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

mother’s four-poster bed.
    She could hear the pitter-patter of raindrops against the window.
    ‘Mummy,’ Clementine called. But there was no reply. She sat up and saw that her mother’s bed was already made.
    Clementine threw back the covers and shivered. Lavender and Pharaoh were curled up together in Lavender’s basket near the radiator.
    She grabbed her dressing-gown, stuffed her feet into her woolly slippers and headed out along the corridor to the back stairs. As she passed by her own bedroom, the door opened and she was met by Uncle Orville.
    He must have stayed put after his earlier adventure. Half the house had come running after Aunt Violet’s scream. In the end, Mr Fox and Dr Gunalingam had carried Uncle Orville back to Clementine’s room, much to the relief of Aunt Violet. She said that she was going to barricade the door.
    The man squinted at Clemmie. ‘Hello dear.’
    ‘Good morning, Mr Fox,’ she said. ‘Did you have a good sleep?’
    ‘Yesh, yesh, but I had a terrible dream about a wild woman who was shcreaming like a witch . . .’
    Clementine wondered why he was talking strangely.
    ‘Are you joining ush for the wedding today?’ he asked.
    Clementine couldn’t believe that she’d almost forgotten about it. Of course, that’s why Mr Fox was dressed up. He might have been old and a little off kilter, but he was a very snappy dresser.
    ‘I like your suit,’ Clementine said, admiring the pinstripes and the lovely silk handkerchief that was poking out of his pocket. ‘But you might want to change your shoes.’
    Mr Fox looked down at his slippered feet.
    ‘Oopsh.’ He turned and walked back into the room. ‘I wash a tailor you know.’
    ‘Really?’ Clementine was impressed. ‘Mrs Mogg makes all my clothes. I think she’s very clever. She can make just about anything . . . Although, I don’t know if she could make a suit.’ She followed him inside the room.
    Clementine glanced at her bedside table and noticed what she first thought was a glass of water. Then she looked more closely.
    ‘Mr Fox, I think you’ve forgotten something else too,’ she said, pointing.
    ‘Oh, thank heavensh.’ Mr Fox shuffled over and reached into the glass. He popped his teeth into his mouth and gave Clementine a big smile.
    Other children her age might have been frightened, but Clementine had seen plenty of false teeth at the house before. In fact, she even had a couple of sets that guests had left behind. She sometimes made up plays with the talking teeth, much to her mother’s and Uncle Digby’s horror.
    ‘You look very nice, Mr Fox,’ said Clementine, grinning back at him. ‘Even better with your teeth.’
    Clementine said goodbye and raced down the back stairs to find her mother and Mrs Mogg busily preparing breakfast. Violet Appleby was dressed and sitting at the table sipping a cup of tea.
    ‘Oh, hello, sleepyhead.’ Her mother glanced at the clock on the wall. It was half past nine.
    ‘Half the day’s gone, Clementine,’ her great-aunt commented. ‘Why don’t you run along and get dressed. I presume you still want to see that wedding?’
    ‘Yes, of course,’ said Clementine.
    The smell of bacon filled the room as Mrs Mogg opened the oven and retrieved a plate piled with crispy rashers. She trotted off to the dining room.
    ‘Would you like something to eat first, Clemmie?’ her mother asked.
    The child nodded. Her stomach was making all sorts of funny gurgles.
    ‘What about an egg and some bacon on toast?’ her mother suggested.
    ‘Yes, please.’
    Lady Clarissa turned to her aunt. ‘Aunt Violet, would you like to see Uncle Digby this morning? Then I’ll go later tonight.’
    Clementine looked up expectantly. She’d hoped Uncle Digby would be home today.
    ‘No,’ Aunt Violet said tersely. ‘I’m far too tired. Some of us didn’t have a good night at all.’
    ‘But that’s not Mummy’s fault,’ said Clementine.
    ‘Of course it is,’ Aunt Violet snapped. ‘If she’d