Audiobook - Young Adult - Caroline Trowbridge

Transcript

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Caroline Trowbridge, Molly Smith, her skirt pinched her cheeks and tucked her hair behind her ears, Standing as tall as she could, she knocked against the door. It opened slightly. Molly hesitated, unsure if she was meant to enter. She peered through the crack in the door but could see nothing. Hello, she called into the shadows. You can come in if you like that. A small voice from somewhere inside. We haven't a butler, and I'm not allowed to answer the door. But if you come in by yourself, can't get in trouble. Molly pushed the door open and carried her trunk inside. She shut the door behind her, linking to let her eyes just to the dim light. She was standing in What once must have been a stately forya. The air smells stale like an attic. Dust and dry leaves crowded the corners. Cobwebs dangled lazily from lamps and furniture, but strangest. Most alarming, by far was the presence of the tree, which seemed to have insinuated itself into the very architecture. Crooked limbs grew straight through the plaster walls, thick roots pushed through the floorboards and abroad. Twisted branch hovered just below the high ceiling like a black chandelier, she stepped over some muddy tracks, peering into the unlit hall. Way up here! Shouted a voice above her. On the far side of the room was a great curved staircase that led to another hallway. Crouched at the top of the stairs was a pale faced little girl with dark hair and extremely sick spectacles. The girl peered through the bannister rails like a prisoner. Who was that lame boy who kissed you outside? She called down. Molly raised an eyebrow. The boy's name is Kip, she said. The girl narrowed her eyes. Is he your husband? Molly did her best not to smile. He's my brother, Miss. The girl stood up. That's a rotten trick, Papa said. Someone might be coming from town and he didn't say anything about one of them being a brother. I hate brothers. The pests. She descended, the staircase hopping feet together. Down each step. Molly, watch the girl feeling a sense of relief. Surely a house with a child like this could not be too frightening. The girl took a giant leap from the bottom step and landed in front of Molly with an impressive thump. Does your kid have a tin cup, she said, adjusting her glasses, which had slid down her nose poured in Miss a tin cup. I've seen boys like him back in the town where I used to live. They sit on the road looking cold and sad and hold out tin cups for people to put money in. The question was innocent, and Molly tried not to let it annoy her. The only copies got is for drinking water, same as you. The girl nodded, as if filing this information away for future reference. What is your name? She demanded Molly, about it was clear enough that this little girl was a member of the winds of Family, and it would serve her well to win the child over Molly McConaughey and yours, Miss Penelope, Eleanor Windsor. But you can call me just Penny, because that's what everyone does, or you can call me miss like you already did. That's all right, too. I'm almost seven. How old are you, Molly Dimmer. She hadn't been exactly honest with the broker about her rage, and she wasn't sure she wanted these people to know just how young she wass. She put her hand to her chest. Miss Pani, she said with a touch of horror. A lady never tells her age. The girl looked down embarrassed. I didn't know that. I suppose I shouldn't have told you my age, either. Can we pretend you guessed it all on your own? She looked at the case at Molly's feet and then back to Mali. Is it true you've come to live with us? Molly nodded. It seems that way, Miss. Well, I hope you do, Penny said. You have no idea how tedious this place is. That's the word Alastair taught me. That means no fun at all. She plopped down in front of Molly's trunk and started fiddling with straps. In our old home in town, we had all sorts of lovely things to play with jewellery and silver teapots and China statues she's laid up at the house. Here there's nothing but cobwebs and spiders, nasty brothers