‘What is it?’ Clementine squatted down beside him.
‘Hang on.’ Freddy scampered away then returned with a thin piece of driftwood. He poked it into the water.
A tentacle reached out and wrapped around the stick.
‘It’s an octopus!’ Clementine gasped. She’d never seen one in real life.
‘Isn’t it cool?’ Freddy said as the creature played tug of war with him. After a few seconds, the octopus released the stick and hid beneath a rock in the pool.
‘What else is there?’ Clementine asked eagerly.
Freddy leapt over another puddle towards a much bigger pool.
‘Look at this!’ he shouted as Clementine picked her way carefully over to join him.
A tiny crab scurried sideways, then was joined by several more. Clementine stared into the water, watching a large crab that was moving slowly along the bottom of the pool.
After a minute, she glanced up and noticed the way the rock shelf jutted out towards the sea. ‘What’s on the other side?’ Clementine asked.
‘There’s another beach and something really amazing,’ said Freddy.
‘Mummy, can we go around further?’ Clementine called to Lady Clarissa, who was now sitting on a large rock with Lavender beside her.
Lady Clarissa’s voice carried back to them on the wind. ‘Yes, darling, just be careful.’
Freddy led the way.
‘This is a proper adventure,’ said Clementine with a smile.
The children jumped and hopped their way across the uneven surface, careful not to slip into the pools. Around the point, the rock shelf curved back towards the cliffs. A few steps below them was a narrow inlet, and on the other side another tiny beach, with a patch of green grass behind it.
‘Can you see anything?’ Freddy asked, as he pointed at the cliff face on the other side of the inlet.
Clementine looked at the vines that tumbled over the top of the ledge and hung down like a veil.
‘What is it?’ she said, squinting.
Freddy pointed again. ‘Just there.’
Clementine gasped. Hidden behind the vines was the outline of an opening. ‘It’s a cave!’
Freddy grinned.
‘Have you been in there?’ Clementine asked.
‘Yes,’ the boy nodded.
‘But it’s dark and we haven’t got a torch,’ Clementine said.
‘I’ve got a special torch,’ Freddy said, ‘but it’s at home.’
The boy made his way down the rocks, then jumped across the shallow inlet to the cave opening. He pulled the vines to one side. Clementine stayed back.
‘We could bring your torch and look in there tomorrow,’ Clementine suggested.
Freddy grinned at her. ‘That’s the best idea. It’s not that scary but it will be better with a torch.’
He was trying to sound brave. When Freddy and Della had discovered the cave on their last visit to Endersley-on-Sea, Della had called him a sook because he hadn’t wanted to go in. She’d pushed him through the vines and the darkness had covered him like a blanket. But he was sure it would be okay with a torch.
‘We’ll come back tomorrow,’ said Freddy. He turned and jumped back across the narrow inlet and over the rocks to Clementine. The two children scurried back towards the main beach. They’d just rounded the headland when a voice screeched above the sound of the waves.
‘Freddy! You have to come home. NOW!’
Freddy and Clementine reached Clarissa, who was looking towards the village end of the beach and the source of the noise.
The boy caught his breath and Clementine noticed he was jiggling nervously, as if he needed to go to the toilet. Della was standing at the top of the stairs with her hands on her hips. Her hair was blowing in the breeze and she looked a bit like a lion – only twice as fierce.
‘It sounds like someone is looking for you Freddy,’ said Lady Clarissa. She squinted at Della in the distance.
‘She can wait,’ Freddy said, his voice wavering.
Clarissa was not so sure about that. She turned her attention back to Freddy and Clementine.
‘Did you find anything interesting?’ she asked.
Clementine and Freddy nodded.
‘We saw an octopus,’ Clementine said excitedly. ‘And a cave. Didn’t we, Freddy?’
The shouting was getting louder. Freddy looked past Lady Clarissa at his sister, who was now running along the beach towards them. He said nothing.
‘Are you all right?’ Clementine asked.
‘I-I have to go,’ Freddy said, and raced away towards Della.
‘Thanks for the tour,’ Clementine called after him. She watched as he reached his sister halfway along the beach. Clementine could just make out snatches of Della’s words. She sounded angry. She grabbed the boy’s shoulder and marched him away.
‘I think Freddy’s in trouble,’ said Clementine. As she watched, Della pushed him hard in the middle of his back.
‘Oh dear,’ Lady Clarissa said. ‘We’ll have to make sure we ask Della to come tomorrow too.’
Clementine frowned. Freddy was lovely, but Della was something altogether different.
When Clementine and her mother returned to the house, Uncle Digby and Aunt Violet were in the front sitting room.
Uncle Digby looked up from the newspaper on his lap. ‘Did you have a good walk?’
‘We saw an octopus and some crabs and a cave!’ Clementine enthused. ‘But then Della came to get Freddy. So Mummy and I went for a walk around the harbour and I had an ice-cream and Lavender licked up the drips.’
‘Look at that pig!’ Aunt Violet shook her head at Lavender, who was encrusted with sand. ‘You’ll have to give her a rinse, Clementine.’
Rosamund Dent appeared in the doorway behind Clarissa. ‘Oh, a bit of sand never hurt anyone,’ she said with a smile. ‘When you live by the sea you come to expect it. Now, would anyone like anything before I get started on dinner?’
Digby shook his head. ‘No, thank you, Mrs Dent.’
‘I wouldn’t mind another cup of tea,’ said Aunt Violet.
‘You might turn into a cup of tea, the amount you drink,’ Digby said pointedly.
‘Well, you could get it for me,’ Aunt Violet snapped, ‘and save Mrs Dent the trouble.’
‘Oh, it’s no trouble. You’re on holidays,’ Mrs Dent smiled.
Digby hoisted himself to his feet. ‘I’ll come and give you a hand.’
Aunt Violet studied Mrs Dent and wondered how the woman’s face could look like a sunbeam even when she wasn’t smiling.
‘I think we’ll give Lavender a quick rinse in the shower. Clementine, you might like to have a bath too. Then you can be ready for bed straight after supper,’ Clarissa suggested.
‘But Mummy, we’re on holidays,’ Clementine said. ‘Can I stay up later?’
‘Of course, darling. I just thought you might like to feel a bit less salty,’ her mother said.
‘Dinner will be ready in about an hour,’ said Mrs Dent, ‘so you’ve got plenty of time. If you don’t mind helping with the tea, Mr Pertwhistle, I might try to get those two of mine through the bath as well.’
‘Certainly. And please call me Digby.’
‘In that case, you must call me Rosamund,’ Mrs Dent replied.
‘And you can call me nauseated,’ Violet Appleby muttered.
‘I’m sorry Miss Appleby, did you say something?’ Mrs Dent asked.
The old woman pursed her lips. ‘No, I’m just a little parched.’
Clarissa stared at her aunt. She’d heard her perfectly.
Clementine scooped Lavender into her arms and followed her mother upstairs. There was no sign of Freddy or his sister anywhere. She wondered if their bedrooms were at the back of the house or above them, on the second floor. Wherever they were, they were awfully quiet.
Clementine took her bath while her mother gave Lavender a quick rinse in the shower. The little pig enjoyed the warm water, snapping at the spray and dancing a
bout on the tiles. Clementine got dressed and wrapped Lavender in a towel.
‘You smell nice,’ Clementine said and nuzzled the pig’s face. Lavender repaid her with a nibble on the nose.
‘Clemmie, I’m going to get changed for dinner,’ said her mother. ‘Why don’t you see if Freddy and Della want to play?’
Clementine took Lavender and headed down the hall. She didn’t notice Della sitting near the top of the stairs leading up to the second floor.
‘Why do you have a pig?’ the child asked tartly.
Clementine spun around. ‘Oh hello,’ she said.
‘Well?’ Della stood up and stumped down the stairs towards Clementine. ‘Why don’t you have a normal pet like a dog or a cat or a guinea pig?’
‘Mummy won her at the fair,’ Clementine replied. Lavender looked up at her mistress and gave a squeak. ‘Aunt Violet has a cat. His name is Pharaoh and he’s a sphynx.’
‘No, he’s not. The Sphinx is a half-lion, half-man statue in Egypt. It’s not a cat,’ Della said.
‘Yes, he is. He’s bald and wrinkly and sometimes he scares the guests at home,’ Clementine replied. ‘I didn’t know what he was at first because he doesn’t look like any other cats I know.’
‘Well, I have a pet python,’ the girl said, her eyes narrowing. ‘It’s five metres long and we feed it all sorts of meaty little creatures.’
Clementine gulped. ‘What’s its name?’
Della hesitated for a moment. ‘It’s . . . it’s Polly, if you must know.’
‘That’s a good name for a python,’ Clemmie said quietly.
‘Aren’t you scared?’ Della demanded.
Clementine drew herself up tall and shook her head. ‘No, I’m sure that your granny doesn’t let her roam around the house. I have a toy python. Once, I left it in the Rose Room and the lady who was staying there screamed and screamed because she thought it was real. It wasn’t very good for business because Mummy had to give her a big discount and make her lots of tea so she would calm down.’
Della looked confused.
‘We live in a hotel,’ added Clementine.
‘No, you don’t,’ the girl said.
Clementine nodded. ‘Yes, we do. It’s called Penberthy House and it’s very big and old and it’s getting a new roof, so that’s why we’ve come on holidays.’
‘Well, it’s not as big as our hotel,’ Della snapped.
Clementine looked around her. Penberthy House was much larger and grander than Mrs Dent’s guesthouse.
Della glared at her.
‘I’m going downstairs now,’ Clementine said.
‘Why?’ Della snapped.
‘Because Mummy said I should find Freddy so we can play a game,’ Clementine said.
‘Do you always do what your mother tells you?’ Della asked.
Clementine thought about it and then nodded. ‘I try to.’
‘You’re such a baby. Only babies do everything their mothers tell them,’ Della sneered. ‘Anyway, Freddy’s tied up at the moment.’
Clementine frowned. ‘Oh.’
‘You can play a game with me instead,’ Della said.
Clementine looked at the girl. ‘But I thought you only played with people who were over seven.’
‘Usually I do. But seeing that there’s no one over seven here to play with now, I suppose you’ll have to do.’
‘You don’t have to,’ Clementine said.
‘Don’t you want to play with me now?’ Della sighed.
‘Okay,’ Clementine nodded. ‘What should we play?’
‘Hide-and-seek,’ Della said. ‘You hide and I’ll find you and the pig.’
Clementine smiled. She liked hide-and- seek – especially at home where there were lots of places to disappear. But she had no idea where to hide here. She’d only been downstairs and in her own room with her mother.
‘I don’t know where to go,’ Clementine said.
‘Up there.’ Della pointed to the top floor. ‘But you have to stay on the left-hand side of the stairs.’
Clementine gulped.
‘You do know your left and right, don’t you?’ asked Della.
Clementine nodded. Secretly, she was trying to remember which was which.
‘Can Freddy play too?’ Clementine asked.
‘No. He went to the beach without me, so now I’m playing a game without him,’ Della said, flicking her fingernails. ‘Well, off you go. I’ll count to fifty and then I’m coming to get you.’
Clementine picked up Lavender and scampered up the stairs to the top floor. She reached the landing and looked each way. She couldn’t remember if left was this way or that way. There were several doors along both sides of the corridor. Clementine ran to the one furthest along. She pushed it open.
Inside was a pretty room with blue floral wallpaper. There was a large bookshelf and an iron bedstead. Clementine wondered if this was where Della slept. There was another door on the far wall. Clementine turned the handle and found herself in a bathroom. She hid behind the towel hanging on the rail, pulling it down so it skimmed the floor.
Clementine heard a voice in the hallway.
‘Ready or not, here I come,’ Della shouted. But the footsteps seemed to be running away.
Clementine thought about left and right. Mrs Bottomley had taught the class that the left hand makes the shape of a capital L. Clementine put Lavender down and held up her hands. Oops – she’d turned right at the top of the stairs.
‘Come on, Lavender, let’s go before we get in trouble.’ Clementine picked up the little pig and they dashed out of the bathroom and back through the bedroom. She opened the door and peeked out. Della was nowhere to be seen. Clementine scurried along the hall back to the landing and crouched down beside a fire extinguisher, with Lavender sitting next to her.
‘Where are you?’ Della called in a singsong voice.
Clementine held her breath. She could feel her heart beating in her ears. The door furthest down the corridor to the left banged and Della stomped outside. Clementine was sure that the girl would spot her but instead she dived through the next door.
‘I’m going to find you,’ Della cried.
Clementine became aware of a tapping noise.
‘What’s that?’ she whispered and looked at Lavender with a frown. The noise was getting louder. There was a mumbly voice as well as the tapping now.
Della reappeared in the hallway, banging the door shut behind her.
‘You’d better not be down the other end or you’ll be in trouble, Clementine! I told you not to go there!’ Della was stomping towards the child and her pig.
Clementine crouched down as far as she could go and Della walked right past her. Lavender let out a little grunt and the child spun around.
‘There you are!’ Della pointed her finger. ‘How come I didn’t see you before?’
Clementine shrugged. ‘I’m good at hiding. What’s that tapping noise?’
Della listened. ‘It’s Polly. She wants her dinner.’
Clementine’s eyes grew wide. ‘I have to go downstairs. I think Mummy’s calling me.’ She picked up Lavender and scurried away.
‘But it’s my turn to hide,’ Della protested. She pouted and stamped her foot.
Clementine raced down two flights of stairs and along the hall to the kitchen. She pushed her way inside and let out a deep breath.
‘Are you all right, dear?’ Mrs Dent turned from where she was stirring a huge pot on a gigantic old stove.
Clementine nodded.
Digby Pertwhistle was busy doing a crossword, Lady Clarissa was flicking through one of Mrs Dent’s cookbooks and Aunt Violet was sitting at the other end of the table, nibbling a biscuit and drinking tea.
‘Would you like a glass of milk and a brownie?’ Mrs Dent asked.
Uncle Digby looked up and grinned. ‘They’re delicious, Clementine.’
‘Do you think that’s wise, Clemmie? Dinner’s almost ready,’ her mother asked.
‘I’
m really hungry.’ Clementine climbed onto the chair beside Uncle Digby. Lavender snuffled about the kitchen floor looking for crumbs. ‘And I promise to eat all my dinner.’
Clarissa smiled. ‘All right. We are on holidays, after all. An extra treat won’t hurt.’
‘What have you been up to?’ Uncle Digby asked.
‘I was playing hide-and-seek with Della,’ Clementine said.
Her mother smiled. ‘Oh, that’s good, darling.’
Clementine turned to Mrs Dent. ‘Does Polly live upstairs?’
‘Polly?’ Mrs Dent frowned as she poured Clementine’s milk.
‘Della said that she has a python called Polly,’ Clementine explained.
‘Della has a good imagination, that’s what she has.’ Mrs Dent rolled her eyes, wondering what sort of dreadful tales her granddaughter had been filling Clementine’s head with.
‘I heard something banging and Della said it was Polly,’ Clementine said.
Mrs Dent placed the milk and a plump brownie in front of Clementine.
‘No, no, there’s no Polly,’ Mrs Dent said, shaking her head. ‘You don’t need to worry about that.’
Clementine sighed. ‘Phew. When Aunt Violet first brought Pharaoh to our house I thought he was a snake and I was really worried that he might want to eat Lavender for dinner.’
‘Pharaoh loves that pig,’ said Aunt Violet, looking up from the book she was reading. ‘Oh, I wonder how my baby’s getting on.’
‘I’m sure Mrs Mogg’s spoiling him rotten and he’s having a wonderful time,’ said Lady Clarissa.
‘Clementine, was Freddy playing with you too?’ asked Mrs Dent. She opened the oven to check on the roast inside.
The child shook her head. ‘No. Della said that he was tied up.’
‘Oh no, not again!’ Mrs Dent slammed the oven door. ‘Poor boy. I’ll be back in a minute. Digby, can you watch the stove, please?’
In a flash Mrs Dent was gone.
Mrs Dent returned to the kitchen a short while later with Freddy and Della in tow. The girl’s eyes were red-rimmed and her cheeks were puffy.
Mrs Dent headed for the stove to take over from Uncle Digby. Della walked straight to the biscuit barrel and removed the lid.
Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape 5 Page 3
