Page 99 of Dearest Beast
Miss Teres’s brothers were a touch older, though far younger than the other men. However, both seemed quite comfortable at the table, despite their limitations. Or at least, they were enthusiastic regarding the food.
He glanced toward the women at the other end of the table. Well, really, just Nina, his niece, and Miss Teres, as his bride-to-be’s mother was caring for a sick aunt in Willemstad. Hopefully that wouldn’t delay the wedding.
“Do you know Roger here has been tutoring his children?” Nina asked Miss Teres, loud enough for her voice to pierce his conversation.
“Oh, really?” Miss Teres asked, glancing back and forth between him and his sister-in-law.
“Yes,” he said, suddenly a touch warm.
“How do you plan to manage such a feat with your schedule, especially when you become a delegate?” Teres asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Or even next week, as I heard you were invited to a luncheon atthe Duke of Westmoreland’s,” Miss Teres chimed in. “Perhaps you’ll attend with your fiancée?” She gave a flirtatious smile.
“Yes, certainly,” he said automatically, as such would be expected after their betrothal was finalized and announced. As he wanted.
“Not to mention, there’s the Lira family Purim ball,” Miss Teres reminded him. “We’ll need costumes for that made posthaste. I was thinking we could go as something romantic, perhaps Romeo and Juliet.” She clasped her hands together in excitement.
“Don’t they both die in the end?” one of the brothers—the older one—asked.
“For love,” Miss Teres said with a rather girlish sigh. “Though I suppose that is a bit gloomy for Purim,” she mused with a small frown. “Esther and the king fit us, but that’s so trite.” She pressed her lips together. “Perhaps something more English.”
“Perhaps you could go as King Henry and one of his wives,” Sofia suggested then took a long sip of her wine.
“Didn’t they get their heads chopped off?” the other brother asked.
“Really?” Fannie’s eyes grew wide. “Could you do that with a large gown and holes in it?” his daughter asked, turning more fully toward Miss Teres. “Or perhaps just paint around your neck?”
Nina glanced at Fannie, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Miss Teres wrinkled her nose. “That doesn’t seem appropriate.” She tapped a finger to her lips. “How about a fairy story?” Her eyes grew wide. “Oh, the French one,La Belle et la Bête.” She clapped her hands together.
“Which one of you would be which?” Fannie asked.
Nina coughed into her hand, though Miss Teres did not seem to notice. “I’d be the beautiful maiden, and your father would be the cursed prince who turns handsome again with her love,” she explained.
“That seems quite appropriate,” Teres said, smiling at his daughter.
“There’s no one as pretty as you, Lee,” her younger brother added.
The older brother gave his sibling a nudge.
“Well, youandMiss Berab both are the prettiest in the community,” the younger corrected himself.
Sofia rolled her eyes.
“What shall we be?” Michael asked, gazing up at him.
Miss Teres gave him a quizzical glance.
“My late wife and I used to dress them up as well,” Roger explained. It had been a touch stressful, but enjoyable. And it would likely be more enjoyable this year, now that he knew them better. Actually, he was looking forward to it. Even more, he was looking forward to taking them to hear the megillah read beforehand.
Well, he could have Michael with him. Fannie would sit with Nina and Sofia above them. Without her mother.
Not that Lucy or any of them had gone to services in the past. They’d usually been busy preparing for the balls instead and didn’t have time. There were a few times he’d managed to go with David, but Lucy was always otherwise occupied.
“I don’t know, I’m sure there are other characters in the story who could be added,” Miss Teres said with a wave of her hand, interrupting his thoughts. “A fairy or two and a—”
A bundle of fur flew at her chest. “What is that?” she shrieked.
