Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 4)

Regulus brought his mouth to his hand, trying to fit the doll in his mouth. Oscar giggled.
"The appetite of a Loquitur," Harold said with a smile. "Are we sure he's an Ash?" Ana frowned at him.

“Dolls aren’t for eating, silly,” Ky said with a smile, bopping his nose as she pulled the doll a bit further away. There probably wasn’t any harm, really. But it had been in her pocket for a while. She pulled the doll away and then cradled it in the crook of his elbow. “See? We hold it like a little baby and rock it back and forth and back and forth.” She gently rocked him back and forth with each word.

Regulus watched her, mouth still hanging open. "Dah?" he asked in disappointment.

(This kid, in my head, has the exact expression of my Keeshond when I'm shaking his rubber ball from side to side.)

(Hahaha)

“You see its skirt? This color is called blue. Blue.” She pointed at it, then gestured at the yarn hair. “And this is black. Black. Blue. Black.”

"Boo." Regulus reached for the doll again. "Boo boo boo." He stared up at Ky imploringly.

“Yeah, blue,” Ky said with a smile, pointing at the fabric again. “Her dress is blue. You’re so smart! Regulus is a smart little boy who knows the doll's dress is blue.”

Regulus grinned; he liked her tone. "Boo!"
"You're very good with him," Ana complimented.

“Thank you,” Ky said, glancing at Ana with a genuine smile. She looked back at Regulus. “You and I are gonna be good friends, don’t you think? Ky and Regulus. Cousins forever.”

Was she trying to slip her own name in so he would learn it? Maybe.

"Cubbins!" Regulus leaned forward and tried to chew at her hair, then gave up and latched onto her sleeve instead.

Ky laughed. “Sure, why not?”

"Such a fast learner," Harold said, impressed. "Clever lad, isn't he?"
"Very," Ana agreed.

Ky bounced him on her knee with a smile. “You hear that? Everyone else knows you’re smart, too.”

Regulus giggled in delight as she bounced him and clung to her. Peter got up and tugged at Ky's leg.
"Uptoo!" he demanded. "Uptoo!"
"Here, Peter." Anneliese reached out and picked him up, bouncing him the way Ky was bouncing Regulus.

Ky laughed, grinning between them. She looked at Anneliese. “You are in fact an excellent sister nanny. Kudos.”

Anneliese dipped her head. "I could say the same to you, cousin-nanny."