“What’s the rush, Grave?”
“You’re spilling my gin!”
When Valentina reached the stairs, she ran halfway up the first flight and then turned to face the crowd below. She clapped for silence. Lucy had to admire the girl’s nerve.
“Good evening, everyone. Thank you so much for coming and I’m very sorry I was delayed. But I’m here now and the entertainment’s about to start! And there’ll be an extra surprise afterwards! Do get yourselves along to the ballroom where you’ll be served refreshments.”
A hum of excited conversation broke out as the guests began making their way to the ballroom, speculating on exactly what Lord Grave’s extra surprise could possibly be.
“Hey, moggy, get back here!” Valentina suddenly called. Smell had taken the opportunity to attempt to slink off through the legs of the excited magicians. He turned and paused. Lucy shook her head, warning him not to make a run for it. Smell made his way back to the two girls, his tail drooping dejectedly.
“Sensible decision,” Valentina said. “Right, Goodly. Lead the way to the library.”
“George! Lucy!” Lady Sibyl came trotting towards them, a glass of champagne in her hand. Lucy suspected it wasn’t her first glass; she seemed to have forgotten the unpleasant way Lord Grave (or rather Valentina) had spoken to her at last night’s MAAM meeting. “I wondered where you’d got to! Where’s Bertie? And dear Lord Percy?”
“They’re, er, somewhere around,” Valentina said vaguely.
“You’re not going to go all grumpy on me again are you, George? I don’t like us not being friends! Shall we watch the circus together? Such a wonderful idea to have Diamond’s people perform!”
“I … er …” Valentina didn’t come up with an excuse quickly enough, so Lady Sibyl linked arms with her and steered her towards the ballroom, chattering happily. Valentina turned and said in a fake cheery voice, “Lucy, cat, are you coming with us?” Then she murmured, “Remember, if either of you two try anything at all, I’ll send a chit.”
If Lucy hadn’t been in such a terrible predicament she might have enjoyed what was going on in the ballroom. Diamond O’Brien’s Midnight Circus opened proceedings with a very impressive display of trapeze work, using invisible trapezes. As the artistes fearlessly flung themselves around in mid-air from unseen bar to unseen bar, the crowd ooh-ed and ah-ed delightedly.
“Oh, it’s so thrilling!” trilled Lady Sibyl, waving her glass of champagne. “How can they be sure they don’t miss the trapeze bar when they can’t even see it?”
“Amazing,” Valentina replied sourly. But Lady Sibyl didn’t seem to notice her companion’s ill humour.
When the trapeze act had finished, Diamond O’Brien stepped out on to the stage. “Good evening, everyone! Our next act is Madame Sawbones. We need a volunteer from the audience. Is anyone brave enough?”
Valentina grabbed Lady Sibyl’s arm and raised it.
“Oh, George, you’re spilling my champagne!” she said with a giggle.
“Ah, the lovely Lady Sibyl!” Diamond O’Brien called out. “Come on up!”
“Off you go,” Valentina said.
“This is very exciting,” Lady Sibyl said, handing her now-empty glass to Valentina.
“Right, Goodly, take me to this library place. And quick,” Valentina said once Lady Sibyl had clambered up on to the stage, and Madame Sawbones had invited her to lie down in a box and prepare to be sawn in half.
As she left the ballroom, Lucy nursed the small hope that there might be someone out in the hallway who she could appeal to for help, but it was deserted apart from not-Vonk, who was standing there with a tray of drinks.
“Everything going to plan?” he said to Valentina.
“So far. Goodly here is taking me to her room so I can get to the library and the keys.”
“Want me to come with you?”
“I can handle a cat and a little girl. You keep an eye on things here. Make sure that cook stays in the kitchen, we don’t want her guessing something’s up.”
“She keeps asking where Goodly is.”
“Well, think of something to say. Right, Goodly. Off we go.”
Lucy had no choice but to do as Valentina wanted. She climbed the stairs and headed towards the attic with Smell at her heels and Valentina following, the buzz of the crowd below fading away. Lucy barely saw where she was going; she was too busy desperately trying to concoct a plan. It wasn’t until they had reached the top of the house and were walking in tense silence to Lucy’s bedroom that she had a flash of inspiration. Turner and Paige would naturally hand over the keys to the Room of Curiosities to Lord Grave (or someone they believed to be Lord Grave) without question, but they might not be so keen on giving them to a girl they’d never met before.
“So we get in through here?” Valentina hunkered down next to the fireplace in Lucy’s bedroom and stared at Turner and Paige, who were of course in their frozen form on the tiles.
“Yes, but don’t you think it might seem a bit strange?” Lucy said.
Valentina narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“This is the way I enter the library, but Lord Grave goes in a different way. I mean, think about it. Otherwise he’d have to come up here to the servants’ quarters every time he wanted to use the library. Which would be a bit inconvenient. I think the librarians might wonder why Lord Grave’s using this entrance.”
“Hell’s teeth, Goodly! Why didn’t you tell me all this before?”
“I only just thought of it.”
Valentina stroked her moustache. “You, cat, do you know how Grave gets in?”
“Nah. But I reckon Lucy’s right. It’ll look dead suspicious to them librarians, seeing Lord Grave use this entrance. ’E’s a bit of a snob really. ’E’d consider it beneath ’is dignity to be ’anging round the servants’ quarters.”
Valentina sat on the edge of Lucy’s bed. She took off her top hat and flicked the brim thoughtfully.
Lucy frowned, as though she was deep in thought too. “Maybe … maybe I could pretend you’re a new servant? That I’m showing you around on Lord Grave’s orders? But you’d have to take off your Lord Grave disguise, of course. Be yourself.”
Valentina scowled. “This had better not be a trick, Goodly.”
“You’ve got all my friends under threat of death. I’m not going to risk their lives by trying to fool you!” Lucy surreptitiously wiped her sweating palms on the seat of her breeches. She was sure that an unfamiliar girl showing up in the library would make Turner and Paige wary. If they twigged that something was wrong, maybe they could use their particular brand of magic to trap Valentina somehow. It was a risky plan, but it might just work.
“Does this door lock?” Valentina asked.
Lucy nodded.
Valentina got off the bed and went over to the door. She turned the large key in its lock and then put it in the pocket of her pinafore dress. Then she began the horrendous task of stripping off her face. Both Smell and Lucy turned away, only looking back again when the whole ghastly process was complete and Valentina was herself again. The Lord Grave mask was now dangling from one of Lucy’s bedposts. Lucy shivered with disgust.
“Right, Goodly, get to it,” Valentina ordered.
“Give me a chance! Come on, Smell.”
“Eh, what?”
“Fingerprints and pawprints first, remember?” Lucy said.
“Oh yeah, course.”
Valentina watched carefully as Lucy crouched down and pressed her right forefinger first to the tiles that showed Mr Turner and then to the tiles that showed Mr Paige. Smell did the same with his right front paw.
“Nothing’s happening,” Valentina said, folding her arms.
“She ’as to say the words next,” Smell said.
“I want to learn more about Hester Coin,” Lucy said.
The name seemed to disturb Valentina, and she gave a little gasp. “Why are you asking about her?”
“First thing that came
to mind,” Lucy replied.
The three of them waited. And waited. And waited some more.
“Have you tricked me, Goodly?” Valentina said, narrowing her eyes.
“No, I don’t understand why it’s not working!” Lucy said, genuinely perplexed.
“Oh, hell’s teeth! It’s your manacles, they’re blocking the magic,” Valentina snapped.
“You’ll have to take them off me, then,” Lucy said. She spoke calmly, trying not to show any excitement at the faint chink of hope this offered. Perhaps this was why Lord Grave had winked his encouragement back at the lair. He’d known she wouldn’t be able to get Valentina into the library with the manacles on. With them off, she might be able to fight Valentina with attack sparks or some other magic. And maybe Turner and Paige would be able to help overpower her.
Valentina glared at Lucy, as if she could read her thoughts. “Just remember I have those chits, Goodly. One word from me, and your friends are at the mercy of my gang. Likewise if they don’t hear from me after midnight.”
“Not likely to forget, am I?” Lucy retorted.
Valentina scowled and fished the key out of her pocket. She unlocked Lucy’s manacles and took them off. Lucy and Smell then repeated the charade of pressing finger and paw to the fireplace.
“I want to learn about Hester Coin,” Lucy repeated. A moment later, Mr Turner and Mr Paige came to life.
“Lucy! What are you doing, bringing a stranger here?” Mr Turner said, staring at Valentina.
“I’m not a stranger, I’m a new maid. My name’s Valentina,” Valentina said, smiling. “I’m very honoured to meet you.”
Mr Turner huffed and puffed a little. “Well, it’s nice of you to say so. But Lord Grave didn’t mention anything about a new maid. He always informs us about new magical staff.”
“Er, yes,” Lucy said, winking at Mr Turner in an attempt to signal that all was not well. “He said to apologise. He’s been so busy organising the ball that he forgot.”
“Is there something wrong with your eye, Miss Goodly? And what’s that nasty cut on your face? Now, why ever do you need to know more about Hester Coin at this moment in time?”
Valentina bent closer to Mr Turner, her blonde hair falling round her face rather charmingly. “Lord Grave’s making a speech about the history of MAAM and defeating Hester Coin. He wants us to check a few facts. He said you were the best people to consult. But if you’re busy and it’s too much trouble we could see if someone else can help.”
“No, no, of course we’re not too busy! You are very welcome in our library. Most welcome indeed.”
“Thank you!”
“We need to hold hands,” Mr Turner said.
“And paws,” Smell pointed out.
Mr Turner didn’t look too pleased about this. “We don’t normally allow cats in the library.”
“Smell can stay behind, then,” Lucy said hurriedly. This could be a chance for him to fetch help!
“But, Lucy,” Valentina said in a concerned voice, “his Lordship said that Smell should come with us! He was quite insistent!”
Lucy glared at Valentina, but didn’t dare argue.
“Well, I hope the cat’s paws are clean. And no jumping up on anything. Or clawing anything. And no shedding fur. Now do prepare yourself, Miss Valentina. This might feel a smidge uncomfortable.”
“What a wonderful place,” Valentina enthused when all the squishing and squashing was over and the five of them were standing in the library, Turner and Paige now in their full-sized human forms. “Ooh, but I’ve got a bit of cramp in my leg.”
Valentina reached down as though to massage her calf. Lucy realised too late what she was up to and so couldn’t stop her pulling the knife from her boot. Smell wriggled his bottom, preparing to leap to Lucy’s defence, but, before he could launch himself, Valentina had grabbed Lucy in a headlock, jabbing the point of the knife into her neck.
“What are you doing?” cried Mr Turner. “There’s no need for violence! We’ll happily give you information about Hester Coin!”
“I know everything I need to know about Hester Coin, you ceramic-brained twit,” Valentina snarled. “I want the key to the Room of Curiosities. Now!”
“Don’t give it to her!” Lucy yelled.
“I’ll kill her, don’t think I won’t!”
“Oh dear, oh dear,” Mr Turner said. “Mr Paige, what are we to do?”
“The key!” Valentina yelled.
Mr Paige prodded Mr Turner and nodded vigorously at him. Mr Turner ran over to one of the leather sofas and began digging down the back of it. Lucy couldn’t help thinking the two librarians could have made more of an effort at finding a hiding place for the key.
Valentina seemed to have had the same thought. “That’s where you hide the key to a room full of very powerful magical objects, is it?”
“Yes. Hiding it in plain sight, as it were. Always a clever ploy.” Mr Turner held out the key, which was very shiny and fancy-looking, for Valentina to take.
“You know, if it should just so happen that this key doesn’t get me inside that room …” Valentina tightened her arm round Lucy’s neck, and she began to choke. Mr Turner and Mr Paige exchanged panicked looks.
“Ah, wait. I am so sorry. I have inadvertently given you the wrong key. Mr Paige, would you mind?”
Mr Paige hurried over to one of the walls of bookshelves. He scurried up to the top of the ladder that leaned against the shelves and pulled out a hefty tome. There was something hidden behind it, which Mr Paige grabbed. Then he replaced the book and scuttled back down the ladder. He had retrieved a small, rusty-looking key, which he now held out to Valentina.
“Drop it in my pinafore pocket,” she demanded. Mr Turner reluctantly obeyed. “Good. Now, get me out of here.”
“You’ll have to let me go again, first,” Lucy choked out. “We all have to hold hands for the magic to work, remember?”
“Very good point, Miss Lucy,” Mr Turner said.
“You’re telling me that Lord Grave has to hold hands with you two freaky bookworms every time he comes and goes from his own library? I don’t believe that for a second,” Valentina snapped.
Mr Turner stared at Valentina. It would be obvious to anyone who had ever met Lord Grave that he wasn’t the type of person to indulge in hand-holding unless it was absolutely unavoidable. Lucy prayed that Mr Turner would come up with a convincing explanation. But unfortunately the librarian’s imagination seemed to fail him. “Well, it is more for safety reasons than anything else,” he said feebly.
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep tight hold of Goodly here. We’ll all be quite safe.”
When Valentina stepped out of the bedroom fireplace, she still had a strong, tight grip round Lucy’s neck and on her knife. Smell followed the two girls. Then Valentina looked at Turner and Paige, who had shrunk back to their fireplace size and were once more ensconced in the tiles.
“Well, if you’ve finished with us,” Mr Turner said, in a very forced casual voice, “we’ll just—”
“Wait,” Valentina said. She dragged Lucy over to the bed and forced her to sit down before putting the manacles back on her. Maybe it was because she was in a hurry and not concentrating, but instead of locking Lucy’s hands behind her back as before, Valentina locked them in front of her. It was the tiniest of advantages, but better than nothing.
Valentina then went over to the fireplace. She dug around in her pinafore pockets and pulled out a small glass bottle, which she placed on the hearth. “Drink this, both of you.”
“Drink it?” said Mr Turner.
“Half of it. Give the other half to your friend.”
“You’re going to poison them?” Lucy shouted.
“Oh, enough drama, Goodly. It’s Tobias’s sleeping potion. I want to make sure these two are out of action.”
Turner and Paige looked at each other. They must have silently decided they had no choice but to obey Valentina, because Mr Turner uncorked the bottle, sniffed a
t the liquid inside, then put the neck of the bottle to his lips.
“No! Don’t drink it!” Lucy yelled. She stumbled over to the fireplace and clumsily grabbed the heavy candlestick from the mantelpiece with her manacled hands. She swung it at Valentina, who ducked at the last moment, but lost her balance and fell backwards on to the floor. Smell took the opportunity to hurl himself at Valentina, claws and teeth bared, but she scrambled out of the way. She dashed over to the bedroom window and smashed out one of the panes of glass with her elbow.
“No more!” she yelled, digging into her pocket again and pulling out one of the chits she’d shown Lucy and Smell. She held it out through the broken pane of glass. “Or I’ll send this to my gang. Grave and the others will die before you can do anything about it!”
For a few moments, no one moved or spoke.
“It’s too big a risk,” Lucy eventually said to Smell.
“Sensible,” Valentina said. “Now, you two, drink that.”
Mr Turner obeyed. When he’d swallowed half the contents of the bottle, he passed it to Mr Paige, who downed the rest of it. Within thirty seconds, they were both fast asleep.
Valentina waited for a few moments, still holding the chit out of the window. Finally, she seemed satisfied that Turner and Paige weren’t faking.
“See you!” She put her Lord Grave mask back on before skipping out through the bedroom door and then slamming it shut behind her.
“That’s torn it!” exclaimed Smell, as they heard Valentina turn the key and then run off along the passageway.
“We’re never going to get out of here!” Lucy said despairingly.
“If only we had summat we could use to force the door open. Don’t s’pose you got a toolbox ’andy, Luce?”
Lucy gasped. “The scissors!”
“Eh?”
“Becky tried to attack me with a pair. Mrs Crawley looked for them but she couldn’t find them.” Lucy gazed around the small room, trying to pinpoint anything Mrs Crawley might have missed.
Goodly and Grave in a Case of Bad Magic Page 10
