Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present 3 by Jacqueline Harvey Read Free Book Online Page A

and she’d be bunking in with us. But now, of course, with Uncle Digby away, she’s decided to take his room. She wasn’t nearly as cross as I expected but I think that was because Dr Gunalingam was in the car too. No doubt I’ll hear about it later when everyone’s gone home.’
    Clementine nodded. Her mother was right about that.
    No one noticed the little pile of mail on the hall table. Just as Aunt Violet had been about to leave to pick up Lady Clarissa and the doctor, Father Bob had turned up on the doorstep clutching a bundle of letters that had been among his mail. He’d been very surprised to find them, as Mrs Mogg never made mistakes with the post. Then again, she had left Mr Mogg in charge on Thursday afternoon when she’d been helping at Penberthy House and Clyde wasn’t known for his attention to detail.

Lady Clarissa glanced at the kitchen clock. It was already past midnight and she had just finished the washing up and sent Margaret Mogg on her way. Fortunately, dinner had gone well and the guests seemed to be enjoying themselves. She thought that the bride and groom seemed very well suited, although Roberta Fox had certainly not been any less demanding in person. Clarissa had been glad when Aunt Violet skulked off to bed early complaining of another imaginary ailment. Her aunt had done enough damage that day and Clarissa thought she couldn’t possibly upset anyone from her bed.
    In the eerie quiet, Lady Clarissa wondered if Uncle Digby was all right. She missed him terribly; over the years she’d come to rely on him as much as she would have her own father. A tear spilled onto her cheek and she brushed it away. She couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to him. She shook the notion from her head. Of course he’d be fine – there wasn’t any other option.
    Meanwhile upstairs, Aunt Violet awoke wishing she hadn’t had that last cup of tea before bed. She peered into the darkness. After a few moments she remembered that she had been banished to Pertwhistle’s bedroom, which at least had a bathroom attached. In fact, it wasn’t a bad room at all. Perhaps she’d swap. She tottered off to the toilet, not bothering to put on the light.
    Further down the hallway, Orville Fox felt the same urge. He put on his dressing-gown and slippers and headed along the corridor to the bathroom. A few minutes later, he shuffled back to his room and opened the door, stubbing his toe and wondering who had put the wooden trunk near the bed in the time he’d been out.
    Orville sat down, took off his slippers and eased out of his gown. He adjusted the pillows and rolled onto his side and within just a few seconds he was fast asleep.
    Lady Clarissa finished drying the last saucepan. From somewhere high in the house, a bloodcurdling scream shook the windows. She leapt into the air, threw the saucepan onto the bench with a clatter and ran up the back stairs two at a time.
    Clementine woke with a start. She sprang out of bed and ran along the corridor towards Uncle Digby’s room. There was an awful noise coming from inside. When she opened the door and flicked on the light, her eyes almost popped out of her head.
    ‘Aunt Violet, what’s going on?’ she gasped.
    Lady Clarissa ran into the room behind her.
    Violet Appleby was standing beside the bed, her face as white as a sheet and her hair standing on end as if she’d poked her finger into a power point. Her breathing was shallow and she looked as if she was trying to speak.
    ‘Mummy, there’s a man in Aunt Violet’s bed!’ Clementine exclaimed.
    ‘Get him out of here!’ Aunt Violet shrieked, prodding the intruder’s side with her forefinger. ‘Get him out of here NOW!’
    But Orville Fox was sound asleep. Clearly the man could have slept through a cyclone, because he’d just met Hurricane Violet.

Clementine rubbed her eyes. For a moment she had forgotten where she was. She took a few seconds to remember that she was on a mattress at the foot of her