TRANSFER

Julia suppressed a giggle as Amy Bone adjusted the veil atop her head.

"Oh, Amy," she sighed, gazing dolefully at her reflection in the oval mirror. "It's all so … wonderful. Like a fairy tale."

"My wedding," Amy smiled reminiscently, "wasn't such a big, white one. Though the romance was certainly there. Before I knew it, I'd uttered yes and Lyell was holding my hand through it all. We ran off, you know, to elope, far away from the Yewbeams. We returned later, after a perfect honeymoon."

The two women gave synchronized sighs.

"Thanks for the lovely gown again, Amy."

"Don't thank me," Amy laughed. "I never wed in a dress at all. It's Maisie's, back when she could fit into that size."

Charlie poked his head into the doorway. "Mum, Grandma Bone wants to speak to you. Something about the velvet tablecloths. Miss Ingledew, I think Emma was looking for you."

Amy and Julia filed from the room, parting ways as they set off to find their designated persons.

"Emma?"

Julia found her niece perched on the edge of a marble fountain.

"Auntie! I was looking for you!"

"Charlie told me." Julia furrowed her brow in concern. "What's wrong?"

"The ring is missing!" Emma stood up. "I know it's taboo for the bride to see the ring before the actual moment, nor the groom to see the bride and her gown, but you've got to talk to Mr Yewbeam, and you've got to help him find your ring!"

Julia shuffled down the narrow corridor, tripping over her skirts.

"Oh dear, which room is Paton in?"

"I'm quite sure he's with Charlie," Emma hesitated.

Julia turned around, puzzled. She found Emma doubled up in silent laughter.

"What's so funny, Emma?"

"I'm not Emma!"

Julia's "niece" morphed suddenly into Seth Prowse, who was chuckling uncontrollably.

"Fooled you, Mum! You know it's against tradition to see the ring, or let Dad see you. Why did you believe me?"

"Why did you masquerade as Emma?" Julia asked, perplexed. "I would have fallen for that stunt even if you were the mastermind, Seth."

Seth frowned. "I don't know. You have more of a capacity to believe Emma over myself. I mean, she's a lot more serious, and I'm what Dad calls a Master of Mischief."

"Your father has that right," Julia muttered as she turned to return to her dressing-room. "The difference between you and your cousin Emma may be serious and curious, but I am willing to believe the both of you under every circumstance imaginable. I love you both equally."

"Good," Seth said fervently. He completed the remainder of the sentence under his breath. "Because that means you'll miss Cousin Emma equally."

"What do you mean?" Julia said sharply.

"I can morph. I morphed into a decorative fern not too long ago. Dr Bloor was here. He spoke with Aunt Grizelda—about the endowed children at Bloor's. I know I'm endowed, but he wasn't talking about me."

"What are you talking about? What do you mean?" Julia repeated, gripping her foster son's shoulder tightly.

But Seth would say no more.

Amy Bone leaned back in her seat, enjoying the view.

The minister turned a page in his book. Pachelbel's Canon began to play, followed swiftly by Mendelssohn's Wedding March. During the march, Julia started down the aisle, on James Yewbeam's arm.

It had been decided that, due to Julia being orphaned, Paton's father would be the one to give her away at the wedding.

Splendid in Maisie's past gown of candlelit white, tinged with a waxy pallor and adorned with a ribboned hem, a jewelled collar and matching veil, Julia slowly made her way to the altar.

The minister closed his eyes peaceably as he began to read from memory.

"Dearly beloved…"

Amy felt the scene slipping away before her very eyes. Momentarily, Amy was lost within boundless darkness before she found the vision she had been hunting for.

She was clad in an adorable sundress, copper orange and sunshine-yellow with a touch of rosy, flowery pink. A delicate passion blossom held back the loose strands of her elegant chignon. Her hair, golden caramel with streaks of honey, shone in the sunlight.

Her face was glowing.

Why couldn't she be as happy now? Surely, she'd found Lyell. As she thought his name, the twenty-two year-old young man was seizing her wrist, exclaiming with delight over his plan.

Amy had labelled Lyell's plan to secretly elope the most wonderful and important event of her seventeen years of life at that time. But also at that time, her head had swam with romantic notions and unachievable daydreams.

A warm hand gripped her fingers firmly, and Amy was transported back to the Cathedral. Lyell was squeezing her hand, and from the faraway expression and the wistful smile on his face, she could tell his thoughts and sentiments matched hers exactly.

By the altar, Julia and Paton had already wrapped their arms around each other, lost deeply in their kiss. Amy applauded, along with the rest of the audience, as Julia took Paton's hand in hers and began to run down the steps and down the aisle, aimlessly releasing her bouquet behind her.

Amy would recognize the hand that grasped the thrown bouquet anywhere.

The next bride-to-be would be Eustacia Yewbeam.

In the midst of a congratulating crowd, the abundant woman shrieked for her sisters. Amy stifled a giggle as she headed toward the newlyweds, chatting lightly by the punch bowl.

"May I offer my congratulations!" Amy screamed, embracing Julia warmly and shaking hands with Paton. "Where are you to live?"

"We'll continue with our lives," Paton grinned. "The bookshop, with Julia and Emma, will be far too full for another two. Seth is coming to live in number nine, if it's alright with you, Amy. He'll stay with me."

"It's fine, fine," Amy smiled. "Darling Seth. I'll make up the guest room for him. I've seen the way orphan children wish for family life and inclusion. Billy Raven is far too blunt with his feelings for me to miss it. Seth shan't experience that."

"You're too kind." Julia offered Amy a glass of punch. "How's Charlie getting on?"

"As he grows older, I see less and less of Charlie each day," Amy sighed.

Julia nodded. "Emma is usually away as well. But she'll stay and help by the bookshop if I ask."

"Emma will go far," Paton promised. "She's an affable young lady: talented and ambitious and motivated."

Julia nodded in agreement. "Seth had something to say about Emma."

Seth appeared suddenly, dark brown curls bobbing. "Hi, Mom! Hi, Dad!"

Paton beckoned his foster son to his side. "What had you to say about Emma?"

"Cousin Emma's going away. I've already said my goodbyes because I know I won't be seeing her after the wedding, since I'll be living with you, Dad. And it's not likely the Bloors will stall."

"What are you—" Paton began to ask, but Grandma Bone interrupted.

"Dr Bloor has already spoken to me. Charlie will not be leaving, since he began studies at Bloor's Academy a bit later than the rest. Only the African, the storm-boy, Emma Tolly, Dorcas Loom and Billy Raven will leave."

"Only Lysander, Tancred, Emma, Dorcas Loom and Billy will leave?" Julia repeated. "And because they're the eldest?"

"Certainly not." Grandma Bone gave a snort. "Billy Raven's the youngest, but he has been at Bloor's for much longer than the telekinetic twins, Charlie, and the rest. Asa Pike has exams to take. Manfred Bloor is no longer a student. We've used improvisation."

"Where will they be going?" Julia asked, shooting a glance at Seth as if to say "Why didn't you tell us this?"

"Your morphing son will tell you," Grandma Bone spat. "Especially because he eavesdropped, the sneaky rat."

She sauntered away to mingle with the guests, sneering at their gowns or making snide comments about their actions and choices.

"Emma and the others are leaving to volunteer at the Morvan & Loth Special Institution and Programming," Seth hurriedly elaborated following Julia's sharp stare.

"Volunteer?" Paton seemed confused.

"They'll be servants. Helping hands, hired staff. They'll also help in Morvan and Loth's experiments. Apparently, they deal with endowed children and are currently concocting a potion that will temporarily disable abilities."

"Scientists," Paton mumbled. "Charlie's told me about Morvan and Loth. They were at the Bloors' Hundred Heads dinner not too long ago."

"I don't like the idea of Emma handling a scientist," Julia murmured. "I mean, she'll be a guinea pig, won't she? And Emma is a girl with a future. I won't see her as a maidservant to these scientists."

"You'll have a hard time taking that up with the Bloors," Seth frowned. "They appear to be dead-set on the idea. Dr Bloor told Aunt Grizelda that preparations had been made and all the required equipment had been bought."

"Equipment." Paton clearly didn't like the sound of that word.

Amy patted Julia sympathetically on the shoulder. "Emma will write, I'm sure."

"Communication isn't my largest concern," Julia protested. "It's safety. The Bloors are malicious. Who knows what Morvan and Loth are like?"

Monday came round too quickly.

Olivia sighed as she slung her purple rucksack over her shoulder.

"Goodbye, Mum!" she called, slipping an apple into her pocket as she ran toward the purple bus awaiting by the driveway.

Vivienne Vertigo replied with a wave as she gulped down her breakfast of oatmeal and berries.

Olivia endured the bus ride to school in silence. She was contemplating all that she had overheard at the wedding. Emma would be leaving, that much she knew. Not alone, thank goodness.

Her friend would be with friends—except for Dorcas Loom. As far as anyone knew, Dorcas could very well become closely associated with these Morvan and Loth people.

Dorcas had changed in the beginning of their second year, when Belle had made her entrance into Bloor's. Once a plump, giggling girl, she transformed into a plotting, snide schemer.

Olivia slipped through the gates of Bloor's reluctantly. The moment she spotted Fidelio, she raced over to his side.

"Fido!" she greeted breathlessly, the apple bobbing dangerously from her pocket.

"Hi, Liv!" His enthusiasm caused fizzy elation to bubble within her. She smiled widely.

"We've got a problem." Olivia could hardly keep the cheerfulness in her voice. Why oh why did it have to be Fidelio Gunn?

Fidelio shrugged and chuckled. "And I should be surprised because…?"

Olivia realized, in a moment of clarity, that she was in love with Fidelio. Oh, Lord. Oh dear, dear Lord. The news could wait.

"You should be surprised because you're going to Scarlet Cotillion with me."

Jacky: another GREAT reason to have invented the Cotillion.

You: why?

Jacky: for the OliviaFidelio pairing, of course!

You: of course.

3 OliviaxFidelio + JuliaxPaton : )