The Golden Shell by Paula Harrison

Author:Paula Harrison [Paula Harrison]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780857633446
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Published: 2014-11-18T16:00:00+00:00

Ella hurried down the barn, calling to Summer as loudly as she dared. Summer poked her head out of the henhouse.

“Molly’s coming,” hissed Ella. “We’ve got to do something!”

“I’ll go this way.” Summer pointed to the back door. “I’ll find Lottie and we’ll meet you back at Seahorse Tower.”

Ella nodded. Through the window, she could see Molly getting closer. She dashed out of the main door and ran along the side of the barn until she came to a wooden bench. She crouched down behind it, hoping that Molly hadn’t spotted her running from the barn.

Daisy wriggled in her arms. Ella stroked the rabbit’s soft ears. In her panic about Molly, she’d almost forgotten that she was holding the little bunny.

Molly marched straight inside without looking in the direction of the bench. Ella got up from her hiding place and tiptoed back to the barn door. Molly was leaning over the rabbit pen, counting the number of baby rabbits. Then she sat down on a hay bale and folded her arms.

She’s waiting till I come back, thought Ella.

Nervously, she pushed a black curl behind her ear and wondered what to do. She had to talk to the others. They would have some ideas for a ninja move. With one last look at the barn, she rushed across the garden, darting behind the privet statues and hoping she wouldn’t be seen.

Luckily, the castle entrance was empty. Ella hurried towards the stairs, stopping when she heard Lady Eggley’s voice drifting down from the balcony. “There’s such a terrible draught in this castle! Why must the princesses always leave the front door wide open? I shall close it myself!”

Ella’s eyes widened. If a teacher caught her bringing a rabbit into the castle, she’d be in big trouble. And Lady Eggley was the very last teacher she wanted to be caught by! Looking left and right, Ella darted through the nearest open door into the Throne Room.

She heard Lady Eggley’s high-heeled shoes tapping on the stone floor outside. Where could she hide? The room was quite bare, with just a strip of red carpet leading to the magnificent golden throne. Pictures of kings and queens hung on the walls and the shelves had rows of silver trophies.

Ella spotted a small door in the corner of the room. She thought it must be a store cupboard. She ran to it and pulled the handle. It was locked. Quickly, she ducked down behind the golden throne before she was seen. Her heart thumped and she hugged Daisy tightly.

“Lady Eggley, I have some bad news.” Molly’s voice rang out clearly.

Ella peeked round the throne and looked through the open doorway. She saw Molly standing next to the teacher in the hallway outside. She watched the older girl curtsy perfectly. Ella stifled a sigh. Why couldn’t she curtsy like that?

“What is it, Molly?” said Lady Eggley. “Nothing serious I hope.”

“I’ve just seen a new girl bring a rabbit into the castle,” said Molly in a shocked voice. “Her name is Ella.

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