“No, not the carriage. An actual car and driver. The concierge said he hoped we had an excellent adventure.”

Tess hoped so, too, as she realized, that even though Aunt Evie didn’t know this, that the adventure had already started.

Almost in a nanosecond, Max put on his boots, his ski hat, his down coat, and gloves.

Tess hadn’t even made it to the closet yet, let alone her bedroom to the drawer where she usually kept her gloves, except that they weren’t where she usually put them.

Max blinked at her as she raced around, actually unable to find her gloves. “I think they’re under the sofa,” said Max, brightly, as if he was trying to be helpful.

Tess gave him a dirty look. But he was right. They were, in fact, under the sofa. “Thanks,” she managed.

“Well, come along then,” said Aunt Evie. “If we hurry we can hear Big Ben.”

“I’d like that,” said Max, “I hear the Gothic architecture is amazing.”

“Yes, I’m sure you would,” said Tess. “But don’t you remember Max, we looked this up on your computer at school, as you were interested in the clock, too? Big Ben’s closed for renovation. The building’s closed and the bells will be silent until sometime in the 2020’s when the renovation is done.”

“The person who used to be Max” gave her a surprised look. Tess could play, too. In fact, that’s what she thought to herself, Game on.

“Of course,” he said instantly. “I’d forgotten that.”

~ CHAPTER EIGHTEEN ~

in which princess pays a visit

Max was being sweet as pie. He was lying on top of the covers on the rollaway bed. He’d even taken his boots off, lying flat on his back with his feet crossed, strangely at rest, and acting extremely un-Max-like. Tess was almost beyond cranky. It had rained the whole time they’d been out in the car. They’d stopped at the big department store Harrods, but it was so crowded with holiday shoppers that it wasn’t fun either. Finally, Aunt Evie decided they should all go home and have a nap. Max turned and gave Tess a sweet, slightly sarcastic smile. She almost wanted to slap him.

It occurred to her that she should go for a walk and calm down. It was still raining. But she’d promised her mom that she and Max wouldn’t fight. That didn’t necessarily apply to “the person who used to be Max” but she wasn’t sure her mom would agree.