glared at Rory. ‘Well, where is it? We’re waiting.’
Rory patted his pocket. ‘I must have dropped it in the hallway. Perhaps Miss Radcliffe will be kind enough to help me look.’ He held his hand up as Flora danced towards him. ‘Wait there, poppet. This won’t take a second.’ He opened the door and stepped outside, followed by Alice.
‘Did you have anything for her, or not?’ she demanded angrily. ‘You can see how disappointed she was by her parents’ present.’
‘That would be Lydia’s doing. She’s not over-generous when it comes to her daughter.’
‘That’s not an answer. Have you something for her or not?’
He shook his head. ‘No, I’m afraid not. I just said the first thing that came into my head.’
‘So what was in the little parcel?’
‘It was a small gift for you, Alice.’ He took the package from his pocket. ‘I know it was a liberty, but I also knew that my sister-in-law would never think of giving you a present, even though you’ve done so much for Flora in such a short space of time. She’s a different child.’
‘I wasn’t expecting anything. You must give it to Flora.’
‘I can’t.’ He laid it in her hand. ‘It’s not suitable for a nine-year-old, and it’s only a trinket, but you’ve been so kind to Flora, and I thought you’d like it.’
She opened it and found a gold ring with a single pearl in a claw setting. ‘It’s lovely.’
‘I saw it in a jeweller’s window and I thought of you.’
Alice shot him a sideways glance and realised that he was being serious. She knew she was blushing, but she was more concerned about Flora than she was for herself. Thinking quickly, she took off her precious butterfly brooch, which she had hidden beneath the stiff white collar of her uniform dress. She placed it in the paper and wrapped it, placing it in his hand. ‘The ring is beautiful, but I can’t accept it. Give this to Flora; she’ll love it as I always have.’
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