‘There now, all done,’ sighed Mrs Hayes, planting her hands on her hips as she studied Daisy. ‘Did you find your aunt?’
Daisy hesitated. ’Yes, but I didn’t actually speak to her.’
‘Why not?’
‘She was with - she had - a visitor.’
Mrs Hayes screwed up her eyes. ‘Who was that?’
‘Mr Calder.‘
‘They was doing the accounts, no doubt,’ Mrs Hayes said in a tone that brooked no argument as she waved a wooden spoon in Daisy’s direction. ‘A very important job is accounts. They’ve got to be kept up to date. Takes some doing; two heads is better than one.’
‘Is it?’
‘Just like cooking or tea-making.’
‘I suppose,’ Daisy agreed, not at all convinced.
’Your aunt is busy. Don’t go pestering her again.’ Mrs Hayes’s fierce, unmoving gaze held Daisy’s. ‘Why don’t you go up to the Lab? Bound to see your dad there. Odds on he’ll be inventing something that goes bang and ends up in a puff of smoke.’
Daisy nodded though she feared Mrs Hayes was employing diversionary tactics, just as her mother and father did. Mrs Hayes had never done this before and Daisy found it rather disappointing.
‘Look here, ducks,’ said Mrs Hayes, resuming her cheerful old self. ‘I’ve got a nice fat banger for you. I’ll wrap it in baking paper. It’s cold from yesterday, but still tasty. Eat it on the QT. Don’t let anyone see or they’ll want one too.’
Daisy swiftly stuffed the disguised sausage into her pocket.
‘Run along now. The cleaners are coming.’
With a final twirl of the spoon, Mrs Hayes returned her attention to the big double ovens. Daisy made her way to the laboratory. The Lab as it was known, was where her father conducted his investigations into how, why and where a thing might work. It was a room full of test tubes and bottles and strong smelling chemicals and little flames that danced out of the Bunsen Burners.
It was here that she felt as though she was witnessing one of Houdini’s magic tricks, as stuffy Matt might say. A trick coming true right in front of her eyes.
Daisy smelled the room on the upper floor long before she arrived for the Lab had a particular odour; gassy and smoky and altogether exciting.
She slipped out her parcel, nibbled at the treat and leaped the stairs. Mrs Hayes had never given her a sausage before. It was as if - well, if Daisy didn’t know better - the sausage had been offered in conjunction with the tea-lady’s spoon-warning about Aunt Betty and Mr Calder.
CHAPTER 5
DAISY THOUGHT LONG and hard about that Saturday morning and her observations at the door of Aunt Betty’s office. Nor had she forgotten the warning expression in Mrs Hayes’s eyes. Sharing with Bobby would be no help at all; he might claim that she got what she deserved for spying on people.
So Daisy kept her thoughts to herself, hoping she had been mistaken about Aunt Betty and Mr Calder. It wasn’t until a month later that the whole sorry episode was brought to light in the least expected manner.
After school one day, she and Bobby returned home to find Aunt Minnie seated in the living room with Mother. Though there was nothing unusual in Aunt Minnie visiting, both her mother and aunt sat with slightly flushed cheeks and talking in a hushed manner.
’Shoes by the front door!’ Mother ordered as Daisy and Bobby burst in.
‘But - ‘
‘Do as you’re told.’ Mother shooed them away.
‘They don’t want us to hear,’ Daisy whispered to Bobby as they returned to the hall.
Bobby kicked his shoes to the doormat. ‘Trust you! Always dreaming up a drama.’
She stared at her uncooperative brother. ‘They stopped talking when we came in.’
‘It was just grown-up stuff.’
Daisy took off her shoes. Why was Bobby not listening? He had lost interest in what she had to say or regarded them as trivial. Did this happen to every boy once they had turned ten?
‘Hello you two,’ Aunt Minnie welcomed when they reappeared. Stroking her long corn-coloured hair behind her ears she held out her arms. ‘Hugs twice over please.’
Daisy watched with interest as Bobby allowed himself to be pulled close. But not for long. How like Matt he was becoming! Hugs and cuddles had slipped into the category of girl’s stuff. His recent move to the box room had set the seal on their nightly discussions.
Daisy fell eagerly into her favourite aunt’s arms. She relished being overcome by Gardenia and the feel of a smooth, rouged cheek against hers. Aunt Minnie’s playful tug on her plaits made her giggle. Bobby, she noted, awkwardly kicked his heels.
‘Where’s Will?’ he asked as Aunt Minnie released her.
’Manners, Bobby,’ their mother interrupted. ‘Aunt Minnie would like to be asked how she is.’
‘Oh, nonsense, Flo!’ Aunt Minnie protested. ‘Bobby can see I am in the peak of good health. Sadly though, Will has a howling cough. Leo is taking care of him. Though it could very well be the other way round.’ Aunt Minnie tinkled a laugh. ‘Your uncle is rubbish at medicines and things.’
‘Oh,’ mumbled Bobby vaguely.
‘My goodness, you both look smart. Flo, how do you manage the uniforms?’
‘It’s difficult,’ Florence answered her sister. ‘I’ve made do and mend with some of Daisy’s and Bobby’s Wattcombe clothes.’
Daisy had learned about shortages first-hand. She still wore her mackintosh from Wattcombe Primary jumble sale. She and Bobby now wore the uniform of Poplar Park School, but Bobby’s shorts were too small and her gym slip a faded navy.
‘Is tea ready yet?’ asked Bobby.
‘I’ve brought rock cakes,’ offered Aunt Minnie. ‘Sadly, they were all I could find. Like uniforms, good pastries are in short supply. Goodness knows what we’ll do for Christmas.’
‘Minnie, you spoil us,’ worried Mother. ‘But thank you all the same.’ Turning to Daisy she nodded briefly. ‘Why don’t you and Bobby have your tea? Aunt Minnie’s rock cakes are in the larder.’
‘Thanks, Aunt Minnie!’ Daisy threw her arms around her aunt. ’I love
