Page 46 of Stolen By the Duke of Ice
“Are you still working it?”
“Will you allow us a glimpse of it?”
The grin that had stayed on her face slowly faltered at the last questions. How was she to tell them of her arrangement with their brother?
Oh, well. Best be simple and straightforward.
She smiled apologetically at the twins and sighed.
“I am sorry, my dears, but I must admit that there will probably not be a next book. Peter has forbidden me from publishing another.” She shrugged her shoulders to pass off its importance from them.
“There will be no next book?” Claire asked, her face cast in disappointment.
“No, that cannot be!” Mary took Dahlia’s hands in hers, as if asking her to reconsider.
“I am sorry, but that is how it must be.”
For now.
Mary and Claire shared a look of sorrow. They rose from their positions and looked downcast when Claire suddenly exclaimed.
“I have it!”
Dahlia and Mary both looked at her with no little surprise.
“What have you got, Claire?” Dahlia asked.
But she ignored her and instead turned to her twin sister.
“Mary, we needThe Garden of Hesperidesonce again!”
The Garden of Hesperides?
Dahlia wracked her brain. Was that not Hera’s secret garden? The one with the golden grapes? Or was it apples? Apples, it was apples.
Mary’s face lit up. She smiled in excitement.
“Claire, for once you have shown that you are cleverer than me!”
Claire ignored this comment and went on.
“It has been so long. The same place?”
“Yes. Oh, but it is winter. We cannot possibly have it there.”
Both girls fell silent, deep in thought; they completely forgot that Dahlia sat in front of them, still confused.
It must be some secret twin code.
“The hothouse!” they both said in triumph.
They hugged each other in their perceived victory.
“Er, will someone please explain to me what is going on?” Dahlia waved at them.
Realizing their lapse, both spoke at the same time.
“A secret reading club.”
