[Tevildo]

Lilly glanced at Miz Bella and smiled, "What a wonderful idea! I think that would work just fine. I'll be glad to collect your things and launder them. I should have them back the very next morning. And I know how much Rory wants to learn to read. This will make him very happy." Lilly glanced affectionately towards her younger son who was now beaming broadly from ear to ear. The two women shook hands and Miz Bella left to go speak to Marigold about the new school.

After Bella's departure, Lilly glanced over at her older daughter Camille but was met with only a scowl and a curt response, "Mum, this is all well and good. But I have work to do for Cook and will have no time for such nonsense." Camille picked up a piece of cake from the platter and began to stuff it into her mouth in a determined manner.

Inside, however, she was seething. This Miz Bella must be the person that Cook wanted her to help. Camille wanted nothing to do with it. For one moment, she considered storming into Cook's presence and refusing to help the woman set up her school. But that would only hurt herself and her mum. She needed the money too badly.

Still, schools and letters made Camille uneasy. Let them all prattle on about how they wanted to hear grand stories of dragons and Elves. She did not mind listening to stories. The problem was that, once you'd heard a tale or two, the teacher always insisted that you try and untangle the letters and words on a page, or write them out on a slate. As hard as Camille tried, the letters made no sense. And her words usually ended up looking very odd with some of the letters mixed up, not at all in the proper order in which they belonged. Once before as a young child, she had gone to a dame school that was kept by one of her aunties. Three days later, her auntie had begged Lilly to withdraw her daughter from the school because Camille had intentionally hurled her slate against the wall and shattered it into a dozen pieces.

Her mother's words cut into these unpleasant reveries. "Don't worry, Camille. I've already spoken with Cook. She wants you to help out in the Inn in the late afternoon and evening. That will leave plenty of time in the morning to attend Miz Bella's school."

"But, Ma. Please. I don't..."

"Not another word, Camille. You need to know your letters and numbers. This is an excellent opportunity, and I insist you take advantage of it. Now, it's getting late for tonight. Let's say our goodbyes to Master Falco and get some help taking back Rory. Camille, you can stay behind a minute. Tell Cook you'll be leaving now, but will be back in the morning to help Miz Bella."

Camille slipped off for one minute and found Cook. Barging into the kitchen, she spoke testily, "Mum says I'll be back early to help Miz Bella. I assume that is who you were talking about. A school! That seems like a silly thing to have in an Inn. You'd think that people could find better ways to use their time. But I do promise you that I'll do the best job I can. You just can't account for other people's tastes."