Lord Albert Edward Howard, Duke of Kent Territory

The Garden at Madame's Boarding House

Lord Andrew Charles Howard decides to travel to Bedford Territory and Madame Valois sees him riding up in the Howard carriage. She goes out to greet him and she says, "Good Morning Lord Howard?"

"Good Day Madame Valois. Is Karissa around?" Lord Andrew Charles asks.

"Mademoiselle Karissa is out in the garden, Lord Andrew Charles." Madame tells him.

"Tell me something Madame. Why is the garden so special to Karissa?" Lord Andrew Charles asks.

"Monsieur, I do believe you need to ask Mademoiselle Karissa that question." Madame tells him and Lord Andrew Charles bows and he starts to walk toward the garden.

When he comes to the garden door. The door is open and he walks in and he calls out " Karissa. It's Lord Andrew Charles?"

Lord Andrew Charles walks through the door that leads him into the garden, and he starts to walk around the path inside of the garden.

Karissa is sitting on the bench in the garden and she is reading her favorite novel "The Secret Garden." and when Lord Andrew Charles sees her. He walks up to her and bows "Madame told me you were out in the garden."

"Lord Andrew Charles. I am always out in the garden." Karissa tells him " So, what brings you out to Madame's once again?"

"You do, Karissa. Everyone really liked our performance last night. Especially my father and mother." Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

"I am very happy to hear it, Lord Andrew Charles." Karissa tells him " I really don't like to perform in front of an audience and I prefer doing it solo."

"Tell me something Karissa. What is special about this garden?" Lord Andrew Charles asks.

Karissa looks up from her novel and she explains " The garden is a sanctuary, Lord Andrew Charles. Don't you notice the smell of the spring flowers and the sound of the song birds that sing out here in the garden."

"This garden is a little piece of Valhalla." Karissa explains, " Some might say "Heaven" but it doesn't apply to me."

"I have been reading "The Secret Garden" Karissa. My father gave me my grandmother's copy of it." Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

"I would have thought you preferred Robinson Crusoe or even still some like The Three Musketeers." Karissa tells him.

"My father told me that my grandmother loved the novel and he gave her a copy of it and I started to read it." Lord Andrew Charles explains.

"Didn't the same author do Little Lord Fauntleroy? Lord Andrew Charles asks.

"Yes. Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote it along with ''The Little Princess and A Lady of Quality." Karissa tells him.

"Both "The Secret Garden" and "The Little Princess" take place in Imperial India." Karissa explains.

"I would have thought that even Little Men by Louisa May Alcott would have been more to your taste."Karissa explains.

"I have read many of the great authors Samuel Clemens, Charles Dickens, Daniel Defoe, and other notable authors." Lord Andrew Charles tells her.

"I have read many of the authors that are women like Laura Ingalls Wilder, Louisa May Alcott, and Frances Hodgson Burnett and I have also read "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson." Karissa explains.

"Now there is a short story for you to read, Lord Andrew Charles." Karissa tells him " It is full of mystery, murder, and suspense."

"It is only a short story but it may interest you." Karissa tells him.