As the water taxi glided past The Ferry Inn, Lizzy’s attention was caught by screams, and turning her head towards the shore, she saw Kitty and Lydia leaning over The Ferry Inn wall, waving wildly at them. Lizzy waved back and instructed the taxi to drop them off at the inn, where she and Maria went and joined her sisters in the stone garden. Kitty and Lydia were in high spirits. On the table was a spread of mussels, oysters, and crab for the girls to enjoy as a reunion lunch.
“Is it not kind of us?” said Kitty.
“And we mean to treat you,” added Lydia, “only you will have to lend us the money, as we have just spent all ours in Amelia’s Attic on this gorgeous clippy art bag and this gorgeous sun hat from Joules. It doesn’t really fit me, but I thought I might as well buy it as not.”
“And guess what the big news is, Lizzy!” said Kitty.
“Mary King has given Wickham the boot!” interrupted Lydia, stealing Kitty’s thunder. “What do you think of that, Lizzy? Are you thrilled?”
“I just think Mary King has had a lucky escape,” said Lizzy, smiling.
“Who cares about Mary King anyway?” interjected Kitty, already losing interest in Mary King. “I’m starving. Let’s start!”
The girls had a very merry lunch and walked back down Fore Street arm in arm and singing jollily until they reached 3 Island Street, where Mary was sitting, studying Advanced Physics, and whose only greeting on seeing Lizzy was “Shhhh.”