Elaine put one hand up to her head as if it might help her think of what to do next. “Yes,” She answered eventually to Katherine’s question. “Lets’ go see if they are there.”<br/><br/>Only a few steps outside of the ballroom they were called to from behind.<br/><br/>“Lady Katherine,” a familiar voice said in a polite tone from behind. Turning to look, Elaine saw he gardener that she had bumped into earlier. Now standing in the light she could see that the young man was about Katherine’s age and handsome. He wore a pleasant expression on his face as he addressed them, holding his cap in his hand in deference to their station.<br/><br/>“Forgive the interruption, but are you searching for your brother and sister? If so – they are hiding under that serving table there,” he added, pointing back into the ballroom. Elaine took one look at him and then Katherine before sensing that there was something going on there. If so, that could lead to Elaine finding herself on the wrong side of the Duchess. Instantly Elaine decided to excuse herself before she saw anything that might mix her up in a family dispute.<br/><br/>“Thank you Lady Katherine, and sir,” she said as she hurried past him and back into the ballroom. She did not look back, not wanting to know anything else about that situation – if there was anything to know.<br/><br/>“Forgive me, m’lady,” the Gardiner apologetically to Katherine. “I didn’t want to interrupt your evening – I just had to say… hello.” He flashed a smile that communicated warmth and incredible longing. Truth be told, the gardener was madly in love with her – regardless of the fact that they could never be together due to the difference in their stations. In his young mind, though, that didn’t matter as long as she would speak a kind word to him once in a great while.<br/><br/>Back in the hall Elaine raced up to the table and lifted the cloth enough to see three mischievous faces smiling back at her. Before she could issue an order to come out, though, she was taken aback by the uncanny resemblance between the three of them. Sitting together she noticed for the first time that they each smiled the same smile, and their eyes and the shape of their faces and color of their hair all seemed eerily similar.<br/><br/>“Wait a minute – are you three cousins?” she asked, suddenly more surprised than angry.<br/><br/>“No!” Carrick said out joyfully, “We’re friends!”