eyes shining. I frowned.‘ I don’ t want to get into trouble …’‘ And I don’ t want to lose
Coldenham House!’
I nodded. This place had brought me so much happiness – somewhere I finally felt I belonged.
‘ Come on,’ I whispered, and the two of us crept toward the oak front door. I turned the handle, and we tiptoed inside. The familiar smell of the house greeted me: the heady aroma of lavender from the dried bunches hanging above the ropedoff table, mixed with the smell of woodsmoke which clung stubbornly to the building.
There was a creak from further up the dark, narrow staircase on the left, followed by footsteps above us on the old floorboards. I looked at Rose and put a finger to my lips. She nodded, and we headed for the staircase.
I went first, my heart thumping with every creak of the stairs. But each step made me more determined. We had to find out what was happening. Coldenham House was too precious to us both. As we reached the top, I slowed … The staircase led directly into the master bedroom … double bed which always looked too small … narrow, latticed glass window slightly open … no sign of Mr Edwards anywhere.
‘ The priest hole,’ whispered Rose. She pointed at the roped-off narrow gap in the plastered false wall behind the bed. A little passageway ran along behind it but …
‘ They say it isn’ t safe,’ I said, pointing to the sign by the rope.
‘ They lie,’ said Rose.‘ I’ ve been down it myself. Will you trust me?’ Her eyes were wide and desperate.‘ He must be down there! It’ s the perfect place to hide.’
Rose had been here far longer
than I had and knew the building like the back of her hand. I just hoped that no one caught us. Rose went in front as I reached for my phone tucked inside my apron pocket. I shook it and activated the torch, shining the light down the passageway.
My throat went dry as we edged our way down – the crumbling plastered sides tight around me. Mr Edwards was incredibly slim; there weren’ t many people who could fit down here. It was hot and stuffy. I tried to keep calm, tried to breathe.
‘ Listen!’ I hissed, as muffled voices floated toward us.
Rose stopped.‘ Mind the edge.’ She pointed to where the floor of the passageway ended abruptly. The top of a ladder poked above it, presumably leading to the ground floor.
I shook my phone again to deactivate the torch, sharpened my ears and inched forward in darkness.‘ I assure you,’ came Mr Edwards’ voice,‘ we are in the final stages now.’
‘ And no one has any knowledge of this?’ came a woman’ s voice I knew. My heart leapt. Mrs Russell!‘ I’ m removing only a few hundred pounds of your husband’ s bequest from the account at a time. Such costs are easily explained away.’
‘ And when we explain Coldenham will have to close without further funding?’ said Mrs Russell.
‘ Perhaps more generous donations will flood in. If not, well, the house closes.’‘ We disappear,’ said Mrs Russell.‘ You retire to the Seychelles with the money I’ m subtracting from your husband’ s bequest. And I shall find another job. My commission for assisting you will keep me comfortable until then.’
I twisted around to face Rose. Her wide-eyed stare matched my own.
‘ We must return to the garden before we are missed,’ murmured Mr Edwards.‘ Meet me at ten o’ clock tomorrow night, Hunter’ s Wood car park. We’ ll make our final arrangements.’
His shoes shuffled. I shook my phone-torch to life and hurtled back along the narrow, airless passage, Rose following behind. I squeezed out of the priest hole, ducked beneath the rope and dashed down the staircase.
‘ They’ re stealing away the money Mr Russell left!’ I panted to Rose, as we ran through the doorway.‘ We can stop this. I’ ll tell Gran everything. She’ ll inform the committee.’
Rose wiped her eyes.‘ Thank you, Kate. You’ re the best friend I’ ve ever had.’
‘ We’ ll save your home,’ I said.‘ Go to the stables. I’ ll meet you in a few minutes.’
Rose nodded, then turned and drifted right through the stone wall, heading for the stables. I watched her go. Coldenham House had been her home for four hundred years. She loved the Tudor re-enactment days with all her heart, as did I. There was no way I’ d let everything we both held so dear slip away.
I tucked my phone into my apron pocket. My skirt swished as I ran through the oblivious crowd to find Gran.
Coldenham House had saved me. Now I would save Coldenham House – that was certain.
Illustration: Cydney Cherepak
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