“Oh. Well, then, that is something to be sad about.” Wendy looked at Michael and raised her finger to her lips. He shut his eyes with a sleepy smile. Her mother drew the curtains over the large nursery window and turned down the lanterns. She kissed Michael and John, and patted Wendy’s head.
“Don’t stay up reading too late. Especially if you aren’t feeling well. Shall I have Liza bring up some tea with herbs and honey?”
Wendy shook her head, trying not to meet her mother’s eyes as she climbed into bed.
“All right then, but don’t be short tomorrow when you don’t feel better.”
Wendy tried her hardest not to look at her mother’s face, for she knew that if she did, she wouldn’t be able to hold back her tears.
“You look lovely, Mother,” she said in a flat voice, her face buried in the opening pages of North and South.
“Thank you, my dear. Do try and cheer up.” Her mother took a step toward the nursery door, and suddenly Michael bolted up from a dead sleep with a scream, his eyes wide and confused. The entire Darling family jumped at the sound. He let out another long scream and then began pawing at his blankets.
“Mama, don’t leave!” he screamed.
“What do you mean, my dear? We have the Midsummer Night’s Ball at the Brown’s mansion tonight.”
Michael let out a whimper and clutched Giles with desperation. “I have a bad feeling about tonight. Don’t go, Mummy; stay.”
“Oh, you must have had a quick dream when you were falling asleep, like when you dream of tripping down the stairs! A little nightmare. Don’t worry. Liza and John and Wendy and Nana will be here to protect you. Everyone is here to keep you safe, especially Wendy.”
Michael gave a quiet sob, his eyes clouding over with something unseen. “Please, please stay. I don’t like tonight. It’s dark! I’ll never see you again!”
Mrs. Darling looked at her youngest with adoration. “Oh, Michael, what a thing to say! John must have been whispering things in your ear! There’s nothing to be afraid of, my dear. The window is locked up tight, and Liza will be awake until we return.”
Michael continued to cry. “Something bad is waiting in the dark, Mummy!”
“Oh, sweet boy! What a dream you must have had.” Mrs. Darling looked over with concern at her youngest son. Her face alarmed Wendy—the last thing she wanted was for her mother to stay or for her father to come into the room. The thought of his face telling her to never see Booth again made her stomach turn.
“Mother, we will be fine. Michael can sleep with me tonight.”
Michael sat up in his bed, rubbing his red eyes. “Really, Wendy? Really?”
She nodded. He bounced across the room and buried himself in Wendy’s bed, his warm and pudgy body curling against her chest.
“I still wish they would stay, Wendy.”
“I know, little one.”
Wendy’s mother gave her children one last, loving gaze.
“It’s settled then. Be good tonight, children. If you need anything, call Liza up from the servants’ quarters. We shan’t be later than midnight. Don’t forget to say your prayers.” She shut the door behind her, praying to herself and dimming the lanterns as she walked: “Holy Father, watch over my children tonight. Keep them safe from all harm and danger and the evil foe. Let the stars above guard their sleeping forms, and the Holy Virgin grant her mercy from afar.”
With the door to the nursery shut tight, the room was plunged into quite twilight. Michael gave a whimper but soon fell asleep nestled up against Wendy’s hip. John, too, eventually made his way from the rocking chair over to his bed, Nana at his heels. He collapsed into bed, Nana plopping herself next to him with a happy sigh. He wrapped one arm around the giant dog, turned down his lantern, and fell asleep, soon filling the room with his loud snoring. Wendy, however, lay wide awake, her eyes focused on the ceiling, her mind churning, weighing love and family and loyalty. She watched as the loudly ticking clock hit nine, and then ten.