“It’s been open that long?” asked Adele.
Edgar laughed. “I’m not that old, young miss.”
“Can I help you find something, sir?” asked a young shop clerk in the same coat of blue and silver the shop clerks had been garbed in when Edgar had visited as a boy.
“Is Mr. Lumley here?” Edgar asked.
“He is, sir. In the back rooms.”
“Inform him the Duke of Banksford is here,” said Carl, with a self-important shifting of his large shoulders.
The clerk snapped to attention. “Your Grace,” he bowed to Edgar. “Yes, sir. Right away, sir,” he said to Carl.
“Oh look,” cried Adele. “There’s P.L. Rabbit!” She pointed to a high shelf over the counter where a row of wooden rabbits, ducks, and dolls sat in a row.
“That’s not P.L.” Michel studied the rabbit. “He’s wearing trousers.”
“Well then it’s P.L.’s long lost brother, P.S.”
“P.S.?” asked Edgar.
“Pin Shin, of course,” said Adele.
“Of course,” Edgar replied.
“We’ll have to tell Miss Perkins that we found P.L.’s brother at a toy shop,” said Adele.
Mr. Lumley entered the room, his hair gone silver, but the same kindly smile upon his face. He wore thick spectacles and carried a cane, tapping it in front of him.
“Can it be young Master Edgar?” he asked.
Edgar laughed. “Not so young anymore.” He strode to the counter and shook Lumley’s hand warmly. “It’s good to see you, Lumley.”
“Well I don’t see so well, these days, Your Grace,” said Lumley, “but it’s very good to hear your voice. And who are these small shapes?” he asked, turning his milky gaze toward the twins.
“My two children, Adele and Michel.”
“We’re twins,” said Michel.
“We’re precocious,” said Adele.
“Oh my,” said Lumley. “Is that contagious?”
“No.” Adele laughed. “It means we’re intelligent.”
“Then I know exactly what you need.” Lumley reached behind him. The shop clerk hovered nearby but the shopkeeper knew the location of everything.
“Here you are, young master.” He handed Michel a wooden chess board, and he gave the pieces to Adele. “Have you ever played chess before?”
“Never,” said Michel.
“My clerk will explain the rules,” said Lumley.
The clerk took the children to a low table by the window, the perfect height for the children.
“I used to love to play chess,” said Edgar.
“I remember. You would always tell me how many times you’d won against your friends,” said Lumley.