The red ribbon fluttered in the breeze like a string of rose petals. People had turned out in their Sunday best to see the grand opening of Twelve Briars School of Music and Dance. Miriam, Ladybird, Selene, Taitiann, Wysteria, Beatrice, Astrid, Ottaline, Providence, Heloise, Alifair and Hannah stood on the other side of the ribbon on the walkway waiting for the moment. The flowers were all in bloom and even the people in their colorful arrangement resembled a garden. After Heloise read her dedication poem the time came.

"Are you ready?" Miriam shouted then with their hands over each other the girls cut the ribbon and the crowd applauded and cheered. "Twelve Briars is opened for business!"

As everyone went inside to see what the old house now looked like Ladybird threw her arms around Miriam. "We did it!"

"We sure did!" Hannah said. "I knew we would."

"This is a dream come true isn't it, Ladybird?" Wysteria asked.

"Oh I could have never dreamed of something this wonderful happening," Ladybird said.

"And here we all are together," Astrid said. She looked down at her nutcracker doll in her arms as she and her sisters followed the last of the crowd inside the building. Against the wall in the foyer was Beatrice table and it was there that she put the nutcracker.

"Perfect," Beatrice said at her side.

"The twelve of you did wonderful," Mr. Montgomery said as she approached with Sumner.

Sumner smiled. "I think my grandfather is thinking about taking music lessons himself," he said.

"Don't give me away," Mr. Montgomery laughed. "When do classes start?"

"It won't be until after we get back from the Worlds' Fair," Ottaline said proudly. "Mr. Heritage has agreed to take all of us."

"You're sure to enjoy it," Sumner said. Grandson and grandfather then passed out the door and into the yard where others who had already viewed the school were now standing.

"We are certainly the blessed twelve now aren't we?" Heloise said.

Alifair smiled at her then looked up at the shinning gold and silver boughs. "I do believe we are."

"Astrid!" Mr. Fairchild called for his daughter as he came down the foyer. "Astrid, my dear you must come straight away," he said. "Everyone wants to hear you play."

"Right now, Papa?" Astrid said. "Before all these people?"

"You'll do fine, Astrid," Taitiann encouraged. "Come on." She took Astrid's hand and led her into the studio with the piano where the small crowd applauded.

"Here she is," Mrs. Fairchild said. "My Astrid has progressed so well."

"I have a good teacher," Astrid said looking to Jessop who was also in the room. She took a deep breath. "Count me down, Heloise."

"Three, two, one."

"Don't let anger make you unholy. Don't let their insults leave you lowly. I'll stand by you, I'm the rain. I'm quince your burning pain."

As Astrid played Jessop felt that good kind of pride again. She had progressed well and quickly and certainly had the talent for it. "She'll be better than me in no time," he said to Ladybird nearest him.

"She's eager to learn more," Ladybird said. "Will you be here when we get back from the fair?"

Jessop looked away from her to Astrid. "My work here is done," he said. "Idris will be going back to Tennessee now that he's seen the school open. I have a case to build and a criminal to catch. I plan to join Mr. Wellbeloved in their search for Andrew Addams."

"Do you think you will find him?"

"Idris says the EAK are good at what they do," Jessop said. "I am certain we will find him and bring him to justice."

Ladybird smiled. "I don't doubt it," she said. "Well we appreciate all you have done for us. I know I most certainly do and I wish you well on your case against Mr. Burnstead."

"Thank you," Jessop said folding his hands behind his back. "I also wish you well in your endeavors."

Ladybird smiled. "My endeavors?" she said. "You know I'd still like to paint your portrait some time. If you ever decide to come back to Old Town I'll be waiting."

"Ladybird!" Wysteria shouted as she weaved through the crowd to the back of the room. "Come they want us to do a speech." She grabbed her sister's wrist and pulled. "Come quick. Miriam doesn't know what to say."

Ladybird laughed. "I'm coming, I coming." She looked over her shoulder at Jessop before he blended into the crowd. He had done so much and she wanted to give him the best thank you she could only she didn't know yet how to do it.

/

Selene pilled off her black stockings to get them ready for wash day. The bedroom window was open and she turned to the gentle breeze as it fluttered through.

"Are you sure you won't miss your nutcracker, Astrid?" Hannah asked from her corner as she arranged her dolls again on their shelves.

"No, I think he is happy now," Astrid said. "Thank you again for fixing his jaw, Beatrice."

"You're welcome," Beatrice said as she brushed her hair.

"Well just in case you miss him I've made you this," Hannah said flopping down on Astrid's bed and holding out the little doll dressed for bathing.

"Hannah she's adorable!" Astrid said taking the doll. "I'll keep her on my pillow." She grabbed Hannah into a hug.

"I think Briar Rose is a good name for her," Hannah said. "See the red fabric she's made of has little pink roses."

"Then Briar Rose she shall be," Astrid said.

"You should take up doll making, Hannah," Providence said from the window.

"I couldn't concentrate now," Hannah said. "I'm too excited about the fair. Speaking of which..." she turned to Ottaline who was putting on her nightgown. "You never told us he had one arm!"

"Hannah!" Ottaline said in horror. She laid her pinafore out on the chest then crossed her arms. "He may have one arm but he's a very good man."

"Of course he is good," Hannah said. "He's taking us to the fair."

"Hannah," Heloise laughed. "A person is good because of who they are not because of what you can get from them."

"It's no use," Alifair said. "Hannah will always be a magpie.

"Alifair you judge too harshly," Selene said. "Magpies don't give good gifts." This made Hannah light up and Alifair relinquished a smile.

"My, what a day it has been," Miriam said. "And how pleasant to meet Mr. Heritage at last."

"He seems to get along with Mr. Woodrow," Alifair said.

"He's quite the brave one too," Wysteria said. "He gave no second thought to chasing Mr. Christenson. He could have been killed. And Mr. St. Cloud too."

"He most certainly is brave," Ottaline said proudly. "Though he still doesn't see me as a woman." She crossed her arms and Selene put hers around her.

Ladybird sighed. "We should do something kind for Mr. St. Cloud before he goes," she said.

"What was that?" Miriam asked in the bed next to her.

"I said we should do something for Mr. St. Cloud," Ladybird said sitting up. "He has been so good to us and asked for nothing in return."

"He won't take the money I and Papa offered," Miriam said.

"Money can be given by anyone," Ladybird said. "We should do something special."

"Flowers?" Wysteria suggested.

"Darling, flowers are wonderful," Ladybird said. "But I don't think they will do."

"Why don't you paint something for him, Ladybird?" Taitiann suggested. "Your paintings are lovely."

"But that would only be from me," Ladybird said. "It should be something from all of us."

Astrid looked at the doll in her hand. "We could dance," she said.

"There, that's it!" Ladybird said. "Brilliant, Astrid."

"But he's leaving tonight!" Beatrice pointed out. "And we can't compete with a train."

Ladybird jumped out of her bed. "Then we shall dance tonight!" she declared victoriously.

"Tonight?" Hannah said, "But we must rise early tomorrow. It's Sunday."

Miriam got out of her bed and reached under it where she kept her slippers and tutu. "Exactly!"

/

Harness the horse and ready the wagon. Light the lantern and name that step. Thus went the beat of the twelve grandsisters as they readied for a night of dancing. Twelve little ladies and various colors resembling the petals of flowers blooming in the night. Sacha and Birdy and all the beasts kept quiet as they snuck from the yard and into the town.

Jessop was sitting in the kitchen when the wagon arrived and Wysteria and Alifair spotted him through the window. Gently they rapped on the glass until it opened.

"Evening, Mr. St. Cloud," Wysteria whispered. "Won't you come for a ride with us?"

Jessop checked his watch. "A ride? It's almost midnight, my train leaves in under an hour."

Wysteria was a little stumped at what to do next. No one told her he might refuse. "All the more reason to come quickly then," she said and was right proud of herself for being clever.

Jessop raised a brow. "What is all of this about?" he asked. "Why are you dressed that way?"

"It's a surprise," Alifair said. "Please come."

"I can't miss my train," Jessop said.

"You can't miss your surprise," Wysteria said. "Bring you horse and all your things and come riding with us."

Jessop sighed. "If you insist," he said. He closed the window and after gathering his luggage and tethering his horse to be led he joined them in the wagon. "So, what is this about again?"

"It's a surprise," Wysteria said as she drove. "Blindfold him, Alifair."

At the command, Alifair tided a scarf around Jessop's head, covering his eyes.

Jessop didn't like the idea of being their little hostage and wondered just what they had in store for him. Surprises made him a little nervous. He liked to know exactly what was going to happen next. He tried to keep track of where they were but gave up after they had been riding for a while. Presently the wagon stopped and he felt it dip as they got down.

Carefully they guided him from the wagon and lead him along the path. He could hear the crickets and feel leaves brushing against his legs and grass beneath his feet. "Are we in the garden?" he asked but received no answer. Through the fabric of the scarf he could suddenly make out the glow of lanterns as Wysteria instructed him to step up. Now he was certain they were in the garden. At the pavilion to be exact.

"All right, uncover yourself," he heard Miriam say and with that he pulled off the scarf. What he saw before him caused him to drop it to the ground. The pavilion was lit like a jar a fireflies and each girl stood there in her tutu lined up by age. "Welcome to the secret ball."

"Have a seat!" Ladybird said stepping forward and leading him over to one of the benches. Once he was seated she returned to her sisters. They stood still together for a moment and Jessop wondered if anything was going to happen until Ladybird nodded to Wysteria and she began to play.

"Mr. Jessop St. Cloud," Miriam spoke. "We the dancers of Twelve Briars would like to say thank you and render a grand thanks due." With that they started dancing. Jessop had never before seen a finer array of colors. He was amazed how even the younger girls could keep up with the older ones as they fluttered like butterflies about the pavilion. He couldn't stop the smile from coming to his face as they danced like tripping fairies, weightless and serene.

The cargo was safe, the cemetery at peace and quiet, and the mountains were clear of enemies. Above all else, twelve little ladies were free to dance, much to the entertainment of an old soldier.

Glissade, jete, pas de chat, sourbresaut, Reverence...

THE END