Annie agreed to contact the available sisters, and it was understood that Charles would prepare lunch, with Fergus as his able assistant. Fergus didn’t mind playing second fiddle to Charles in the kitchen. He claimed it helped him to relax. Once he had made a joke about “relaxing and Annie never being in the same sentence,” for which he had got a pinch on the ass that turned black and blue.

* * *

The following morning, before Myra checked in on Charlotte, she and Charles debated whether Charles should prepare a traditional London fry-up or bangers and mash.

Myra groaned. “Dear, we’re all going to gain ten pounds over the next two days.”

“Myra, we cannot allow our guest to wake up to an Egg McMuffin, now, can we?”

Myra chuckled at Charles’s jest. An Egg McMuffin in that house was never going to happen unless Charles prepared it himself. In his own kitchen. With his own ingredients.

Myra suggested, “How about eggs, sausage, home fries, and toast? A little more American. You can wow her with your British bangers over the weekend.”

“Only if you let me include back bacon,” Charles pretended to protest.

“If you insist.” Myra glanced at the large grandfather clock in the foyer. Seven o’clock. “If I do my math—”

Charles interrupted, intuitively knowing Myra was calculating the time in London and how much jet lag Charlotte would have endured. “It’s noon, old girl.”

She nodded. “Daylight saving time. I never understood why we had to change the clocks. Arizona doesn’t do it.”

“Because the day is long and hot enough,” Fergus chimed in as he rounded the corner from the kitchen.

“Good morning, mate!” Charles clapped him on the back. “Ready to crack some eggs?”

Fergus laughed. “Why am I thinking it’s going to end up more in line with cracking some heads?”

Charles gave him a wry grin and raised his eyebrows in agreement.

On the other side of the house, Charlotte was beginning to stir as Myra peeked into her room, with two of the dogs trailing behind and wagging their tails in anticipation of pats on the head, hugs, and ear rubs.

The shades had been drawn, and the room was cool, with the slightest bit of light filtering through. Charlotte raised her head and stretched, which signaled the pups to vault onto the bed. “Well, good morning!” she gushed. “So nice to see you, too!” She reached for Lady and rubbed her on the head. “Myra, I need to get a dog.”

Myra chuckled. “Excellent idea. But for now—if you’re ready—Charles will have breakfast on the table in about thirty minutes.”

Charlotte peeked across the room and looked in the large mirror on the opposite wall. “Oh dear Lord! I’m a mess! I can’t leave the room like this!” She was half serious.