Jess quickly got her shoe back on and chased after them. The moon floated out from behind a cloud just as she rounded the corner of the wooden building. A tall, dark shadow stretched up the boathouse wall.
It was shaped like a person.
Icy prickles ran down Jess’s neck. Was someone standing there? The shadow wasn’t Millie’s. She was crouching down beside Jax, rubbing his coat and talking softly into his ear. It couldn’t be one of the guards – they were still far away.
“Millie?” croaked Jess, her eyes fixed on the patch of darkness.
The shadow moved. A figure crashed through the bushes and disappeared in the direction of the stables.
“What was that?” Millie’s eyes widened. “Someone else was here!”
“I didn’t see them properly!” Jess’s mind whirled. “They ran away pretty fast.” She noticed the door to the boathouse was open slightly. Pushing her way in, she looked around in astonishment.
Piles of earth-smeared vegetables lay across the wooden floor next to a heap of sacks and string. Jax pattered inside, sniffing at the mound of turnips and potatoes.
“What are these doing here? Do you think they came from the vegetable garden?” Millie went pale. “Maybe this is the monster’s lair!”
“But monsters can’t open doors,” Jess pointed out. “Somebody must have carried the vegetables here – and they must be the same person that messed up Mr Polly’s garden.”
“They’re feeding the lake monster in secret!” said Millie. “But why?”
“And what are the sacks and the string for?” Jess’s heart skipped. “This mystery is bigger than I thought and this is our best clue yet!”
Chapter Eight
Mr Steen Gets
Flustered
The guards’ lanterns were drawing closer, so Millie and Jess left the boathouse and hurried up the hill in the dark. Every rustle in the bushes made Millie nervous. Where was the shadowy figure? Was he waiting behind a tree?
A shiver ran down her back and she sped up, the basket of vegetables bumping against her legs as she ran. Jax reached the back door first and pawed at the handle, whining. Jess swung the door open and they all bundled inside.
Millie hurried to the pantry to put back the vegetables. “Whoever left those turnips in the boathouse must know more about the monster than we do,” she said breathlessly. “Maybe they’ve known what kind of creature it is all along!”
Jess’s eyes gleamed. “So if we find out who it is, we’ll find out everything about the monster.”
“Exactly!” said Millie.
There were footsteps in the passage. “Who’s in here?” called Cook Walsh.
“It’s only me and Jess.” Millie peeked round the pantry door. “Sorry, Cook! We’re just going to bed, I promise.”
“I should think so too – wandering round in the middle of the night! It’s ridiculous! There was someone on the stairs just now as well. It’s not right to wake me up.” Cook went away, grumbling.
“Let’s talk about it in the morning,” Millie whispered to Jess and she led Jax up the stairs to her chamber.
Pulling off her cloak, Millie peered out of her window. The dots of light from the guards’ lanterns were still moving in the dark, but the wind had dropped and the lake was still.
Millie climbed into bed and closed her eyes. Strange, black-eyed monsters with turnip legs went swimming through her dreams.
At breakfast the next morning, Millie studied everyone carefully to see who was looking suspicious. She was so busy staring round the table that she nearly poured apple juice on Mr Steen, who was trying to tidy the napkins.
Jess, who was bringing in a tray of boiled eggs, muttered in her ear, “Lady Snood looks tired. Maybe she was the one by the lake last night.”
Lady Snood tapped crossly on the top of her egg with her spoon. She certainly seemed in a bad temper but Millie couldn’t picture her ladyship plodding along the muddy lake shore in the dark.
Queen Belinda handed Prince Edward to his nursemaid and beamed at everyone. “It’s so exciting to think that the festival begins tomorrow! Mr Steen and I are going to spend today getting everything ready. Cloth tents will be put up on the croquet lawn as that’s furthest away from the lake and any … er … interruptions.”
“The guards heard a noise around midnight last night,” added King James. “But when they searched the spot nothing was there. So perhaps the lake creature has gone.”
Millie stared at her napkin. She was sure the noise had been her and Jess.
Lord Dellwort raised his eyebrows doubtfully. “Is the creature really likely to have gone?”
Lady Snood shuddered. “Perhaps it’s waiting till the festival begins. Then it will be able to terrify more people!”
The queen’s smile vanished. “Oh, I hope not! Usually everyone in Plumchester comes to the festival. It’s always been a very happy day.”
“And I’m sure it will be this time too,” said the duchess with a kindly smile. “We’re looking forward to it.”
“Do let us know if you want any help,” added the duke.
“Thank you, I will! Mr Steen?” Queen Belinda looked round for the royal butler. “Mr Steen, are you there? I’m ready to begin our preparations.”
Mr Steen appeared in the doorway, his face pale. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty! I must speak to Jess and Connie before we begin.”
“Very well!” The queen smiled. “Find me as soon as you’re ready.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The butler bowed jerkily.
Jess put down her boiled eggs and followed Mr Steen into the hallway. Connie, who had just come in with a jug of apple juice, went too. Millie quickly ate one more mouthful of toast and slipped out of the banquet hall. She had a feeling something was wrong.
“What have you done with the key to the Royal Jewel Cabinet?” the butler was asking Jess and Connie. “Did you lose it somewhere?”
“No,” said Jess, surprised. “Isn’t it in the State Room with all the other keys?”
“I haven’t got it.” Connie sniffed and folded her arms.
Mr Steen frowned at the maids. “I’m sure I left it in the right place when I locked everything up last night. Did you take it when you were cleaning this morning?”
“No, I haven’t been into the State Room yet,” said Connie.
“Well, the king and queen certainly don’t have it.” Mr Steen twisted his hands together. “Such a terrible week! First a monster in the lake and now this! Every treasure in the palace is kept in that cabinet.”
Millie dashed into the State Room. Going to the wooden desk, she lifted the lid and hunted inside. There were lots of keys – large ones, tiny ones and rusty ones – but the shiny silver key that unlocked the jewel cabinet wasn’t there. “He’s right – it’s gone!” she told Jess, who had followed her.
Jess rattled the door to the cabinet. “But this is still locked and it doesn’t look like anything is missing.”
Millie scanned the shelves. Everything was there – the shiny goblets, the sparkling crowns and the beautiful Sky Sapphire necklace.
Mr Steen, who had been questioning the guard at the door, marched in with a face like a storm cloud and stared into the cabinet. Millie could almost see him ticking off every single tiara, bracelet and ring inside his head. “Mr Steen?” she said timidly. “We could help you look for the key if you want?”
The butler turned stiffly and arched one eyebrow. “That is very kind, Princess Amelia, but I’m sure you have more important royal duties. Jess, don’t forget to clear up the breakfast plates.” He swept from the room and called a guard over, saying, “Guard this door! No one is allowed in here except me or the king and queen.”
“Yes, sir,” replied the guard.
Millie and Jess went back to the banquet hall to find it empty. Taking the last slice of lemon loaf, Millie cut it in two and gave half to Jess. She wandered to the front of the hall and sat down on the queen’s red velvet throne, thinking hard while s
he ate. Jess glanced round before sitting beside her on the king’s throne.
Millie brushed the crumbs off her skirt. “First there’s a creature in the lake and now there’s a missing key. I wish it all made more sense!”
“Maybe Mr Steen lost the key himself and he just doesn’t want to admit it,” said Jess.
Millie sprang to her feet and started walking up and down. “He’s never lost anything before!”
“But he’s been acting funny ever since he saw the monster.” Jess’s eyes widened. “Do you think it was him by the boathouse last night?”
“I don’t think so! Why would he run away when we came along?”
Jess’s forehead wrinkled. “Well, someone was down there in the dark…”
“You’re right!” Millie took Jess’s hand and pulled her up. “And I bet whoever it was will try to sneak back there to finish what they were doing. If we watch the place we can discover exactly who it is!”
Chapter Nine
Sacks and String
Jess and Millie took the breakfast plates to the kitchen before slipping out past the stables. The lake glittered at the bottom of the hill. A family of ducks were paddling by the water reeds and two bored-looking guards stood on the bridge with a drum and a horn by their feet.
The girls hid between two patches of brambles, making sure they had a good view of the boathouse.
“What if someone goes inside?” said Jess. “We won’t be able to see what they’re doing.”
“We could use the telescope again. That way we’ll see through the window without needing to get close. I’ll go and get it!” Millie squeezed out of the brambles and hurried away.
Jess waited. She wriggled to free herself from a thorny branch that was pressing against her arm. How long would Millie be? Had she found the telescope yet?
A few minutes went by. Jess tried to think of all the clues they’d found so far. The one that really puzzled her was the missing key to the Royal Jewel Cabinet. Why would someone take that key? There was always a guard standing at the front door so no one could sneak in and open the cabinet anyway.
Two figures moved among the trees by the boathouse. The Duke and Duchess of Sherborne walked arm in arm round the corner of the little wooden building and stopped to peer through its dusty window.
Jess held her breath. Had the duke and duchess been secretly feeding the lake creature all along?
Untangling herself from the brambles, Jess crept down the slope towards them. The duke and duchess opened the boathouse door and stepped inside.
Jess glanced back. Where was Millie? She was missing this important clue!
One of the guards on the bridge raised his arm and pointed at her. He’d seen her sneaking down the hill! Jess’s heart sank. Straightening her apron, she carried on walking. She had to know what the duke and duchess were up to.
The guards began to shout.
Jess looked back and her heart flipped over. The men weren’t pointing at her at all. Something dark and bumpy was sliding across the lake. It must be Spikey! The creature moved towards the bridge, the water churning round its body.
Jess ran to the water’s edge, excitement fizzing inside her. The creature looked so lumpy! She’d expected its body to be more like a gigantic water snake – all long and smooth. Its head looked different from the way she remembered too.
For a moment, the monster sank below the surface. Then it reappeared a little further on. Its deep black eyes stared forward without blinking.
The guards stood as if they were frozen.
“Blow the horn!” shouted Jess. “Sound the alarm!”
The men jumped into action. One picked up the horn and the other dashed to get the drum. Then they banged and blew their instruments until the noise echoed across the lake.
The monster slowed down beside the reeds and something broke off its side before floating away on the rippling water.
The first guard went on pounding the drum. The other blew the horn until his cheeks turned red and he stopped to take a gasping breath. Two grooms ran down the hill from the stables. A moment later, Mr Polly hurried after them, his wellies caked with mud and a pitchfork in his hand.
“Over here!” called the guard with the drum, and the men hurried towards the water reeds where the monster was lurking.
A minute later, the king, the queen and Lady Snood rushed down the slope and everyone started pointing and talking at once. More guards ran from the direction of the palace, their swords held ready.
Cook Walsh appeared with a rolling pin and Connie ran up with a mop in her hand. Mr Steen hovered at the back of the crowd, twisting his long fingers together.
Millie came flying past them all. “Jess!” she gasped. “You found the monster!”
“I guess so.” Jess stared at the water. The piece that had fallen off the monster looked strangely familiar.
“Stand back, everyone!” called King James. “This creature could be very dangerous.”
Mr Steen tutted in disapproval. “Jess, what are you doing here? Didn’t I find you enough sweeping to do?”
“Um…” Jess’s eyes were fixed on the water.
Why was the creature waiting by the reeds? Why wasn’t it swimming away from this noisy crowd of people? Maybe something was wrong with it.
Another lump broke off its body and bobbed away on the water. It was purplish-brown with a smooth round shape.
“It’s breaking apart!” said Millie, astonished.
Jess edged out till the water lapped at her shoes. The closer she got the more odd things she noticed. The creature’s skin was bumpy like a sack. Pieces of string were wound across its body and its black eyes were dull.
The purple-brown lump floated over to the bank and Jess picked it out of the water. “It’s a turnip!” she cried. “The monster’s not real!”
Millie’s mouth dropped open.
“Be careful there, Princess Amelia and Miss Jess!” Mr Polly waded into the shallows in his wellies. Lifting his pitchfork, he caught the middle of the monster with its prongs.
Lady Snood gave a muffled shriek and covered her eyes with her handkerchief.
A cluster of turnips escaped from the monster’s skin and drifted away. A duck paddled over to peck at one of the vegetables before deciding it wasn’t tasty after all. Mr Polly scooped up the rest of the creature with his pitchfork, lifted it out of the water and tipped the dripping mass on to the grass. The torn sack bulged with more turnips. The black eyes – just circles of black material – sat crookedly on top.
“It’s all sacking and string!” cried the queen. “But … I was sure I’d seen a monster.”
The king chuckled. “Someone’s been playing a joke on us all! A monster indeed! I never really believed it.”
“The turnips must have kept the whole thing afloat.” Millie’s eyes were wide. “Remember, Jess! They were the vegetable that didn’t sink.”
“The sacking will have weighed it down to make it disappear under the water a lot of the time,” said Mr Polly. “What a waste of good turnips.”
“More like the legend of veggie than the legend of Spikey!” Lord Dellwort straightened his hat and grinned.
“Goodness me, how odd!” said the duchess, arriving arm in arm with the duke. “We’ve just been inside the boathouse and there are quite a lot of turnips in there too.”
“Well, whoever it was can own up now. You had us all fooled!” The king smiled. “Come on, who was it?”
Everyone looked around. Lady Snood glared at Mr Polly. Cook Walsh stared at Lady Snood. The queen frowned worriedly and silence settled on the group.
Jess felt a wriggling in her stomach. “Something’s wrong,” she whispered to Millie. “Why would someone spend ages making a pretend monster? And why aren’t they owning up?”
“It must have been someone here,” murmured Millie. “Everyone in the whole palace has come.”
Jess’s strange wriggly feeling grew stronger. “Maybe that’s what the monster-maker wan
ts – for everyone to leave the palace at once – the guards, the guests, everybody!”
Millie frowned. “You mean … they want the palace to be empty?”
Suddenly the clues slotted together like a jigsaw in Jess’s head – the pretend monster and the missing key. “Maybe they want to do something bad while no one’s around – like open the Royal Jewel Cabinet!”
“Then we haven’t got much time!” gasped Millie.
The girls broke through the crowd and raced up the hill to the palace at top speed.
Chapter Ten
The Empty Palace
Millie ran as fast as she could and managed to keep up with Jess all the way to the front entrance. With no guard to stop them they dashed straight inside.
The empty silence of the palace made Millie’s skin prickle. Her footsteps sounded so loud on the tiled floor. She jumped as the clock tinged and the cuckoo popped out to call the time.
“There’s no guard here either.” Jess dashed into the State Room. “It’s too late – the cabinet’s open!”
Millie’s heart sank as she saw the missing silver key stuck in the cabinet door. Pulling the door wide, she scanned the shelves full of shiny goblets and glittering crowns. “Everything’s still here,” she breathed. “No, wait! I think the Sky Sapphire’s gone.”
“You’re right – it’s not here,” said Jess.
Millie swallowed. “Mother will be so sad. Father gave her that necklace on their wedding day.”
“The king’s always saying the Sky Sapphire’s the most valuable jewel in the kingdom,” sighed Jess. “No wonder they took it.”
“I wish they’d taken anything except that! But … oh!” Millie’s eyes grew big and round. “I think I know who stole it! Lady Snood couldn’t take her eyes off the sapphire from the first minute she saw it.”
“And I saw her sneaking down the servants’ corridor when I fetched water for Mr Steen that time!” Jess frowned and then shook her head. “But she was at the lake just now with everyone else so how could she have stolen the jewel?”
The Mystery of the Lake Monster Page 4
