anything of interest?’
‘Only a few names, I’m sorry, Mr Joshua. I’m not allowed to talk to the men there and I’m not allowed inside the inn, either.’
‘Well, names will do for now, but you’ll have to give me something else eventually. Do you have a list?’
‘In my head,’ Samuel said slyly and Mr Joshua laughed. ‘Let’s see. Mr Kelvin is the boss. He’s always there. And so is Kans, his servant and Cook; she’s the cook. The others are never there for very long at all. Mr Reese, Mr Castle and Mr Finnius Ickle all left together last week. Mr Wren came and left on the very same day, in an awful hurry, and now we have Mr Giles, Mr Geoffries and Mr Copperpot, a man called Malcolm Sloan and some other man whose name I don’t know yet; all staying for at least a week.’
Mr Joshua was very pleased. ‘Just a few names, indeed! You’re a very bright lad, Samuel. That Mr Wren fellow interests me greatly and a few other names help, as well. Keep trying to get more information and I’ll contact you soon. Find somewhere safe for this,’ and he gave Samuel three crowns. ‘You can’t come and see me, so you may need a little money.’
With that, he turned and left, with Fennian dragging his feet behind. Samuel had to run as hard as he could to get back in good time but, when he did, Cook was quite surprised to see him so soon. Apparently, the last stablehand was always much slower and took all day to run even the simplest errand. Cook seemed very pleased. Samuel smiled, making a mental note to take his time in future.
Samuel was kneeling in a flowerbed, pulling up weeds by the roots according to the precise instructions from Kans. A small pile of plucked weeds was forming beside him and he was working quite carefully, yet somehow he had become dirty from head to toe. He was having a busy day so far, with Kans giving him many a chore in the gardens, stating that he had much to do inside, himself. Samuel was always itching with curiosity to see inside the inn. Except for that first day, Samuel had set not a single toe on the finely polished floorboards inside, save for helping Cook in her kitchen.
Samuel wondered who the people of the Burning Oak really were. The brightness around them marked them apart from other people, even more so than their drab clothing habit. It seemed to be a sign of something different, something special and it made him more and more curious all the time. He planned to ask some questions and try to learn something of the truth, but it would not be easy getting answers out of any of these elusive guests.
Footsteps beside him suddenly caught his attention and he looked up to discern the figure—its face a black silhouette against the bright glare of the sun.
‘Hello, Samuel,’ said the man. It was Mr Kelvin. He bobbed down to squat beside Samuel. ‘You’re getting very dirty, indeed, my son.’ Samuel shrugged at this and wiped his running nose with his arm. ‘I was walking in the garden this morning when I noticed some of your chalk-marks by the wall over there and I realised I’ve been irresponsible in ignoring your education. The last lad here was much older than you, and admittedly quite a dense boy, but I think you have potential that should not be wasted. You do fine work in the stables. I think you should be rewarded beyond mere board, lodgings and your wage. An education is far more valuable than any of these things.’
Samuel realised his sums and pictures, drawn time after time on the same spot, had been making a mess. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Kelvin,’ he said hastily. ‘I’ll wash it off at once.’
He leapt up, but Mr Kelvin raised a solemn hand.
‘No, my boy,’ he reassured. ‘I don’t mind that, but I think I’ll get you some paper and a writing set, so that you don’t have to sprawl yourself out in the garden and I shall begin teaching you to read, write and calculate some sums, myself. I have some free time on occasion. Would you like
‘Only a few names, I’m sorry, Mr Joshua. I’m not allowed to talk to the men there and I’m not allowed inside the inn, either.’
‘Well, names will do for now, but you’ll have to give me something else eventually. Do you have a list?’
‘In my head,’ Samuel said slyly and Mr Joshua laughed. ‘Let’s see. Mr Kelvin is the boss. He’s always there. And so is Kans, his servant and Cook; she’s the cook. The others are never there for very long at all. Mr Reese, Mr Castle and Mr Finnius Ickle all left together last week. Mr Wren came and left on the very same day, in an awful hurry, and now we have Mr Giles, Mr Geoffries and Mr Copperpot, a man called Malcolm Sloan and some other man whose name I don’t know yet; all staying for at least a week.’
Mr Joshua was very pleased. ‘Just a few names, indeed! You’re a very bright lad, Samuel. That Mr Wren fellow interests me greatly and a few other names help, as well. Keep trying to get more information and I’ll contact you soon. Find somewhere safe for this,’ and he gave Samuel three crowns. ‘You can’t come and see me, so you may need a little money.’
With that, he turned and left, with Fennian dragging his feet behind. Samuel had to run as hard as he could to get back in good time but, when he did, Cook was quite surprised to see him so soon. Apparently, the last stablehand was always much slower and took all day to run even the simplest errand. Cook seemed very pleased. Samuel smiled, making a mental note to take his time in future.
Samuel was kneeling in a flowerbed, pulling up weeds by the roots according to the precise instructions from Kans. A small pile of plucked weeds was forming beside him and he was working quite carefully, yet somehow he had become dirty from head to toe. He was having a busy day so far, with Kans giving him many a chore in the gardens, stating that he had much to do inside, himself. Samuel was always itching with curiosity to see inside the inn. Except for that first day, Samuel had set not a single toe on the finely polished floorboards inside, save for helping Cook in her kitchen.
Samuel wondered who the people of the Burning Oak really were. The brightness around them marked them apart from other people, even more so than their drab clothing habit. It seemed to be a sign of something different, something special and it made him more and more curious all the time. He planned to ask some questions and try to learn something of the truth, but it would not be easy getting answers out of any of these elusive guests.
Footsteps beside him suddenly caught his attention and he looked up to discern the figure—its face a black silhouette against the bright glare of the sun.
‘Hello, Samuel,’ said the man. It was Mr Kelvin. He bobbed down to squat beside Samuel. ‘You’re getting very dirty, indeed, my son.’ Samuel shrugged at this and wiped his running nose with his arm. ‘I was walking in the garden this morning when I noticed some of your chalk-marks by the wall over there and I realised I’ve been irresponsible in ignoring your education. The last lad here was much older than you, and admittedly quite a dense boy, but I think you have potential that should not be wasted. You do fine work in the stables. I think you should be rewarded beyond mere board, lodgings and your wage. An education is far more valuable than any of these things.’
Samuel realised his sums and pictures, drawn time after time on the same spot, had been making a mess. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Kelvin,’ he said hastily. ‘I’ll wash it off at once.’
He leapt up, but Mr Kelvin raised a solemn hand.
‘No, my boy,’ he reassured. ‘I don’t mind that, but I think I’ll get you some paper and a writing set, so that you don’t have to sprawl yourself out in the garden and I shall begin teaching you to read, write and calculate some sums, myself. I have some free time on occasion. Would you like
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