House Perilous by Tansy Rayner Roberts

Author:Tansy Rayner Roberts [Roberts, Tansy Rayner]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tansy Rayner Roberts

It was hard to be heroic when your legs ached and a cat kept coughing sparks and steel fragments at you. Rinaldo was behind Orlando on the stairs, which meant that the cat under his brother’s arm was pointed directly at him.

Simply by setting foot on the stairs, Rinaldo could feel the full weight of the disapproval of Number 12, Actaeon Place all over again. The sooner they got out of here, the better.

He bumped into Orlando’s back at the top of the stairs. His brother floundered for a moment, trying to figure his way out of the maze of downstairs passages. Helplessly, they both turned back to Miss Wednesday, who strode past them with an implacable expression.

Rinaldo had never had a governess, but he knew an exasperated schoolteacher when he saw one. Miss Wednesday rolled her eyes at them both, and took the lead. She led them up to the kitchens, now quiet and empty. There was no sign of Lady Mortmain’s cook except for a covered bowl of dough that had been left to rise. The kitchen fire was low in the grate.

“Along there,” Miss Wednesday said in a calm, assured voice that made Rinaldo feel that all was right with the world. “Around the corner to the scullery, there’s a door into the yard, and a gate that leads to the street behind. Be quick. Every door in the house is connected to a bell, so Mr Graves will be awoken the second you go through.”

Rinaldo noted her use of ‘you’ and was discomfited by it. “Miss Wednesday, you are coming with us? You must. When Lady Mortmain discovers we are gone, she will be furious…”

“Not to mention that butler, vicious old carcass that he is,” Orlando agreed. “You should take your chance to get out while you can.”

Flavia shook her head. “I’m not leaving without the children. Believe me, we will be leaving, very soon. But that is our journey. Forgive me, but I don’t see either of you as being of the slightest bit of help.”

That stabbing feeling in Rinaldo’s chest was his wounded pride, yes? He took her point, though part of him longed to argue it further. It wasn’t often he got a protective urge for anyone but his brother (except Ygraine, of course, but the least said about her, the better). He was mortified that they might have endangered this strange and unusually confident young lady.

Orlando shrugged, not seeming bothered either way. Clearly he had reached his limits of chivalry. “Your funeral, miss. Come on, Professor, let’s go.”

Rinaldo lingered for a moment, even as Orlando headed around the corner to check the door for himself. “Are you sure? Miss Wednesday, we can’t thank you enough, but —”

“Allow yourself to be rescued, for heaven’s sake,” she said impatiently. “You are in far graver danger from this house than I. It’s rather fond of me, actually.”

“If you need to find us, we’ll be…”

“No, don’t tell me anything.” Her eyes widened with alarm. “Lady Mortmain has already taken secrets from my mind.

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