little before luncheon was served.
‘Are you coming to eat with us, Miss Hursley?’
Prue glanced at Lotty, instantly on her guard. Since she invariably did take luncheon with the girls, why the question? Had they again planned something horrid for her plate? And in their presence, so that she had no opportunity to dissemble! What in the world was she to do if they should play a trick upon her in full view of Yvette? She affected puzzlement.
‘Why should I not, Lotty?’
‘No reason. I just wondered.’
Dodo, having attached the kitten to her chest, passed her sister to step through the door. ‘Come on, slow coach!’
The door shut behind them, leaving Prue prey to a lively apprehension. She tidied the books and slates away with automatic haste, her mind alive with conjecture.
What did those terrors intend to spring upon her this time? They would surely not dare to do anything obvious which their nurse might notice. It could not be as bad as the worms, she decided in relief. Then it must be something that would appear accidental.
One or two caterpillars hidden among the vegetables, perhaps? A spider or beetle released upon the table? Well, she must bear it with fortitude. Nevertheless, she shuddered with disgust at the thought.
As she made her way to her bedchamber to wash her hands and tidy her person, Prue resolved to keep a wary eye upon the details of whatever food was presented to her. She opened the door to the playroom with caution, and sighed in relief when she discovered that only Yvette was present.
‘Ou sont les enfants?’ demanded the Frenchwoman instantly.
‘Are they late? Perhaps they are still outside.’
‘Wiz zees petit chat , I sink, zat mademoiselle ’ave give to zem.’
Prue bore the accusing gleam in the woman’s eyes without comment, for she was becoming inured to the unforgiving nature of the nurse. Yvette would never cease to blame her for introducing the kitten into the household.
She went to take her seat at the table where the covers were already laid and the dishes set out. Which was promising, for if the girls were still out, they could not have had time to interfere with the contents. Unless they had intercepted the footman as he carried up the meal? She eyed the silver covers with a rise of trepidation in her breast.
As she pulled out her chair, there came the galloping of feet in the corridor outside. Yvette was heard tomutter in protest, and then the door burst open and the twins flew into the room, hurtling over to the table, both pretty faces overlaid with distress.
‘Miss Hursley, we can’t find Folly!’
‘He escaped into the bushes!’
‘We looked and looked, and—’
‘He ain’t nowhere to be seen!’
Her apprehensions were forgotten as a riffle of alarm swept through Prue’s veins. Without realising what she did, she seized hold of one twin’s shoulder, unaware which one of the girls it was.
‘Where? Where did you lose him?’
‘In the gardens, but—’
‘Where in the gardens? Come and show me!’
As she swept towards the door, grabbing up the other child on the way, Prue heard only vaguely the rattle of French that broke out behind her. She had no time now to deal with Yvette. She must wait, as also must their luncheon. Finding the lost kitten was of far more importance than food.
Together, the three of them hastened towards the east stairs which led down to the convenient side door. Contrary to Prue’s expectation, the girls did not halt in the immediate vicinity where there were bushes enough in which Folly might have hidden. Instead, with Dodo clutching her hand and dragging her along, she perforce followed where Lotty led them.
‘Where in the world did you take him?’ she asked, panting a little. ‘Why could you not keep near to the house?’
‘Folly wanted to see the other gardens,’ explained Dodo brightly, rushing Prue along a path that ran down the side of the wide lawns.
‘That is nonsensical. Come now, the truth, if you
‘Are you coming to eat with us, Miss Hursley?’
Prue glanced at Lotty, instantly on her guard. Since she invariably did take luncheon with the girls, why the question? Had they again planned something horrid for her plate? And in their presence, so that she had no opportunity to dissemble! What in the world was she to do if they should play a trick upon her in full view of Yvette? She affected puzzlement.
‘Why should I not, Lotty?’
‘No reason. I just wondered.’
Dodo, having attached the kitten to her chest, passed her sister to step through the door. ‘Come on, slow coach!’
The door shut behind them, leaving Prue prey to a lively apprehension. She tidied the books and slates away with automatic haste, her mind alive with conjecture.
What did those terrors intend to spring upon her this time? They would surely not dare to do anything obvious which their nurse might notice. It could not be as bad as the worms, she decided in relief. Then it must be something that would appear accidental.
One or two caterpillars hidden among the vegetables, perhaps? A spider or beetle released upon the table? Well, she must bear it with fortitude. Nevertheless, she shuddered with disgust at the thought.
As she made her way to her bedchamber to wash her hands and tidy her person, Prue resolved to keep a wary eye upon the details of whatever food was presented to her. She opened the door to the playroom with caution, and sighed in relief when she discovered that only Yvette was present.
‘Ou sont les enfants?’ demanded the Frenchwoman instantly.
‘Are they late? Perhaps they are still outside.’
‘Wiz zees petit chat , I sink, zat mademoiselle ’ave give to zem.’
Prue bore the accusing gleam in the woman’s eyes without comment, for she was becoming inured to the unforgiving nature of the nurse. Yvette would never cease to blame her for introducing the kitten into the household.
She went to take her seat at the table where the covers were already laid and the dishes set out. Which was promising, for if the girls were still out, they could not have had time to interfere with the contents. Unless they had intercepted the footman as he carried up the meal? She eyed the silver covers with a rise of trepidation in her breast.
As she pulled out her chair, there came the galloping of feet in the corridor outside. Yvette was heard tomutter in protest, and then the door burst open and the twins flew into the room, hurtling over to the table, both pretty faces overlaid with distress.
‘Miss Hursley, we can’t find Folly!’
‘He escaped into the bushes!’
‘We looked and looked, and—’
‘He ain’t nowhere to be seen!’
Her apprehensions were forgotten as a riffle of alarm swept through Prue’s veins. Without realising what she did, she seized hold of one twin’s shoulder, unaware which one of the girls it was.
‘Where? Where did you lose him?’
‘In the gardens, but—’
‘Where in the gardens? Come and show me!’
As she swept towards the door, grabbing up the other child on the way, Prue heard only vaguely the rattle of French that broke out behind her. She had no time now to deal with Yvette. She must wait, as also must their luncheon. Finding the lost kitten was of far more importance than food.
Together, the three of them hastened towards the east stairs which led down to the convenient side door. Contrary to Prue’s expectation, the girls did not halt in the immediate vicinity where there were bushes enough in which Folly might have hidden. Instead, with Dodo clutching her hand and dragging her along, she perforce followed where Lotty led them.
‘Where in the world did you take him?’ she asked, panting a little. ‘Why could you not keep near to the house?’
‘Folly wanted to see the other gardens,’ explained Dodo brightly, rushing Prue along a path that ran down the side of the wide lawns.
‘That is nonsensical. Come now, the truth, if you
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