Elizabeth pointed at them with the tip of her sword stick. “Where are you going?”

“To confront Philippa’s overbearing parents. Well…” Tommy tilted her head. “Philippa is in charge of the confronting. I’m going for support.”

“I’ll go along to provide personal protection,” Elizabeth said.

Marjorie lifted a sketchbook. “I’ll capture the ambiance for posterity.”

“An image of Philippa standing up to her parents or of Elizabeth attacking them with her sword stick?” Tommy inquired.

“It will all be part of the same memorable moment,” Marjorie assured her.

Philippa scooped up Tiglet and grinned at Marjorie and Elizabeth. They hadn’t asked what, precisely, Philippa needed to confront her parents about or take a stand against. It didn’t matter. They were on her side no matter what.

“Tales of chivalry should be written about you,” she informed them.

Elizabeth looked thrilled.

“You should write them,” Marjorie said to Philippa. “I’ll illustrate.”

“Illustrate your way into the carriage.” Tommy motioned them out through the front door. “We’ve dragons to slay and no time to waste.”

The Wynchesters’ coach-and-four awaited them. A smartly dressed tiger helped the ladies inside.

“To the Yorks, please!” Tommy called out, after arranging herself on the bench next to Philippa and Tiglet.

Marjorie and Elizabeth exchanged knowing glances on the opposite side.

Elizabeth gave an exaggeratedly suggestive wink. “Dare I hope?”

“You may hope,” Tommy replied primly, twirling one of her false ringlets.

Philippa cupped her hands to her mouth and whispered, “You would be right.”

Marjorie and Elizabeth burst into delighted applause.

“It’s about time you became one of us,” Elizabeth said. “As soon as we’re free from this carriage, I shall unsheathe my sword and dub you a Wynchester.”

“There’s no such ceremony,” Tommy informed Philippa. “Say no if you value your ears. I value your ears.”

“We should add a knighting ceremony,” Elizabeth said. “Just agreeing we accept a person into our family lacks panache.”

“Any ceremony sounds wonderful to me,” Philippa said. “I’ve never had siblings before. Or lived with anyone who particularly wished to spend time with me. There aren’t words to express how much this means to me.”

Marjorie brightened. “We have signs to express the things words cannot. When we feel something deeply, or wish to swear upon our souls, we do this.”

All three sisters touched their hands to their hearts and lifted their fingers to the sky.

“I am proud to be a Wynchester,” Philippa said, and copied the movement.

Elizabeth grinned at her. “Welcome to the family.”

“This doesn’t mean you two imps are welcome to monopolize her,” Tommy warned. “You are preemptively forbidden from spending time with Philippa without submitting your requests to me in advance. We have already arranged our calendar, and we have decided never to leave the bedroom.”

“What about breakfast and supper?” Marjorie asked.

“Those are good points,” Tommy admitted. “Especially if there are pies.”