China Garden by Liz Berry

Author:Liz Berry [Berry, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction
Publisher: eBook Versions
Published: 2018-07-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

On Monday Clare slept late into the morning. It was nearly eleven before she was ready to go over to the House. Sunday she had spent with a book down by the lake, feeling totally exhausted, and had finally fallen into her bed and into a deep pit of dreamless sleep.

This morning, surfacing slowly, she felt strange, almost light-headed, different. It was as though something in her had been changed completely and she was a new person, rainwashed after a great storm. Something that had kept her closed-in, made her unsure and anxious, had let go. She felt healthy and carefree.

Even the sunlight seemed brighter, the air clearer. She shook loose her silky newly-washed hair. She wondered why she had kept it dragged back all these months.

As she came through the arch into the service yard she could hear the shouting.

Mai, with John and Billy, the under-gardeners, were staring across the cobbled yard to where Roger Fletcher, puce, was raging up and down, shouting at Mark Winters who was leaning insolently against his motor bike outside the kitchen entrance. He was a powerful figure in his leathers, his head thrown back in arrogant amusement.

Clare’s heart gave a great leap and settled down to a heavy thud. She ought still to be angry and offended, but it was joy she was feeling. She put her hands in her jeans to stop them shaking. Even the sight of him affected her physically. What was he doing here?

“... trespassing on the estate. You’re not allowed here. It’s forbidden, absolutely forbidden, for you to set foot here, as you well know.” Roger Fletcher was almost dancing with fury.“Mr Aylward gave strict orders ...”

“He can stuff his orders. Get this straight, Mr Fletcher. I come and go as I please. No one tells me what to do, or where to go.”

“You’ll stay out, or by God I’ll have you thrown out.”

“You and whose army?”

“Me and my staff. Billy, John—here!”

But to Clare’s amusement both the boys had hastily melted away seconds before Roger Fletcher looked around for them.

Mark laughed, and Clare thought the older man was going to fly at him.

“Don’t be a fool, Fletcher,” Mark said.“Do you want to get badly hurt? I’m a stone heavier and thirty-five years younger. And I haven’t got a beer belly either.”

Roger Fletcher stopped. There was a dribble of spittle running down his chin and he was a dark heavy red. Clare thought that he was heading for a stroke if he didn’t calm down.

“Next time I see you here I’ll take my shotgun to you, you stable yard rat.”

Clare took a quick, anxious breath. She could see Mark’s hands, the knuckles shining white, but he only said, evenly,“Three witnesses, Fletcher. You’ll go to gaol.”

Roger Fletcher took in Mai and Clare, and James Kenward who had just come through the arch. He said, contemptuously,“They’ll do as I tell them. Kenward—get rid of this excrement. Throw him off the Estate.”

“Who me?” James said, amazed. Clare could see his lips twitching.

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