Miss Polly had a Dolly (Emma Frost #2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

others. At the age of six, Josephine knew all about class distinctions and
she knew her place in this world. As the daughter of a Count and Countess of
Denmark, she knew she was destined to live a life of luxury.
    As always in the spring, the family moved to the
small island of Fanoe and lived at their residence close to the beach. And as
always, Josephine was followed closely by her governess, Ms. Camilla, even when
they took a rare break from her schooling and walked to the beach. Josephine
adored the beach. She loved the mighty dunes and wide stretch of sand, and she
particularly loved the huge ocean with nothing but water as far as you could
see. Every afternoon this week she had begged Ms. Camilla to take her down
there and watch the waves coming in from afar. And every day Ms. Camilla had
said no, they had work to do. Until this Wednesday afternoon, when the sun was
shinning from a clear blue sky and even Ms. Camilla felt the calling of the
birds and the alluring spring outside of the windows of the mansion they called
their vacation residence.
    "England is on the other side of the
ocean," Ms. Camilla said when they stopped at the top of the dunes. She
pointed to make sure Josephine watched.
    But Josephine didn't care. She knew all that and
even more. She closed her eyes and breathed in the salty air blowing in from
exotic places far, far away. She imagined a small boy at the shore in England
standing just like she did and breathing in the same air, just hours earlier
before it blew across the North Sea. She chuckled at the thought and opened her
eyes. Ms. Camilla was still talking about England and trying to teach her stuff
that she already knew. Josephine had spent most of her life reading and
learning about other countries, but she was never taken anywhere, not even when
her parents travelled to all kinds of places all over the world. No, she had to
stay and get her education she was told when she pleaded with them to take her
along for an adventure. She had obligations. There was going to be a day when
she would be able to travel and see the world as well, just not now. Education
was more important.
    So Josephine had to just dream about all of
those exotic foreign places for now, but one day she was going to see them all.
No one was ever going to stop her from doing that. Not even her absent parents
who only spent time with her when they quizzed her on her knowledge and what
she had learned in school so far. They never even ate together, since Josephine
was supposed to eat with her governess and was only supposed to see her parents
when she entered their chambers every evening at seven forty-five to say
goodnight. If she was lucky her mother would come and listen in during her
lessons every now and then, and she would get to hug her afterwards, even if it
was only a short hug.
    Once they took her with them to a gallery
opening where they were invited as guests of honor. Josephine had enjoyed that
immensely. Especially when all the photographers were yelling and taking
pictures and asking her to smile for them. That was a lot of fun. But it had
only happened that one time. She was hoping for more.
    "So tell me Josephine," Ms. Camilla
said. "How many people live in London, the capital of England?"
    Josephine sighed. "Do I have to? I want to
just enjoy the sound of the waves and the fresh air."
    "Yes, I know. But learning is important,
too. You know that."
    Josephine sighed again and looked up at her
governess. How she loathed the woman. She was the person closest to her, but
sometimes Josephine wondered if she was even human at all. Sometimes she would
imagine her being a robot that her parents had bought to mind her. Josephine
would picture her in her chambers putting in new batteries or charging herself
up by plugging into the wall outlet. That always made Josephine laugh.
    "So? I know you know this one, Josephine.
I'm taking it easy on you now."
    "Twelve million people," she answered.
"Making it the largest city in