She nodded.
He eyed the muted flash in her eyes and had to admit, he’d never questioned the possible impropriety of the boat ride until then. According to the background literature, the group took another boat ride a month later, but he thought it wise not to share that.
“Would you allow your daughters to go boating with grown men without you or another family member there?” she asked.
“No.”
“Good.”
“Should I read or not?”
“Yes, please. I’m done. Promise.”
So he read the poem. When he finished, he looked over to see if more objections were coming. She appeared calm, so he turned the page. “Chapter One. Down the Rabbit-Hole.”
At the top of the chapter was an illustration of the rabbit. “That’s a nice waistcoat the rabbit’s wearing. Ever made a waistcoat for a rabbit?” she asked smiling.
“So far, no.”
“What’s he holding?”
“A pocket watch.”
“A rabbit wearing a waistcoat and owning a pocket watch.”
“He’s late.”
“To what?”
“You’ll soon find out.”
So he began reading about seven-year-old Alice’s initial encounter with the rabbit and following him down a hole. Once inside, she began to fall, describing what she saw and did on the way.
Raven pointed out, “She must have been falling very slowly if she had time to pick up that jar of marmalade, open it, find it empty, and place it back down on another shelf.”
“I agree.”
As the slow fall continued, Alice wondered if she would reach the center of the earth, and what the longitude and latitude might be, but admitted to not knowing what either word meant.
“I have no idea, either,” Raven confessed.
He explained, “They’re imaginary lines on the earth to pinpoint a location. You find themon most seafaring maps. Latitude lines go east and west. Longitude conveys north and south.”
“Okay, thank you. You probably think I’m terribly illiterate.”
“No. I think you’re absolutely adorable.”
“Are you flattering me to get me to undo my buttons?”
“No, but I’m flattered that you’re thinking about it. Have never read to a woman with her buttons undone. There are twelve chapters in this book; surely we could work that into our journey into Wonderland before we’re done.”
She grinned. “Just read, Steele.”
“I see you’ve forgotten my name again. Shall we take a few minutes to refresh your memory?”
“No. I want to learn what happens to Alice.”
“Spoilsport.”