Hi again,

Hope, you liked the beginning, and will enjoy this chapter.:)))

I know I spent too much time with Charlotte and Richard, but believe me it's important because of thenext stories.

Let's start it!

The first day

In the tree house everything went on in its ordinary way. Charlotte decided to examine the possibilities for dinner. She had finished half of the sewing and had left the rest for later. Ned sat at the table working on his journal. Since the others left, neither one had said a word, but both of them hated this silence and she took the first step.
"Mr. Malone! Would you mind a very, very simple lunch today? You know, I don´t think I can make it as good as Veronica and I´m concentrating my every power for dinner."
"Yes, of course." He answered simply.
"I noticed that you´re a good cook. How did you learn it?" She continued.
"In France" He stood and turned his chair toward the kitchen to speak more comfortably with her. "I was working in Paris for 6 months before the war."
"Oh Paris! What a beautiful town..."
"Have you been there?"
"Last summer I studied there."
"What did you learn?"
"The history of art and architecture."
"You´re interested in art?"
"Honestly not in every aspect. I appreciate some interesting things. Unfortunately other aspects do not mean too much to me. "
This time Ned broke the silence after a few seconds.
"I saw that you organized the library and cleaned Challengers laboratory as well. According to the gossips in London I was surprised that you...well... how should I explain...you bravely took up the cleaning rag."
"What gossip did you hear?"
"Just that the Dunn family is wealthy. Really wealthy."
"It´s true, but it wasn´t always like that" she turned to grab a frying pan. "My mother always stands with her two feet on the ground and made me clean the house once a year."
"Interesting pedagogy"
"I hated it, but I can see now how right she was."
"Do you ever agree with your parents?"
Charlotte froze for a moment and took a deep breath.
"Unfortunately not. I wouldn´t be here if I did... I took the liberty to read some of your works and found them very interesting."
"What was so interesting?"
Ned came into the kitchen, took some plates and started to set the table.
"You know, I never was a good observer of human nature, but what you wrote about the others some years ago... Well, I could recognize only Veronica."
"We´ve changed a lot. What do you think about us?
"Good question. Can I be honest? You won't betray me?"
He smiled.
"Of course not."
"At first I truly was afraid of Lord Roxton. Now, I just fear him. I see the professor as an absolute genius. Marguerite is the woman I unfortunately never can be and Veronica is living sincerity."
"What do you think about me?"
"I won't say." She laughed for the first time in weeks.
"I won´t accept it."
"I´m sorry."
"And what about Redgrave?"
"I truly don´t know what to think about him. At first everything was so good. We understood each other so easily, but since you all learned my true identity he´s mean to me.
"I think it´s true for each of us."
"But I can understand. In your place I would be the same. But I´m afraid, that if Richard, well Mr. Redgrave provokes me anymore, I won´t be able to hold myself back.
"Now we can be afraid." Ned laughed.
"You just can´t imagine..." She smiled a wide smile. "What do you think about him?"
"In London I´ve heard about his scandals, mostly about women. But the picture I´ve imagined was very different from the man before me. Just hold on and maybe you will see the clear picture soon Miss Dunn."
"Thank You. And...please call me Charlotte."

Making dinner was easy. Veronica left some dried raptor meat and with Ned´s help and some fresh vegetables, Charlotte managed to do her task. The journalist was in a very good mood, and he talked throughout the dinner. He had a story about everything, and she felt herself becoming comfortable in his company. After midnight everybody retired to rest, but before doing so, the men decided who would stay home with Charlotte the next day. The Professor won.

Please, write me some review! Please!