‘I don’t think it’s normal to play anything at this time in the morning, but seeing as we’re up I suppose I may as well.’
Ovid hit the ball but it bounced off the side of the hoop. ‘It’s harder than it looks.’
‘Let me see.’ Lorelli took the mallet from his hands and got into position. ‘I’ve made a decision.’
‘About what?’
‘I’m leaving.’
‘You’re going out?’
‘No. I’m leaving Thornthwaite Manor.’
‘Very funny.’
‘I’m not joking.’
‘Where would you go?’ asked Ovid.
‘I don’t know yet.’
‘But this is our home.’
‘Is it?’ Lorelli made the shot. The ball went straight through the hoop.
‘You think by leaving you can escape who we are?’ Ovid snatched the mallet off her.
‘I want to try.’
Ovid picked up the ball. He tossed it and caught it in the same hand. It came naturally to him to argue with his sister, but ever since Beaufort’s story meal he had felt the same. For centuries, Lord and Lady Thornthwaites had lived up to the terrible legacy of their family name. The twins didn’t just owe it to themselves to get out. They owed it to their ancestors.
‘Yes,’ he said quietly.
‘Yes, what?’ said Lorelli.
‘Yes, let’s sell and go.’
‘Sell Thornthwaite Manor?’ said Lorelli. ‘We don’t have to sell, just move out.’
‘It’s the only way,’ said Ovid. ‘We need to leave, and leave properly.’
‘We’re not allowed to sell until we turn sixteen,’ said Lorelli. ‘Before then, it’s Tom and Nurse Griddle’s decision.’
‘Uncle Harry will find a way,’ said Ovid. ‘He has a whole team of lawyers who will be able to make it happen.’
‘Then we’re agreed,’ said Lorelli. ‘A fresh start.’
Ovid made another shot but chipped it and sent it flying off at an angle. They looked to see where it landed and Old Tom stepped out from behind a rose bush. He held the croquet ball in one hand and a fistful of plants in the other. ‘Morning, young masters.’
‘Were you eavesdropping, Tom?’ demanded Ovid.
‘Only a bit,’ replied the ancient gardener casually. ‘I came to look for you when I noticed a few weeds that needed pulling up. So you’ve decided to sell the manor then?’
‘I suppose you’re going to try to stop us, are you?’ said Lorelli.
‘It’s not my place to stop you doing anything, and young Master Ovid is right: your uncle has enough lawyers to make it happen even if Nurse Griddle and I try to stop you.’
‘But surely you want us to stay,’ said Ovid.
Tom rolled the ball back to him. ‘Of course.’
Ovid stopped it with his foot.
‘That’s it? That’s all you’ve got to say?’ said Lorelli.
‘You’ve made up your minds, and in my experience trying to persuade folk against what they’ve decided to do is like trying to stop a tree growing with a pair of secateurs. No matter how much pruning you do, the tree will grow. The only way to stop a tree growing is to chop it down altogether.’
‘So you won’t try to stop us?’ Lorelli had been expecting more of a fight.
‘If you’re sure it’s what you want,’ said Tom. ‘All I’ll say is that it will be a shame if all this is lost.’
‘The house is basically a ruin anyway,’ said Lorelli.
‘I’m not talking about Thornthwaite Manor. It’s made of stone and bricks, no matter what Dragos would have you believe. The estate, on the other hand, is Mother Nature’s handiwork and it has remained unspoiled all these years because it’s been under the protection of your family. You sell up and they’ll build some godawful superstore faster than it takes one of my bees to pollinate the raspberries.’
‘Then we’ll make sure it’s sold to someone who will keep it as it is. Uncle Harry will help us,’ said Lorelli.
‘It seems Uncle Harry is the solution to all of your problems,’ said Tom. ‘So it’s good that he is currently sitting in the drawing room waiting to see you.’
‘He’s out of hospital?’ said Ovid.
‘He is indeed, and now that I’ve informed you I have some business with a trowel and a field of potatoes. Good day, young masters.’
Leopard on the Loose
Before the great fire struck, the drawing room had held portraits of previous generations of Thornthwaites. Now, the walls were bare and the only piece of furniture was the blackened chaise longue where Uncle Harry was sitting sipping a cup of coffee.
‘Should you be drinking that in your condition?’ asked Lorelli.
He took a sip. ‘I am enjoying it, which means probably not. But I’m done with being told not to do things. My time is limited. I intend to spend what I have making things right.’
‘Good. Then help us sell the estate,’ said Lorelli.
‘Sell?’ said Uncle Harry.
‘Yes. We’ve decided to leave this place behind,’ said Lorelli.
‘Really? That’s a big decision. Where did this come from?’
‘It’s time to go,’ said Ovid.
Uncle Harry placed his mug on the back of the chaise longue. ‘I can’t tell you how relieved I am to hear you say that. It would be my honour to help you move on.’
‘Thank you.’ Lorelli picked up the mug and placed it on a windowsill.
‘Have you informed your servants yet?’
‘We just told Tom. He understands,’ said Ovid.
‘Even if he wanted to stop you, it wouldn’t be a problem. You are the rightful heirs. Everything else can be dealt with.’
Uncle Harry stood up but was still feeling weak and would have fallen back down had Lorelli and Ovid not each taken a hand to steady him. They were holding him up when Dragos entered the room.
‘Lorelli, Ovid …’ he said urgently, ‘you must get to your rooms now. We have problem.’
‘What problem?’ asked Uncle Harry.
Dragos scowled at him. ‘Leopard problem,’ he said.
‘Jenny is safe enough down in that mine.’ Harry released his niece and nephew.
‘She is not down in mine any more. After I spoke to Lorelli and Ovid I realised I must shut it down. It is too dangerous. This morning I used explosives to collapse the shaft.’
‘So I didn’t dream that explosion—’ began Lorelli.
‘If you’ve harmed her –’ interrupted Harry.
‘Do not worry. I removed your leopard first,’ said Dragos.
‘Removed her where?’ asked Lorelli.
‘I tied her to a post. Very safely. Except the explosion must have shaken post. This Jenny is on the loose. I do not know where.’
‘You’ve lost her?’ said Uncle Harry.
‘You should not bring wild animals to this place. They are not safe. I will go find Old Tom’s guns.’
‘I forbid you to shoot my leopard!’ exclaimed Uncle Harry.
Dragos puffed out his chest and took a step closer. ‘You are a foolish man. I will use tranquilliser and make safe. In meantime, I insist that you stay safe. Remain in the house.’ Dragos left.
‘A leopard on the loose.’ Ovid turned to Lorelli. ‘Something told me it was going to be one of those mornings,’ he added wryly.
‘When did she last eat?’ asked Uncle Harry.
‘It was the wildebeest,’ said Lorelli.
‘That was two days ago. She’ll be starving.’
‘So, what? The kitchen?’ said Ovid.
‘Or the livestock,’ said Uncle Harry.
‘The horses!’ exclaimed Lorelli.
Fresh Meat in a Pink Dress
Ovid followed his sister as she ran from the drawing room out through the front door to the stables. Uncle Harry was unable to keep up, so it was just the two of them. As they approached, they heard the leopard’s growl, the horses’ whinnies and a girl’s scream from within Joy’s stable.
Lorelli opened the door to find Felicia in a pretty pink dress cowering in front of the leopard. Joy was behind a rickety door, rearing up, snorting and stamping her feet. Jenny, the leopard, was crouching down, ready to pounce.
‘Oh, Ovvy-wovvy, help me,’ pleaded Felicia. ‘I don’t want to die.’
Since the incident at the glassworks, in her mind Lorelli had transformed Felicia into a two-faced murderous monster. Seeing her now, cowering and crying, she looked totally pathetic.
‘Felicia? What are you doing here?’ asked Lorelli.
‘I came to see you and Ovvy—’ she began.
The leopard growled.
She continued in a whisper. ‘—wovvy. I passed the stables and thought it would be nice to feed a sugar lump to the horses, then this happened.’
‘Shoo,’ said Ovid. ‘Jenny, back down.’
For a moment it seemed as though the leopard was considering it, but Felicia whimpered, reminding Jenny about the fresh meat, nicely wrapped in a pink dress.
‘I don’t think that worked,’ said Lorelli.
‘Worth a try though,’ said Ovid.
‘Please,’ begged Felicia. ‘Help me.’
‘We need something to coax her away,’ said Ovid. ‘Lorelli, go to the kitchen and find some meat. I’ll try to keep her distracted until you get back.’
‘Don’t worry, Felicia,’ said Lorelli. ‘Just think of her as a big pussycat. Ovid, don’t let anything happen to that horse.’
‘The horse!’ exclaimed Felicia. ‘What about me?’
‘Or Felicia,’ added Lorelli before running out.
‘Oh, Ovvy, do you think this is where it will end for us?’ whimpered Felicia. ‘Mauled to death by a wild animal while you are forced to watch, helpless to save me. How tragically romantic.’
‘Felicia,’ said Ovid, ‘there is nothing romantic about being killed by a leopard, but you will be all right if you stay still and keep quiet.’
‘Sorry, Ovvy-wovvy. It’s just that since we …’
Jenny stepped forward, silencing Felicia. She sniffed at her imminent meal. Felicia screamed. The leopard snarled. Joy neighed and kicked up her legs. They connected with the stable door and sent it flying off its hinges, knocking Felicia to the ground. With the door broken, Joy was free to make her escape. She jumped over the broken door and bolted out of the stable. Jenny was confused for a moment, until she noticed that the fresh meat in the pink dress was lying still. The leopard lowered its head to feast on its meal.
‘Jenny, Jenny, Jenny!’ Ovid waved his arms around and jumped up and down.
Jenny turned to look at this new creature dressed in black. Not as tender as the pink dress, but still perfectly edible.
‘Now go,’ muttered Ovid. ‘Quickly.’
‘Oh, Ovvy-wovvy,’ whispered Felicia as she slipped out of the stable. The leopard didn’t notice. It had a new prey in its sights. Ovid took a step back. Jenny matched him with a step closer. He bent his knees. Jenny crouched down. He maintained eye contact. He tried to hide his fear. Animals could smell fear. That much he knew. Ovid knew he had been in worse predicaments. He just couldn’t bring them to mind right now.
A Purr and a Growl
As far as Ovid was aware, no other previous Lord Thornthwaite had ever been killed and eaten by a leopard. Staring into Jenny’s hungry eyes, he tried to console himself with the thought that his would be an original death, but it was no real consolation. The possibility of dying was a harsh reminder that he had not yet lived. Kissing Felicia had been an uncomfortable and worrying experience, but it had made him realise there was more to life.
‘Now, Jenny –’ Ovid addressed the growling leopard directly – ‘in a minute my sister is going to come back with a lovely bit of wildebeest. Yum, wildebeest. Or elk. Or … look, I don’t know what she’s coming back with, but whatever it is I promise you it will taste nicer than me.’
The leopard’s leg muscles tightened as she prepared to pounce. There was nothing else Ovid could do. He had been backed into a corner. He closed his eyes and waited.
If this was how it ended, then let it end. At least it would be over. Having spent his life in the shadow of death, there should at least be some comfort when it came for him, even if it came in the shape of a ravenous wild animal.
Ovid heard the growl.
Then a purr.
He opened his eyes and saw Cowell jumping down from a beam. The cat landed in front of him. He looked at the leopard, but Jenny was staring at Cowell.
The cat’s hair stood on end. She arched her back and hissed. Ovid could see her claws. Cowell was trying to look as threatening as possible. Jenny did the same with considerably more success. Both cats stood face to face, whiskers twitching, baring their teeth, claws at the ready. Cowell meowed. Jenny growled.
Ovid edged to the side, keeping his eyes on the leopard. He moved as slowly and quietly as possible, watching the two cats staring at each other, neither daring to make a move, neither daring to look away. Ovid’s route out of the stables took him within claws’ reach of Jenny. She caught his scent and turned to look at him.
Ovid had his back to the wall. There was no possibility of escape. If Jenny pounced now, he would be reduced to mincemeat in seconds. Cowell must have understood this too, because she jumped up and sank her claws into Jenny’s hide. The leopard casually batted her away. Cowell screeched and let go.
Jenny turned back to Ovid and he knew this was the moment. There was no point in coming up with clever quips or pithy puns. He was about to be mauled to death by a leopard. It was a brutal way to go, but it wasn’t the pain that worried him. It was the finality.
‘Din-dins, Jenny!’ called a voice.
Ovid turned to see Lorelli standing in the doorway. For a moment, he wondered if this was all part of one of her tricks. Had she set the whole thing up? Was she about to get the last laugh as she finally got the better of him?
Thankfully not.
Lorelli winked, then threw a huge slab of meat towards the leopard and Jenny dived onto it and sank her teeth into the flesh. Ovid snatched up Cowell in his arms and ran.
Tomorrow’s Steak
Lorelli shut the stable door and Ovid patted Cowell’s head.
‘Thanks for your help,’ he said.
Cowell meowed.
Ovid tickled her under the chin, then put her down gently. She rubbed herself against his leg and he scratched her side.
‘She must be running out of lives by now,’ said Lorelli.
‘So must we,’ replied Ovid. ‘Where’s Felicia?’
‘She went straight past me. Judging by what she was screaming, I don’t think she’ll be coming back soon.’
‘So I guess that takes her off the list of suspects,’ said Ovid.
‘Yes. You were right. She’s just a silly girl.’
Dragos appeared around the corner. Under one arm he held a shotgun. ‘The leopard is in there?’ he said.
‘Yes. Don’t hurt her,’ said Lorelli.
‘Tranquillisers.’ Dragos tapped the barrel of the gun. ‘I will put her to sleep. It is not safe having wild animal on the loose. Now, please, go somewhere safe.’
‘Where’s safe in Thornthwaite manor?’ said Ovid.
‘The old lady might have secrets, but the only dangers she contains are flesh and blood,’ said Dragos.
‘What does that mean?’ said Lorelli.
‘It means just that people do bad things. Buildings do not.’ With a tip of his cap, Dragos opened the stable door and stepped inside.
Neither twin wanted to hear Jenny being shot, so they walked briskly towards the house.
‘Another day, another near-death experience,’ said Ovid.
‘But who’s behind it?’ asked Lorelli.
Her question went unanswered as the twins heard a scream from the kitchen.
‘Felicia?’ said Lorelli.
‘Hazel,’ said Ovid.
They broke into a run. There was a second scream, but this one was muffled under the so
und of their breathing and the crunch of the gravel beneath their shoes. Ovid flung open the door and they both stepped inside just as a pair of knives flew at their heads. It was not the first time they had avoided flying knives. They ducked and the knives missed.
Millicent Hartwell stood behind the kitchen counter. She selected a fresh knife from the wooden block. Felicia lay flat on the counter while Hazel was huddled on the kitchen floor, nursing a bleeding arm.
‘Hazel, are you all right?’ asked Ovid.
‘Yes, sir. In pain, sir.’
‘Millicent, what have you done?’ said Lorelli.
‘Nothing,’ she replied. ‘Nothing yet. Felicia fainted when she saw the knife and Hazel got in my way.’ She picked up a sharpening tool and dragged the knife along the steel.
‘Maybe you should put the knives down,’ said Ovid.
‘Maybe you should put the knives down,’ mocked Millicent. ‘And maybe I shouldn’t.’
‘Why are you doing this?’ said Lorelli. ‘Ovid doesn’t even like Felicia, do you, Ovid?’
‘I can honestly say I do not like her,’ said Ovid. ‘Hand on heart.’
‘What heart?’ Millicent flung a bread knife. Ovid dodged. It hit a cabinet and clattered to the ground. ‘I saw you kissing her,’ spat Millicent.
‘She was kissing me,’ said Ovid.
‘Do not lie.’ Millicent brought the knife down so close to Felicia’s fingers that one of her false nails went pinging off. ‘You were kissing her. You saw it too, Lorelli.’
‘I did, but like I said, my brother is an idiot.’
‘Thanks,’ said Ovid.
‘Idiot or not, he betrayed me,’ said Millicent.
‘It wasn’t me that broke it off,’ protested Ovid. ‘Your dad said I couldn’t see you.’
‘And so you gave up,’ said Millicent. ‘You weren’t supposed to give up. Didn’t your silly research tell you anything?’
‘You told her about the research?’ Ovid said to Lorelli.
‘I was trying to make her feel better after you’d been kissing Felicia.’
Ovid was confused. ‘So Mr Hartwell’s warnings were supposed to make me like Millicent more?’
The Thornthwaite Betrayal Page 16
