Читать книгу The Whispers in the Walls - Sophie Cleverly, Sophie Cleverly - Страница 14

I was terrified.

Terrified of returning to lessons. Terrified of Violet. Terrified of Miss Fox being out there, somewhere.

Terrified of Rookwood School.

I barely slept a wink that first night. Whenever I dozed off, I had terrible nightmares. When I was awake, I kept thinking I could hear things in the walls.

But was I going to tell Ivy that? Not likely. I had to be brave for her, because I hated the idea of her being as frightened as I was. So I’d jumped out of bed and acted like it was the happiest day of my life. I even wolfed down the disgusting porridge, though I had no appetite and my stomach was in knots.

Morning assembly was at least not too scary, as all we had to do was sing hymns and listen to Matron’s lecture on keeping our dorm rooms tidy. But there was something surprising – a letter arrived addressed to me and Ivy.

“It’s from Aunt Phoebe!” Ivy exclaimed when she saw the postmark. As Ariadne hurried off to the first lesson, we stood in the hallway reading it.

Dear Scarlet and Ivy,

I was so overjoyed to hear the good news. It’s truly a miracle to have Scarlet back with us. I wish I could see the two of you together again. But I fear it is not to be. I hoped that you would be able to stay with me, but I see now that I have interfered with your lives too much already. Edith is right, you need to complete your education and not be held back by some old biddy like me. I’m very sorry. I hope I will see you again someday.

With all my love and best wishes for the future,

Your aunt

Phoebe Gregory

There were tear stains on the paper, and they’d smudged some of the ink.

I dug my nails into my hands. “Did our stepmother make her do this?”

Ivy’s excited expression had faded, and now she looked like she was about to cry. “I suppose so.”

I took the letter out of her hand and screwed it up. “It’s nonsense! She’s the one who’s interfering, not Aunt Phoebe. That witch!”

Girls were staring as they streamed past, but I didn’t care. They could stare all they liked.

I would get our stepmother back for this one day. I still suspected that she had persuaded our father that I was dead after being bribed by Miss Fox. But she wouldn’t be able to control our lives forever.

We walked into the history classroom side by side. I hated history. I didn’t see why we had to learn about things that dead people had done.

There had been some rearranging of the desks, and I saw to my horror that Violet had been given the one next to mine.

“Ah yes,” said Madame Lovelace, covered in dust as always. “We have a twin joining us. Which one of you is Ivy?”

“I am,” I said quickly.

Ivy looked at me like I’d just declared I was a radish.

“Oh good. Welcome to Rookwood School. I hope you have a better aptitude for history than your sister,” she declared, glaring at Ivy, who squeaked in frustration. But she went along with the swap and took the seat next to my arch-enemy. “There’s a spare desk over there. Here, take a textbook.”

“Thank you, Madame,” I said politely. I took it from her and headed to the back of the room, as far away from Violet Adams as was physically possible.

As we sat down and Madame Lovelace started writing names and dates on the blackboard, Ivy turned to face me. “What are you doing?” she mouthed.

I pointed repeatedly at the back of Violet’s head. Finally Ivy seemed to get the message and turned back round.

I watched as my twin studiously copied from the blackboard. I wondered if this was how she’d behaved when she’d been pretending to be me. I never did anything studiously.

At least this time it didn’t really matter if we acted like each other or not – Madame Lovelace was blind as a bat, and not particularly observant even with her spectacles on. So instead of doing my work, I started drawing in my jotter instead. I drew myself, dancing, and then I drew Ivy next to me. Ballet was the only lesson I was looking forward to. At least Miss Finch knew the full truth about what had happened – there was no chance she would pretend that Ivy was new and I’d never been away, like Mrs Knight was.

I was still doodling when the bell rang for the end of class, and almost jumped out of my skin. Penny noticed and laughed. I pulled a face at her and gathered up my things.

Ivy frowned at me as I headed to the front of class. “You can’t just do that, Scarlet,” she said, when we’d left the classroom.

“Do what?”

“Pretend to be me!” she snapped.

“I didn’t want to sit next to Violet.”

“Well, can you give me some warning next time?” And with that, my twin shot ahead of me through the crowds.

Fine, I thought. If she wants to be alone, she can be alone. I turned round, intent on storming off in the other direction.

And came face to face with Violet.

I was rooted to the spot. I couldn’t breathe as it all came flashing back to me. The freezing rooftop. The fight. Miss Fox dangling her over the edge.

Was she going to hit me? Scream in my face? Promise revenge?

But no, her eyes were blank as if I were invisible to her. “Excuse me,” she whispered absently.

And she walked straight past me.

I tried my best to pull myself together for the rest of the lessons that day, but it was difficult when my twin was clearly still annoyed with me. I didn’t understand why she was so cross. She’d already had plenty of practice at playing my role, so why was it a problem now? I thought she didn’t want to have to pretend to be new.

We retreated to room thirteen to get changed into our leotards. “I don’t know what’s got into Violet,” I said. “She’s not her usual awful self at all. She’s not really anything. Just blank.”

Ivy sighed. “I don’t know what’s going on.”

I thought she’d say something about how Violet had probably been through an ordeal that had affected her, how we should be grateful that she wasn’t trying to murder me. But she just sighed a little more loudly and continued pulling on her tights.

We ran down to ballet (well, I ran, and Ivy just walked quickly, keen not to break any rules). Miss Finch greeted us as we descended into the chilly basement.

“Welcome back, Scarlet,” she said to me quietly and with a smile. “I trust you haven’t forgotten your warm-up?”

I shook my head. “No, Miss.”

“Good. And be on your best behaviour, please.” She looked pointedly at the piano. I hoped my embarrassment didn’t show.

Miss Finch smiled at Ivy, too, but didn’t welcome her to the class. Ivy looked grateful for that.

I took hold of the barre next to my sister and began my exercises, right leg first, then left leg.

It was something so very simple, but it felt like coming home. When I practised ballet, I wasn’t just Scarlet any more, I was Scarlet, the world-famous prima ballerina of the future. My destiny stretched out in front of me. And with Ivy by my side, no matter how cross she was, everything felt complete.

My bliss was interrupted by Penny whispering in my ear. “You may be back, but I haven’t forgotten that we’ve got unfinished business, Scarlet Grey. I’m going to find out why Violet won’t talk to me, and if it’s got anything to do with you then there’ll be trouble.”

I frowned at her. “Why would it be my fault?”

She elbowed me viciously. “Supposedly she went to some school in France, lording it about while you were locked away in an asylum. Yet she’s gone all weird and silent while you’re just fine and dandy! And the teachers are acting like Ivy is a brand new pupil and you’ve been here all along! Something doesn’t add up.”

I wasn’t fine, but Penny didn’t know that. “I’m brilliant, thank you. Now leave me alone.” I moved into rond de jambe à terre, moving my leg in a half circle, intent on ignoring her.

“Listen, scum,” she spat. “I want my friend back. And I will do whatever it takes, do you understand?”

I said nothing, but I felt my insides turn to ice. I knew just how far Penny would go.