Alice-Miranda at Camp 10 by Jacqueline Harvey

Author:Jacqueline Harvey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Australia
Published: 2014-07-26T16:00:00+00:00

Ed Clifton had walked for miles through the estate village, whose cottages were now inhabited by the staff who looked after the residents of Pelham Park; past the farmhouses and the lake and the river where he had learned to fish as a boy; and through the woodlands, which to his great joy were still exactly as he’d remembered.

He reflected fondly on school holidays spent roaming around with the estate children whose lives he would gladly have traded places with in a blink. They’d always thought him so lucky to live in the big house with all those people to look after him. But for Ed it had been like growing up in a straitjacket. He could recall a few family picnics but they were always grand affairs with servants on hand and guests who had come from all over the world – usually people associated with his father’s work. Nothing was ever done just for fun.

Ed decided he’d seen enough for one day. He glanced at the hilltop. On top was the family vault, its stark cross standing out against the blue sky. He would visit them soon. Just not yet. He had been glad to hear that his brother had removed his own memorial as soon as the two of them were reunited. Seeing it would have been strange, to say the least. Then again, in some peculiar way he did bury Xavier Kennington-Jones when he left home and became Ed Clifton all those years ago.

Ed walked into the house and almost bumped into Matron Bright.

‘Good afternoon, Mr Clifton,’ she said with a smile. ‘I trust you had an enjoyable walk.’

‘Yes thank you, matron. I should like to make a start downstairs. Will I need any keys to get to the cellar?’

‘Oh yes, of course. I’ll get you a set now. I’m afraid I keep everything locked up tight. I had a set go missing when we first opened – never found them and it’s always worried me. I’d hate for any of our residents to go wandering and find themselves somewhere they’re not familiar with.’ She darted away and soon returned with the keys.

Ed walked along the hallway to the rear stairs. He knew his way to the cellars, having spent a great deal of time down there with his paints. Ed was just twelve years old when, with his mother’s help, he’d set up a studio at the far end of the subterranean maze. The light was terrible but he’d been able to toil away during term breaks without fear of his father finding out. Initially he had attempted to copy the works of artists he admired, before beginning to find his own unique style.

One evening, when Ed was away at university and about to take his final examinations, his father had gone in search of some long-lost object that he’d decided must be in the cellars. When Henry discovered Ed’s secret he was furious. No son of his was going to be an artist – not when there was a company to run and a legacy to continue.

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