Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors by Jenny Nimmo Read Free Book Online Page A

did you say?"
    "I said, forgive me for being related to you."
    "Get to bed," growled Charlie's great-aunt Lucretia.
    The next morning, on their way down to breakfast, Charlie told Fidelio everything that had happened the night before. His friend listened attentively until Charlie began to talk about the photographs.
    "So you've been listening again," Fidelio said wryly
    "I couldn't help myself" Charlie admitted. "They were a nasty pair, Fido. But how can I tell Billy?"
    "Let's just hope you're wrong, and those people weren't the de Greys."
    The two boys walked into the cafeteria and took their places at the music table.
    "Interesting about the horses," Fidelio said as he buttered a piece of toast.
    Billy Raven looked up from his cornflakes. "Did you say horses?"
    “Tell you later, Billy" said Charlie. "By the way I've got detention this weekend, so I'll be keeping you company."
    "My new parents are coming to fetch me on Saturday" said Billy
    "So soon?"
    "I'll have my own home!" Billy bounced up and down in his seat. "Yippee!"
    Charlie grinned. He didn't want to dash Billy's hopes, but he was sure that real adoptions didn't happen this way How did the Bloors get away with it? They kept children hidden from their relatives, they moved orphans around without their having any say in the matter, they even made fathers disappear.
    "Charlie!" Fidelio nudged him. "If you don't want your breakfast, I'll eat it."
    Charlie spooned cornflakes into his mouth as quickly as he could. "I suppose you don't feel like getting detention with me?" he asked.
    Fidelio looked embarrassed. "Sorry Can't. I've promised to play in my brother's band on Saturday morning."
    "At least I might get a look at Billy Raven's parents. That should be interesting," said Charlie.
    During the first break, Charlie saw Emma and Olivia running around the field.
    "Hey you two!" cried Charlie, as he panted beside the girls. "Are you, er . . . occupied on Saturday?"
    "Bookstore!" said Emma. "It's Auntie Julia's busy day"
    "Have you got detention again, Charlie?" asked Olivia, slowing her pace.
    "Yep. So, are you busy?"
    Olivia stopped running and Emma drew up beside her.
    "Well?" asked Charlie, taking a deep breath.
    "Actually," said Olivia solemnly "Saturday is probably going to be the most important day in my whole life."
    "Definitely" agreed Emma.
    "I'm auditioning for a movie. It's a really big movie. There are at least three huge stars in it, and I'm going to be Tom Winston's daughter, or at least I think I will be."
    "Tom Winston?" Charlie asked.
    "Don't tell me you've never heard of Tom Winston," said Olivia, frowning. "He's a HUGE star!"
    "Oh. OK. Well, good luck," said Charlie. "Hey you might be famous, Livvy!"
    "Bound to be," said loyal Emma.
    "Might be," said Olivia with a confident smile.
    "So, will you talk to us when you're famous?" asked Charlie.
    "What do you think?" Olivia's smile grew wider.
    The hunting horn blared and Charlie never got to answer Olivia, because the two girls tore off and reached the garden door long before him. Charlie decided they must have been in training during vacation.
    "Guess what," Charlie said, leaping into the coat-room. "Olivia Vertigo's going to be a movie star."
    Fidelio was sitting on a bench, changing his shoes. "How come?" he asked, dropping one of his sneakers.
    Several other children stared at Charlie, and Gwyneth Howells, the harpist, said, "Olivia Vertigo thinks she's so brilliant."
    "But she is," Rosie Stubbs said generously "I mean, I bet she will be famous."
    Gwyneth gave her best friend a withering look, and Rosie said, "Oh, come on, Gwyn, you must admit she's a fantastic actress."
    "She's going to an audition on Saturday" Charlie told them. "It's for a part in a gigantic movie. She'll be Tom Winston's daughter."
    "If she gets the part," said Gwyneth with a sniff
    "She will," said Fidelio. "No question."
    Soon the whole school was buzzing with talk of Olivia Vertigo's imminent fame. And Olivia began to wish that