A Prince for Aunt Hetty Read Online Free Page A

Miss Masters.
    “Can we, auntie?”
    Auntie . Yes, Rupert remembered now. She had told him she was aunt to the Hayes' children. He thought he could see the resemblance to the lady of the house, though Miss Masters was a bit taller than her sister. And maybe a few years older. But she was clearly still youthful in attitude and Rupert liked the way her eyes sparkled as she answered the boy's question.
    “We will have to ask your mother and father before we can say yes, Stephen.” The boy looked disappointed.
    The second boy, not much bigger than his brother, chimed in. “Can Mr. Henderson play, Aunt Hetty?”
    Miss Masters leaned down and spoke directly to the child. “I am not sure if he can play with us, Vincent, but I will leave it up to you to ask him.” She gestured toward Rupert, who waited patiently. He could see this was some kind of lesson for the boy.
    The little boy set his face to his purpose and marched courageously over to Rupert. Rupert pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. He had seen messengers enter rooms to address lords and ladies with less pomp than the little boy approached him with now.
    “Mr. Henderson, will you play with us?” The boy gazed up at him while Rupert pretended to seriously consider his offer. He looked over the boy's head and exchanged a glance with Miss Masters. Each time he looked at her, he liked her more. Her smile at him now seemed especially inviting.
    “Hmm... would you all like it if I played?” He looked at the other children who nodded their heads vigorously.
    “On one condition...” There was silence as they waited. “I get to be It.”
    “Yes!” Vincent exclaimed and ran to Miss Masters for the blindfold she held in her hand.
    “Are you sure?” She asked Rupert. “You do not have to oblige the children.”
    “Of course. But I've never played this game, so it seems only fair that I get to be It.” Vincent had returned to him with the blindfold. “You all must tell me the rules!”
    The children crowded around him, all explaining at once how the game worked and that they would run around the clearing and he had to try to catch them.
    “And what happens when I catch you?”
    “Then we're out,” stated the oldest girl. Her tone told him he had asked just about the stupidest question she had ever heard.
    “And you promise you won't try to trick me?” Rupert asked.
    “Of course not!” Two of the girls giggled.
    Rupert looked at Miss Masters. “Will you play?”
    “Yes, Aunt Hetty, play with us!” shouted the youngest of the girls before Miss Masters could utter a word.
    She shrugged. “All right now, children, let's spread out and see who wins.”
    Rupert put the blindfold on as the children scattered across the clearing. When the cloth was secured around his head, he called out. “Hello? Where is everyone?”
    They began to call out and Rupert lunged after them. Their delighted squeals when he almost caught them made him laugh until he was out of breath. He paused to listen carefully.
    “I can hear you creeping around. I'm going to get you!” He heard a rustle near his left side. Rupert lunged quickly and caught someone.
    “Ha!” He cried out and the little person squealed in fun. “Who did I catch?”
    “It's Stephen! You caught Stephen!” the other children cried out. The little boy squirmed in his arms.
    “What shall I do with Stephen? Shall I eat him?”
    “Noooo!” the boy yelled in delicious terror.
    “Shall I tickle him?”
    “Yes!” The children all yelled.
    Rupert tickled Stephen until the boy finally wriggled away, laughing and screeching as he went. The game resumed, with Rupert still It. Again he stalked around the clearing, listening for their movements. Every once in awhile they would taunt him by calling out where they were or trying to direct him toward where someone else was. On a lucky chance, Rupert lunged and grabbed someone's arm.
    “I've got you!” He yelled and yanked at the arm he had