Wild Lily by K M Peyton Read Free Book Online Page A

Cedric had backed out, and guessed that he had been unsettled by the creepy atmosphere, the same as herself. She appreciated that the place would be quite different set for a party, full of lights and people laughing and talking and the food all laid out: she could see it quite plainly, but just now, the way it echoed and the clammy air in one’s face almost like cobwebs – and the ghostly echoes from, it seemed, all directions – she could not wait to get out into the sunshine again.
    On the landing Cedric was sitting with Squashy and Barky, chatting happily. Their feet hung in the water, splashing.
    ‘Gives me the creeps,’ Cedric said to Antony.
    ‘Yeah, well, it’s been neglected. But it won’t be like that for the party. It’ll be all lights and sparkle and fun.’
    ‘Does the water run in the fountains all the time?’
    ‘No. You switch it on in my father’s office.’
    ‘Really weird! Who built it? All that work! Must have cost a fortune.’
    ‘It was a fashion a long time ago, to make grottoes. Just a fashion. You can’t imagine anyone doing it now. That’s why I think it’s a shame not to make use of it. Such a waste. It cries out to be used.’
    The others obviously thought Antony was biting off more than he could chew, but any chap who could get an aeroplane for his birthday had to be respected. They were happy to follow where he led.
    ‘By the way, no word of this to anyone. It’s got to be a secret, else it won’t happen. Not to the vicar, John, for God’s sake.’
    ‘No, of course not.’
    John, without adventure in his soul, didn’t look too happy about it and Lily guessed he would cry off when the time came. Not a party animal. They all got back in the punt and Squashy cast off. Barky jumped in as he pushed off. As they paddled out through the dark tunnel of trees, heading for the glorious light, Simon said to Antony, ‘You know, you can’t just bring Helena to the party out of the blue. She hardly ever goes out – it’ll terrify her, plunged into what you’re planning.’
    ‘No, I’ve thought of that. I’ll have to work on it. I thoughtLily might take on the job. Better to have another girl, tame the harridans, take Helena out and all that. You’d do that, wouldn’t you, Lily? Start giving her a life.’
    He smiled at her, as Lily’s heart stopped in mid-beat. She stared at him and her mouth dropped open. The words came back into her head: ‘ His broad clear brow in sunlight glowed …’
    ‘Yes,’ she said, wanting to die.
    ‘Good, that’s settled then.’

7
    Lily knocked on the door at the tradesmen’s entrance to Lockwood Hall. Antony had said to come at eleven o’clock, but he wasn’t waiting for her outside and she felt it wasn’t her place to use the front door. She was excited and very nervous. She had told her father about the invitation and, to her surprise, he had been sympathetic towards the proposal.
    ‘The poor lass has no friends, the life she leads. Maybe you could help her.’
    She had dressed carefully, to try and look like a lady. Not that the Lockwood servants would respect her, although several were friendly, mostly the younger ones. Antony was a pig not to be meeting her.
    A manservant opened the door and looked down his nose at her.
    ‘Mister Antony is expecting me.’ She lifted her chin.
    ‘Come in.’ He led the way into a gloomy room full of boots and muddy coats and unused dog baskets. ‘Mister Antony receives at the front door as a rule.’
    ‘Well, how am I to know? He didn’t say.’
    ‘Follow me.’
    The room opened into a scullery. In the kitchen beyond, the cook and kitchen maids stared at her as she passed by, but Lily kept her head down. Through a maze of gloomy corridors they emerged eventually into the main hall where she should have been received at the front door.
    ‘Wait here, miss.’ The man indicated a dusty sofa by an empty fireplace and disappeared.
    The hall was huge, bleak and terribly empty. An enormous stone