‘Really?’ said Odd.
‘Yes,’ said Freddie.
Odd thought about this for a moment. ‘Why would anyone want to go to the village?’
Mirabelle punched him on the arm. ‘Odd!’
‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I didn’t mean to be rude.’
Enoch, Dr Ellenby and Mr Teasdale approached from the house.
‘How goes the planting?’ asked Enoch.
‘I’ve only been bitten once,’ said Tom, holding up a hand with a purple bruise on it.
‘Well, so long as you don’t get eaten,’ said Enoch.
‘Was that a joke, Uncle?’ asked Mirabelle.
Enoch didn’t seem to know how to answer.
Odd shook his head in amazement. ‘Remarkable how things change. I think you’re growing as a person, Uncle. I applaud the new you.’
Dr Ellenby chuckled to himself, and Enoch looked at him and narrowed his eyes.
Enoch cleared his throat. ‘Mr Teasdale has something to say.’
Mr Teasdale stepped forward, fidgeting with his fingers. ‘Firstly, I would like to apologize to you, Mirabelle. I unjustly accused you of something that you did not do. Secondly . . .’
Jem was surprised to see his eyes welling up with tears.
‘Secondly I would like to thank you personally, and on behalf of the people of Rookhaven for what you did.’ He turned to look at Jem. ‘I think we owe this young lady a great debt too. Miss Griffin, if it hadn’t been for your quick thinking . . .’ He wiped a hand across his eyes, but it was too late. ‘I’m sorry,’ he sobbed, ‘I’m a little overcome.’
‘That’s all right, Mr Teasdale,’ said Mirabelle.
‘How’s Mr Tibbles, Mr Teasdale?’ asked Tom.
Mr Teasdale looked surprised and then oddly grateful that Tom had asked after his cat. He smiled broadly now. ‘Very well, thank you for asking. He is, however, slightly on the mischievous side.’
Tom nodded politely as Mr Teasdale proceeded to go on at length about his cat. Dr Ellenby looked at his watch. ‘My, my, is that the time? We should be getting back.’
Mr Teasdale started to follow him as they made their way towards the gate. Dr Ellenby turned round and winked at everyone, then did a little clap.
‘Well done again, Mirabelle, and Jem Griffin from London.’
All eyes were on Enoch now. He stood with his hands behind his back and nodded.
‘Well now.’
‘Well now indeed, Uncle,’ said Odd.
There was a slight pause.
Enoch cleared his throat. ‘It has been decided that Jem and Tom can stay in the house. Indefinitely.’
Jem felt a warm glow as both Tom and Mirabelle grinned at her.
‘You will, of course, pull your weight. There is dusting to do, polishing and whatnot.’
‘And whatnot. Whatnot is very important,’ said Odd.
‘Yes, well . . .’ Enoch looked at them all as if he couldn’t quite figure out how to leave.
Mirabelle stepped forward and stood before him.
‘Thank you, Uncle. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.’
Enoch looked a little taken aback, but then he held out his hands and clasped Mirabelle’s in his.
‘And thank you, Mirabelle,’ he said, smiling down at her.
He turned and went back into the house.
‘I should go – my dad’s waiting for me,’ said Freddie. He smiled and headed for the front of the house.
Lucius cawed. Mirabelle looked at the sky. ‘Looks like rain.’
‘Good, then we can go inside,’ said Odd. He started towards the house. He stopped when he realized no one was following. ‘Come on,’ he said. ‘You won’t get a second invitation.’
Jem thought he seemed troubled. He was frowning so hard he looked as if he were in pain.
‘Where to?’ she asked.
Odd squirmed a little, as if something prickly was stuck under his jacket. ‘My room,’ he said, avoiding their eyes.
‘Your room?’ gasped Mirabelle.
Odd looked slightly exasperated. ‘Yes.’
‘But no one—’
‘ “Goes with Odd”, yes, I know, dear Mirabelle. And no one has ever seen my room, but I’m asking you all to come with me now because I have something I want to show you.’
Mirabelle and Jem exchanged a glance. They were both as intrigued as each other.
‘All right, then,’ said Mirabelle brightly.
They all headed towards the house. Mirabelle raised her hand. ‘Come on, Lucius.’
Lucius twitched his wings for a moment, but stayed on his tree branch.
‘Lucius?’
Odd looked apologetic. ‘I think he knows.’
Mirabelle frowned. ‘Knows what?’
‘He knows he can’t go where you’re going. Not this time.’
Freddie
They had left the house behind and Freddie’s father was driving down the road that led into Rookhaven. He shifted slightly in his seat as he drove.
‘I think it went well,’ he said.
Freddie was slightly taken aback. His father never initiated a conversation, and this was very definitely the start of one.
‘What, Dad?’
‘The discussions. I think they went well. You know you can go up to the house at any time now to visit your friends.’
There was a pause as Freddie tried to comprehend what was being said.
‘Any time,’ his father said, nodding resolutely to himself, his eyes on the road.
‘Thanks, Dad.’
There was another long but slightly more panicked pause. Freddie didn’t know where to look.
‘I was very proud of him, you know.’
Freddie looked at his father.
‘I was too, Dad.’
His father looked at him, his eyes shining. ‘And he was proud of you.’ He looked back at the road. Freddie felt as if his chest and head were expanding. He felt as if he might burst.
‘We should go fishing again,’ his father said.
The last time they’d been fishing had been with James. Freddie hadn’t thought about that day in years, and now it came flooding back to him. The warm gentle breeze through the reeds, the sunlight on the water, James showing him how to cast his line.
‘Mum should come too,’ he said.
‘A good idea. We can make a picnic of it,’ his dad said. Freddie watched the road ahead, and he smiled.
Mirabelle
Odd’s room was chaotic and cavernous. Things were jumbled everywhere. There were paintings and clocks, various ornaments, several chandeliers. There was a giant stuffed tortoise hanging from the ceiling, fur rugs, a penny-farthing, a collection of suitcases, a velvet smoking jacket, a
