Page 22 of Dared By a Lyon
“They were looking for something. I went back inside and watched from the windows in the breakfast room, not wishing to disturb them. It was a puppy,” she said, sounding out of breath.
“I saw the same. Miss Vickers scooped it up from under a boxwood. Poor thing looks wretched! It appears to have become lost during the rainstorms,” he said.
“Did you witness her interaction with Caro?” the countess asked.
“Talking?”
“Pish! I mean communicating. She slapped her thigh, like so.” She showed him the movements Miss Vickers had made with her hands. She then mimicked rocking a baby.
“Perhaps that’s some sort of sign language for the deaf. I’ve heard of it. Do you think Miss Vickers has figured out a way to teach Caro to communicate?”
“Look for yourself!” his mother exclaimed.
They watched as Miss Vickers put her forefinger and middle finger together and wiggled them beneath her chin with the palm down. Caro pointed at the puppy and imitated her, then both laughed.
His mother faced him. “I wonder what that means,” she said.
“I think we can ask, because it sounds like they are on their way in through the kitchen. I hear giggles, and I hear a puppy barking, so it sounds like we’re going to be able to answer all our questions,” Gabriel said. He would be glad of any kind of communication with his niece. Since her parents’ deaths, she’d become withdrawn, and her only communication came via hugs, kisses, and soothing words from him, his mother, and the staff. Her voice had seemed to perish with Olivia and Max.
They found them in the kitchen. Caro had the puppy, wrapped in a blanket, in her lap and was giving it kisses on its head.
“What do you have, Caro?” Gabriel asked when he and his mother walked in.
She turned around and started to slap her hip, as they had seen through the window, but she stopped and looked toward Miss Vickers with questioning eyes.
“Yes. You can show them. It’s all right, sweetling,” Miss Vickers said, holding her fist up and bobbing it up and down.
“Miss Vickers, what will she be showing us?” the countess asked.
“Caro came to my room this morning, as I was sipping my chocolate. And after a few tries to speak to her, I realized that while she may understand me, I was having difficulty understanding her. My cousin, Ashlyn, lives near a man who created a language for the deaf. I know Caro isn’t deaf, but she isn’t able to speak. Her eyes tell me she is very intelligent, and I thought I’d try the sign language with her. Ashlyn taught me several things—very rudimentary, but they seemed to work. And I can see it gives Caro the ability to communicate her thoughts.”
“I see,” the countess said, seeming in awe.
“Caro…?” Gabriel coaxed his niece.
The little girl pointed to the puppy she held in the blanket and, with her right hand, lightly slapped her hip through her dress.
“That means dog,” said Miss Vickers.
Then Caro made a rocking motion with her arms.
“The rocking motion means puppy when one adds it to the sign for dog,” Miss Vickers added.
“That’s amazing!” exclaimed the countess. “I’ve heard about sign language, but foolishly never looked into it, or thought about learning any. It’s a blessing you’re here, Miss Vickers. If you know this sign language and are teaching it to our Caro, we should learn. How well do you know it?”
“I picked up a little while spending time with my cousin in Connecticut, where her father is a physician. His friend visited one day and introduced us. We learned it as a secret way to communicate with each other—just being mischievous,” said Miss Vickers. “Mostly rudimentary words, but I thought they’d help us communicate. This means yes, and this means no.” She quickly showed the two words together.
“Can you teach Mother and me?” Gabriel asked.
“I’m happy to teach all I know. Everyone can learn together, if you’d like,” Miss Vickers suggested. She signedyesto Caro, who enthusiastically replied in kind.
“And who is this little rascal?” Gabriel asked, pointing to the soft brown puppy in his niece’s lap. “Do you wish to keep him?”
Caro clenched her fist and bounced it up and down.
“She’s saying yes!” the countess said.
“Well, in that case, we should check with the neighbors and tenant farmers and see if anyone recognizes this puppy. We shouldn’t deprive other children, don’t you think?” Gabriel asked his niece.
