“You never know,” Emma reminded her, less certainly still.

“You might not know this, Charlie,” said Sophie, “because I don’t go on about it because it’s the sort of thing that if you let everyone know about, they’re always on at you to do it. But I just happen to be just a little bit of a whiz at the sewing machine, aren’t I, Mom?”

“Not taught by me,” noted Fee. “Learned over my objections, in fact. But then, I did bring you all up to question authority.”

“And you know those black sweaters you like to wear, Charlie?” continued Sophie.

“Oh, God,” said Lulu.

Emma said nothing.

“The ones you always look so super-sophisticated and elegant and grown-up in,” Sophie added hastily. “But let’s face it, they do all look more or less the same, and I had the idea you might like to wear one that looked just a little bit different occasionally. And last week I happened to spot one of them lying around in the clean laundry basket. And …”

She reached behind herself to rummage in a drawer and produced a package wrapped in tissue paper.

“Here you are,” she said. “I hope you like it.”

Emma became interested in her salad. Lulu slid down in her seat, covering her face with a hand.

Smiling just a little nervously, Charlie unwrapped the package.

“Oh!” she said then, softly. Around the neck of her plain black sweater was sewn a delicate tracery of Victorian beads and buttons in carved bone, ivory, and mother-of-pearl.

“Do you like it?” said Sophie, watching her and biting her lower lip.

“It’s beautiful,” said Charlie, running a caressing hand over the newly adorned garment. “Sophie, it’s just … beautiful.”

“I hope it’s okay,” said Sophie. “It’s what I’ve been doing all week up in my bedroom. I got the buttons and things in Camden Market, I thought they’d show up nicely against the black.”

“It’s amazing,” said Charlie. She handed the sweater to Fee. “Look at it, Fee. Did you really do this yourself, Sophie?”

“Designed it and everything,” put in Jamie. “Isn’t she amazingly talented?”

“Yes, she is,” said Fee. “I have no idea where she gets it from, but, honey, that is truly gorgeous.”

“Sophie, thank you so much,” said Charlie. “It’s so original and just lovely. Look, Lulu, isn’t it pretty?”

“Yes, do look, Lulu.” Sophie rounded on her sisters. “Look, Lulu, look, Emma, sniggering and whispering together there, I did something right for once. Had the idea, did it, and didn’t mess it up, how about that? Your sister did something right. Remember that the next time you’re so sure I’m going to get it all wrong, okay?”

“You know something?” said Emma, after a moment. “You’ve got a point, Sophie. We probably do tend to put you down a little bit, because you’re the youngest, and it’s really not fair. I’m sorry, and I’ll try not to do it in the future.”

“Thank you,” said Sophie. She looked at Lulu. “Lulu, do you have anything to say?”