Part 6

The next two weeks passed more quickly than Honey had thought possible. She had lessons with Miss Trask every morning to try to make up the schoolwork she’d missed during her illness. Every afternoon she and Miss Trask walked in the park, and twice a week they walked to the Claremont for Honey’s riding lesson from Regan. Miss Trask was taking lessons as well—from a different instructor—but she confessed to Honey that she didn’t truly enjoy riding.

“I love walking under my own power,” she explained as they walked home one day. “I feel in control then. When I’m on the back of a horse, I have to give up some of that control—but at the same time, I’m responsible for another life. If I did something that caused the horse to get hurt, I’d feel terrible.”

“I can see how you’d feel that way,” Honey acknowledged. “I feel more free on horseback, and I’ve ridden enough between school, camp, and these lessons, that I feel like I understand horses and know how to stay safe while riding. Maybe you’ll like it better once you’ve been doing it longer.”

“Maybe.” Miss Trask shrugged. “I went through a horse-crazy stage as a girl, but my parents could never afford to give me a horse, or even lessons. So eventually I grew out of that phase, and it’s not something I think about.”

“I hope you’ll like it enough to ride with me sometimes,” Honey said. “Mother and Daddy travel so much, and it’s not as much fun to ride alone. Lady’s a nice, gentle mare. You could ride her, and she wouldn’t want to do anything too exciting.”

“I’m sure I’ll be able to do some riding when your parents are away. But let’s don’t put the cart before the horse!” Miss Trask laughed. “We’d better wait until we’re moved before we make too many plans.”

Honey gave a little skip. “I know! But we’ll be there in less than a week. I can’t wait!” She grabbed her governess’ hand. “Oh, Miss Trask, Mother took me out to the property, and it’s beautiful! I know you’ll be there with me when Mother and Daddy are away, and we’ll have the horses, but I hope there will be another girl my age in the neighborhood that might be my friend. I’m so tired of being alone all the time—I mean with no friends, not that I’m alone when you’re there, or Mother and Daddy, or even Cook and Irene. It’s not exactly the same as having a friend my own age.”

“My dear, I hope so, too.” Miss Trask gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll find a way for you to meet some other girls your age, one way or another.”

July 10, 1969

“I can’t believe we’re finally on our way!” Honey bounced on the back seat of the car as she gazed outside at the rolling countryside. Just under an hour outside the city, and she felt as if she was deep in the country. “No skyscrapers, no noisy cars, no crowds of people everywhere you look!” she exulted.

“Take Manhattan but give me the country side?” her mother asked with a smile and a humorous lift of an eyebrow. Matthew Wheeler had taken a car service out to Sleepyside early in the morning, and the driver had arrived for mother and daughter shortly after ten o’clock. With any luck, they would arrive at the new house with an hour to spare before lunch.

Honey laughed back at her. “Yes, I guess I do sound like Oliver Douglas!”

“As long as your father doesn’t start acting like him!” Maddie giggled.

“What is Daddy doing today, anyway? I thought he was taking the day off to move in with us.” Honey felt a bit of a let-down. Although she’d never admit it, she felt closer to, and more comfortable with her father, and had been looking forward to having him with her as they moved into their new home.

“He said he’d meet us at the house,” her mother replied. “He wanted to be there when the horses arrive, and the new cook put in a grocery order that’s supposed to be delivered. That’s why Miss Trask and Regan went out yesterday, so that the house would be open. Your dad also had a mysterious errand to run. I don’t know for certain if he’ll be there when we arrive, but it should be soon afterward.” She reached out with a graceful arm and pulled Honey closer.

“Oh, well! That’s fine, then.” Honey settled herself and tried not to mind that she’d have to wait to see her dad. She’d never been used to spending much time alone with her mother before her illness. In fact, she’d always thought Madeleine was disappointed in her, that maybe she’d rather have had a son instead of a daughter. Once Miss Trask had moved into the apartment, Madeleine had returned to what apparently was her usual routine of luncheons, committee meetings, charity galas, and business travel with Matthew. For her mother to make the effort to be close, as she had today, was confusing for Honey, and she wasn’t sure what it meant.

Madeleine leaned her head back on the seat and closed her eyes. Honey wondered how she could doze off, if that was what she was doing. She herself was too excited to close her eyes for even one second.

When the driver pulled up on the circular gravel drive of the Manor House, Matthew Wheeler opened the big front door of the house. He strode across the verandah and down the steps to meet them.

He kissed his wife, paid the driver, and then lifted Honey off her feet and twirled around with her. “How do you like your new house, sweetheart?” he asked, setting her back on her feet.

“It’s beautiful!” Honey assured him. “It looks even nicer today than it did a couple of weeks ago when Mother brought me out to see it.”

“My library-study wasn’t ready then,” her father said. “That’s my favorite room. Come on, Maddie, let’s go see it together.” He took a hand of each of his girls, and the three of them started up the steps and inside.

Honey gazed at everything as they walked past the living room to a door she almost didn’t notice. Her father opened the door and waved them into a room lined with bookshelves from floor to ceiling. The shelves were generously filled with books—from old reading favorites to reference books on coin collecting, military strategy, and horsemanship, to valuable leather-bound antiquities and illuminated manuscripts. She knew her dad had been collecting books for years, but their city apartment (although large) didn’t have the dedicated space to display his full collection. In the center of the room, a polished wooden desk and leather upholstered chair gave him a comfortable place to work. A double window on the outside wall admitted light and allowed a view of the grounds.

“Oh, Daddy! It’s perfectly perfect!” She didn’t clap, but she did clasp her hands together in admiration.

“I agree! Your mother’s decorator really listened to what I wanted.” Matthew grinned at his wife and gave her a thumbs-up.

Maddie smiled back at him. “I’m glad both of you like it,” she said. “Now, let’s head upstairs to your room, darling. I hope you’ll like it, too.”

They climbed the sweeping flight of steps to an expansive landing, leading on one side to the master bedroom suite and on the other side, down a wide hallway lined with doors. Honey knew her own room was that way, but it hadn’t been furnished when she was here before. She tried not to get excited, since she was fairly sure her mother didn’t know her taste. But she knew she had her own bathroom, and that was exciting. It felt so grown-up.

This time it was Maddie who flung open the door, and she waved Honey inside first. Honey stared. It was just like her room at the apartment, only at least twice the size. Two canopied double beds, each covered with a frothy white ruffled organdy bedspread. Two large windows with white ruffled organdy curtains. A walk-in closet with rows of shoes in clear shoeboxes; a line of summer dresses hanging from a rod; and drawers full of dainty underclothes and nightgowns. Three riding habits and two pairs of boots ensured she could be ready to ride at any time.

After examining the closet, she crossed the room to the connected bathroom. It was generously sized, with a sunken tub and a large marble-topped vanity. A full-length mirror on the back of the door, as well as a large mirror above the sink, ensured she’d always be able to see how she looked.

She was almost speechless by the time she finished exploring the room. Her room at the apartment was fine, but it was compact compared to this one, and lacked the connected bath. At school, she was used to rooming with another girl and sharing a bathroom with a dozen others.

The fluffy white towels were thick and soft; the plush, pale green bathmats would cushion her feet from the cold tile floor when she stepped out of the tub or stood in front of the sink.

The luxurious room was a bit more of a fairytale confection than she would have chosen, but it certainly was pretty. And the white bedding and curtains emphasized the luxuriant green of the trees and grounds.

“Mother, it’s simply beautiful,” she said. Shyly, she slid an arm around her mother’s waist.

“I wasn’t sure what colors you’d prefers, and perhaps you’ll want to add some colorful throw pillows, or even change the bedspreads if you find something you like better,” her mother replied. “But I thought this was a classic look and a good place to start.”

“I love it.” Honey wanted badly to please her mother, who had gone to a lot of trouble to make her room as pretty as she could. So, she didn’t ask why she hadn’t been consulted on colors and styles.

“Now, we have one more surprise for you,” her father announced. “Miss Trask is in her suite next door, with a special birthday gift for you.”

“Daddy! You don’t mean it!” Honey clapped her hands. “I’ve been wondering where Miss Trask was, but I knew she was overseeing some of the deliveries you told me were coming today.”

“This was a special delivery for my special girl.” Matthew took her hand and drew her to the hallway, where her mother knocked on the door of the room next to Honey’s.

The door opened and Miss Trask opened the door, beckoning the Wheelers to enter. Honey’s eyes darted about the room, noting that it was set up as a sitting room, with a couple of comfortable chairs, flanked by reading lamps, a desk under the window, a tray table and small television. A door in the side wall evidently led to the bedroom. Miss Trask’s blue eyes twinkled at Honey and she bent down to pick up a picnic basket from the floor under the tray table. Honey heard a faint whine and scratching, and her heart started to beat faster.

Her father lifted one flap of the basket and reached inside, bringing out a small cocker spaniel puppy with a silky black coat. He stared at her with big, liquid brown eyes, and then yawned, showing the inside of a pink mouth and tiny white teeth.

“Oh, he’s a darling!” Honey exclaimed. “May I hold him?”

“Of course—he’s yours.” Matthew handed the pup to her, and Honey cuddled it next to her. The puppy’s pink tongue came out and he licked her arm. She nuzzled his head.

“Thank you, Daddy and Mother! It’s not even my birthday until tomorrow, and it’s already the best birthday ever.” She lifted the pup to her face and kissed the top of his head. “Does he have a name yet?” she asked.

“We wanted to let you name him,” her mother said. “He’s your dog, so you should choose his name.”

“What’s your name, buddy?” Honey asked the pup, looking into his eyes. He stared at her as if he understood, and then let out a small yap in reply.

“So you like the name Buddy, do you? All right, that’s what I’ll call you.” She kissed his head again.

The pup yapped again, and Honey noticed a wet spot on her skirt. “Oops! I’d better take him outside, hadn’t I?” she asked. She’d never had a pet. Since she was away at school and camp so much, she had no time to play with one and wasn’t sure what to do next, but she was almost certain that her mother didn’t want the pup making puddles all over the new house. Probably Miss Trask didn’t want puddles in her rooms, either.

“That will be your first job as a pet owner—training him,” her mother said. Honey was surprised to see that Madeleine was still smiling, in spite of the puppy’s accident. Honey’s father took the pup and reached into the basket. He pulled out a towel, making sure that any more leakage would be contained.

“I have a book for your birthday,” Miss Trask said. “It’s all about caring for a cocker spaniel, so will probably have some good tips for you.” She left the sitting room and went into her bedroom, returning with a wrapped package. Honey started to remove the bow and paper carefully.

“Oh, just go ahead and tear it!” said Miss Trask. So she yanked the paper and tore it off. The book was full of drawings and photographs of cocker spaniels and their care, grooming and feeding.

Honey clasped it to her chest. “Thank you, Miss Trask! This will be wonderful.” Spontaneously, she gave her governess a hug and kiss on the cheek.

“All right, you can take Buddy outside now,” Matthew Wheeler said. “He’ll probably like running around in the short grass in front for a few minutes.”

“Miss Trask, will you come with me?” Honey asked. “I’ve never had a dog before, and I don’t know what to do with Buddy! You’ve talked about your Lassie so much, you must know a lot about puppies.” She gave Miss Trask a pleading look.

“Certainly, I’ll be happy to go out with you and Buddy.” She turned to Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler. “If neither of you needs me to do anything else.”

“Absolutely not. Go on out with Honey and give her some tips.” Matthew Wheeler smiled warmly and waved them out the door of Miss Trask’s suite.

Watching Honey and her governess heading down the steps to the front door, with her daughter chattering away to the older woman, Madeleine grasped her husband’s arm.

“I hoped this would be a new start for our family,” she said, blinking back tears. “Honey loves Miss Trask so much. Maybe she won’t mind too badly that we’re leaving tomorrow for Canada.”

“She’ll be fine,” Matthew assured her, tucking her hand into his elbow. “Don’t you worry.”

“I’m not worried,” Maddie said. “Not about her missing us.” She couldn’t suppress a sigh.