly rummaging through cardboard boxes, fixing things clumsily with one bright eye showing—the rest of her face was wrapped in heavy gauze.
They were waiting for the previous occupant of that room. A little boy who used have nightmares in the dark and who escaped through the vary wall opposite them. A little boy with a big nose and an even bigger brain. The one who had brought them all together.
Sticky was adjusting his glasses (round ones Kate had found for him because his contacts, after sitting in his eyes for nearly two days, had gone blurry) when the knock came. All four sat at attention as Mr. Benedict entered.
He smiled when he saw them. "I thought I'd find you four here. I suppose you're waiting for some answers."
"Yes please," Kate said, raising her hand for emphasis. "I for one am thoroughly confused."
Mr. Benedict offered a clipped version of his dolphin laugh and sat down, "I'm afraid that statement contradicts my plans. I was rather hoping I would be the one receiving the answers, not giving them. But, perhaps, I can start you off."
The children nodded consent and Mr. Benedict, with a brief, misty intake of the room, crossed to the bed and sat down as Constance climbed up into his lap. "I've often found that the best place to begin is at the beginning. But, as that may take… more time than we have, I will cut to somewhere in the middle. In this case, one of our many beginnings."
These words brought even Kate to a sitting position. Reynie noticed she sat as far from him as she could get. Things were awkward between them and Reynie hated them. Sticky noticed his tenseness and began polishing his glasses. Constance did her best to contain the huge grin on her face, but the task was more difficult than hiding the sun. Sticky blushed, but smiled back.
Mr. Benedict's eyes took in both these accounts and gave them the space of thoughtful pause to occur. Then, he began. "As you know, my brother had, in a sense, taken over S.Q.'s mind for a period of time. But, what we could only guess was S.Q.'s mind's condition. Did he have control of my brother's limbs or was he simply "sleeping" as my brother told Constance?" He pulled the little girl nearer to him.
"He didn't seem to be lying," Constance offered, struggling just a bit against Mr. Benedict's embrace. Reynie noticed that, though Constance loved Mr. Benedict, she didn't exactly appreciate his show of affection. Especially in front of her friends… and a certain newly bespectacled boy in particular.
"He wasn't… at least, not as far as he knew. He had left poor S.Q. sleeping… but Captain Noland and I woke him."
"Okay, now I get it," Reynie said, lying back on his elbows.
"Excuse me?" Kate asked incredulously. "Never mind… forgot you geniuses were freaky smart like that…" she mumbled. "Well, I'm still confused. Would you mind enlightening me further?" Kate asked, clearly annoyed.
"You know when Amma and Pati left the Cole's house? That was only a cover, or at least an excuse, for Captain Noland and Mr. Benedict to visit S.Q… or Mr. Curtain…" Reynie scratched his head. "Anyhow, when Mr. Curtain's Ten Men came to switch Mr. Curtain with Mr. Benedict—"
"Wait, wait, wait," Sticky stopped him. "Am I the only one who's lost here?"
Kate jerked a thumb toward Sticky, nodding, "I'm with him. What the heck are you talking about? Switched? How is that possible when Mr. Benedict was with us?"
Reynie blushed, "Well… I was only guessing."
"Continue, Reynie," Mr. Benedict said.
"Okay," he said, self-consciously. He had started catching himself lately toying with a new emotion… Pride. He had developed a case of pure boy-wants-to-impress-girl and it was driving him absolutely nuts. Not to mention, Constance taunted him every chance she got. "Well, I believe that it was Mr. Curtains intention to have his Ten Men switch Mr. Benedict with Mr. Curtain. What they didn't know is that S.Q. had converted to our side, see? So when they attempted to switch them—"
"S.Q. pretended to be Mr. Benedict and Mr. Benedcit pretended to be S.Q.!" Constance cried triumphantly.
"Exactly," nodded Mr. Benedict, tapping his nose and then Constance's.
Kate shook her head, "Connie-girl, you really need to stop interrupting Reynie. It's driving me crazy so you must have at least touched a nerve somewhere in that ridiculously patient head."
Constance smiled, "I know."
Kate rolled her eyes.
"I have a question," Reynie spoke up, seemingly ignoring the girls. "Why did McCracken save me?"
"What!" Kate exclaimed. "Since when did you go out of your mind Reynie?"
"Let me reassure you, Kate, that Reynie is quite sane. It was McCracken, rather, who had no access to his real mind. You see, each of my brother's Ten Men was both kidnapped and partially brain-swept. For some time, I have suspected this because of their oddly fitting names." The group nodded, following. "I suspected McCracken in particular because he reminded me of an old friend," Mr. Curtain's eyes sparkled curiously and he chuckled under his breath. "Curtis Morey, or McCracken as you know him, is the son of my schoolmates. When he came to, as a result of that snakebite, he remembered me and did what he could to help. He and his family have fled the country."
"Good riddance," Kate muttered.
"Didn't you hear any of that Kate?" Sticky asked incredulously. "He was brain-swept!"
"Only partially!" Kate countered.
Sticky paused and then inclined his head, "Touché."
Someone rapped on the door.
"Come in Rhonda!" Constance called.
The lovely young women stepped in, her eyes aglow. "Come on Kate, it's time to get ready!"
"For What?" asked Kate.
"Mr. Benedict's party, of course! Come on, we need your help decorating."
Kate shrugged, "As long as I can hang the banners." She bounded out of the room.
"Oh, and Sticky, your wanted in the kitchen to identify a plant, if you don't mind."
Sticky left too and Constance tumbled after him, pausing to look back at the two remaining. She giggled, "You're about to have a really awkward conversation." She tapped her head, "I'll be listening." She winked and shut the door.
Reynie turned to Mr. Benedict, "Do you know what I'm going to ask, then?"
Mr. Benedict chuckled, "Yes. And the answer is: No, the Coles will not be joining us tonight. As a result of the crisis that took place at their farm, Nicholas was sent home from deployment. They'll be enjoying a quiet, family dinner rather than joining our party." Reynie sighed with relief. "But," Mr. Benedict added, "I wouldn't be worried about young Mark stealing Kate's heart. I think you have it under tight lock and key."
Reynie hid his face, but grinned, "Thank you, sir."
"May I suggest something Reynie?"
He looked up, "Of course."
"Love is one mystery I had no chance to unravel, so there is little I can advise you on," he admitted. "But if you wish to succeed, I have observed that permission is often an expedient possession."
~::~
Milligan's fingers fiddled dexterously with the wires of an old radio. A note stumbled forth followed by a deluge of music. Bright eyes sparkling, he smiled satisfactorily and turned to find Reynie fidgeting behind him.
Reynie's heart beat horse-like across his ribs. "Nice job," he said, gesturing to the radio.
"Thank you," Milligan said, suspiciously. "Can I help you with something, Reynie?"
"Um, yes sir," Reynie stuttered. He cleared his throat as Milligan stepped outside. The yard was decorated in lights, giving the grass and trees the appearance of the host many glowing fairies. Milligan leaned expectantly on an obliging pole and crossed his arms, looking larger and stronger than usual. Reynie swallowed his courage, which had risen threateningly to the surface. "I'd like to know if… would it be okay if I…" He rubbed his neck and took a deep breath, looking Milligan in the eye, "May I ask your daughter to dance tonight?"
Milligan paused, looking quietly down into the grass. Finally, after countless cantering heartbeats on Reynie's end, he looked up, his mouth hard, "I think that'd be fine, Reynie."
Beaming with relief, Reynie fled with a sincere, "Thank you, sir." So quickly did he ascend the steps into the house that he missed Milligan's hearty laugh behind him, which lingered long after he left.
~::~
Reynie pulled at his collar, picking at a sugar cookie on the table beside him. Kate wasn't down yet.
The room was full of milling children—it was an orphanage after all. Mr. Benedict talked and laughed with many of them and all the staff (most elderly) watched him adoringly. Music flowed from the radio and the room was filled with pleasant sounds and scents. Appetizers, Dinner, and Dessert drifted throughout the room, mingling with the noises of conversation, the swish of clothing and the soft thud of the dancers in the next room.
Reynie's eyes drifted upward to the perfectly aligned banners, mostly green and black, that created an almost a plaid pattern above him. They swept from one side of the room all the way to the top of the grand staircase… where Reynie's eyes froze.
Kate Weatherall was in a dress. Once the initial shock passed, Reynie was stunned by how well she pulled it off. Thin straps held up a scarlet gown, brushing just against her knees. It pulled in toward the middle, hugging her waist where—and here Reynie nearly laughed aloud—her bucket hung securely from her bow. Her hair hung loose for once, curled into elaborate spirals and stretched down her back nearly to her waist. Her features—only slightly enhanced by light makeup—glowed in the lights of the party décor. Her lightly glossed lips parted into a huge smile when she saw Reynie and she flew gracefully down the stairs, her low heals clicking on every step.
"Quick hide me," she whispered with playful urgency. "I look ridiculous!"
"I think 'beautiful' is the word your looking for," Reynie managed to say through his misty thoughts.
"Aw, Reynie!" Kate hugged him tight, putting Reynie somewhere back in his right mind. "You look nice too," she added.
'Thanks," said Reynie half-heartedly, looking down at his brown suit. "At least Number Two didn't make this one."
Kate laughed, throwing back her curls. She sighed suddenly as the music swelled in the next room. "Wish we could dance, but I don't have the nerve to ask Mr. Over-protective."
Reynie grinned, grabbing her hand and guiding her toward the dance floor, "I did. Does that mean I'm gutsier than Kate Weatherall?"
Kate stopped him in his tracks with a yank of her arm. "Wait."
"What?" Asked Reynie nervously. "I thought you wanted to—"
"No," she interrupted. Her eyes softened to an adoring glow. "Reynie? Did you really ask Milligan if you could dance… with me?"
"You think I would without his permission?" Reynie asked, putting on a terrified expression. Kate's made no change. Reynie blushed, "I just wanted to make sure if it was all right if I showed… interest in his daughter," he half whispered. He lifted his eyes from the floor, "Is it alright… with you?"
"Reynie," Kate breathed, "Muldoon. What took you so long?" She kissed him—so fast that her lips may not have made impact—on the cheek and they ran off together to the dance floor, both grinning nearly to the point of pain.
~::~
The night progressed in splendor, filled with food and laughter and congratulations—hearty slaps on the back and handshakes all around. Mr. Benedict enjoyed his gifts immensely (all wrapped in green plaid paper) and even made a show of pretending to fall asleep, which received many gasps, laughs, and one very annoyed acclimation from Constance.
The little girl recited a poem (both in honor to the end of the mission and to Mr. Benedict, in the form of a toast):
"Though told almost nothing and lost to just thought
We pummeled the bad guys for we fought and we fought.
Who could be more amazing—who could make us more proud?
Than the man I call father—now say it aloud!
Mr. Benedict, the hero, Mr. Benedict, I say
Here's to your health and a happy birthday.
Without falling asleep (without batting an eye!)
He knocked down those villains, but let none of them die.
How noble, how chivalrous, how very gracious indeed!
Is the man we all honor—the one we know will succeed.
Now our friends all fought bravely (mainly Milligan and Kate)
And, the dreamer I am, I must call it fate
That we all came together, that we put up this fight
(With this big family, we could do naught but right).
So I say this to you (because I know that it's true)
That with Benedict here our start will be new!
So say it with me this time (Please? I worked hard on this rhyme…)
Congratulate him with me! Lift your voice up and chime!"
Here, everyone obligingly lifted their voices while Mr. Benedict blushed.
"Mr. Benedict the hero, Mr. Benedict, I say
Here's to your health and a happy birthday!"
The room exploded into applause and laughter. Constance hugged her dad, followed closely by the rest of the Mysterious Benedict Society.
He looked around at them with bright, green eyes, "I could not," he said, hugging each one in turn, "be more blessed."
~::~
Kate made the plans, of course, and Reynie gathered the crew. Unfortunately, Milligan was on guard, so it'd be hard to get past, but these were Kate's plans they were talking about.
For occasions just as this, Kate had purchased a very long rope, which, even from the top floor of the Manor, left coils upon coils on the ground.
Sticky slid down first with Constance roped securely to his side. He adjusted his glasses and saluted before jumping from the dark rooftop.
Reynie let out a shaky breath before reaching out for the rope himself. Kate touched his shoulder.
"Don't be nervous. You trust me right?" she asked as he turned.
"More than anyone," he said as he jumped.
Kate took a moment to let her smile settle before springing after him into the darkness.
It wasn't far to the place. Just up through some trees and across a short distance where the shadows of three others once traveled nightly.
"It's creepy," Constance said, disgusted. "It looks like someone's decapitated a giant and left it there." She stuck out her tongue to show her disgust.
Kate on the other hand, grinned, "Yeah like some kind of—of epic giant battle!"
"Please, girls," Sticky moaned, "It's disturbing enough as it is."
"Me and Sticky better go… check out first. Make sure it's safe," Reynie offered, taking the first step.
"Yeah, like you're gonna explore it first," Kate laughed, speeding ahead. It was a race. Even Constance joined, running for the small, mouth-like opening.
They stood in the small dome. "Odd," said Sticky.
"What?" asked Reynie.
"It's just that… this telescope is much too new for such an old observatory. They must have had need to replace it."
"The newer the better," Reynie said, shrugging, and went to examine it. Kate immediately found the switches, which opened the dome to the sky.
Sticky helped Constance, who was especially taken with the telescope, look at the stars after everyone had had their turn.
Kate and Reynie lay shoulder to shoulder looking up at the stars. She sighed heavily.
"What's up?" Reynie asked, taking her hand discretely through the dark.
She shrugged, "It's over. Again."
Reynie only laughed, "I wonder how many more times we'll have to say that. Don't worry, it won't be long. Adventures will come."
Constance finally grew sick on the outer universe and came to lay next to Kate and Sticky followed suit, reclining beside the little girl.
"I'm afraid you're right, Reynie," Sticky, who had apparently been listening, sighed. "Life just loves surprises."
Constance squirmed. Kate sighed, "Oh go ahead, Connie-girl. What was I gonna say?"
Constance grinned into the darkness, "Don't call me that. And you were gonna say: 'Good, because I love them too.'" They all lay quietly for a moment before Constance giggled evilly, "You know what else Kate loves? Or should I say who?"
Kate clamped her hand over Constance's mouth, "Don't you dare! I will tickle you to death! To death, here me?" But everyone was giggling now and their voices carried to three certain friends sitting together in the night on the edge of a moonlit bluff.