Read Online Clementine Rose and the Movie Magic 9 by Jacqueline Harvey - Free Book Online Page B

bed. Clementine and Will froze, then realised she was wearing an eye mask with two giant eyes painted on it.
    â€˜Eliza, darling, is that you?’ Aunt Violet called out. ‘Can you get Mummy a glass of water?’
    Clementine wrinkled her nose.
    â€˜Who’s Eliza?’ Will mouthed.
    Clementine shrugged and pointed towards the door. The two children scampered like mice on the balls of their feet. As Clementine turned to pull the door shut, Aunt Violet fell back onto the bed and began snoring like a train.

    Most of the household was fast asleep when a loud ruckus shattered the evening peace.
    â€˜Good grief, get off me!’ Alfie Doncaster shouted.
    Clementine awoke to the man’s cries. Digby Pertwhistle had just been having themost unsettling dream when he heard the commotion and sprang from his bed.
    â€˜I think it’s Mr Doncaster,’ Clementine said as she met Uncle Digby in the hallway.
    They raced down to the Marigold Room. Alfie Doncaster burst into the hallway in his dressing-gown, his grey hair sticking up in tufts all over the place.
    â€˜I thought you said that the animals didn’t go anywhere near the guestrooms,’ Alfie barked at Clementine.
    â€˜They don’t,’ the child said.
    â€˜Then explain that there!’ Alfie pointed to his room. Uncle Digby and Clementine hurried through the door, where they saw Pharaoh fast asleep on the man’s pillow. ‘You can imagine how I felt when I woke up to that curled around the top of my head! And I can’t even wake the beast. Is he in a coma?’

    â€˜He’s a heavy sleeper. I’ll take him.’ Uncle Digby walked towards the bed.
    Alfie reached into his briefcase and pulled out a camera. ‘Not until I have photographicevidence to add to my report. Honestly, I have tried to overlook things I’ve seen here, and Lady Clarissa has done a wonderful job convincing me that they were all just anomalies, but I am beginning to think that the complainant was right. I am going to recommend that Penberthy House Hotel be shut down immediately, pending further investigations.’
    â€˜But we’ll have to sell the house,’ Clementine protested.
    â€˜If I were your mother I’d take the money and run.’ Alfie Doncaster snapped away with the camera before giving Uncle Digby the nod to take Pharaoh.
    â€˜I don’t want to sell the house,’ Clementine said, her voice wavering. ‘It’s not fair. Pharaoh never comes up here, so someone must have put him in your room.’
    â€˜Show me the evidence and I’ll reconsider,’ Mr Doncaster huffed, and slammed the bedroom door.
    Clementine and Uncle Digby took Pharaoh down to the kitchen.
    â€˜Do you think Mummy will really have to sell the house, Uncle Digby?’ Clementine asked.
    â€˜I’m sure it won’t come to that,’ Uncle Digby reassured her, but truthfully things didn’t look good at all. ‘Now, come on, let’s get back to bed.’

The following day dawned grey and miserable, just like the members of the household.
    â€˜I’m so sorry you had to deal with all that last night,’ Lady Clarissa said to Uncle Digby as the pair sat down to breakfast.
    â€˜Don’t worry about me, Clarissa,’ the man replied.
    Clementine thumped downstairs, still half-asleep, in her dressing-gown and slippers. She yawned loudly, heralding her arrival.
    â€˜Hello sleepyhead.’ Her mother stood up and greeted the child with a cuddle.
    Clementine rubbed her eyes. ‘What time is it?’ She looked at the kitchen clock and realised that it was after nine. ‘Oh no! I’m going to be late for filming.’
    â€˜No, darling. Basil telephoned and said that he’s taking the day to go through Granny’s diary,’ Lady Clarissa said. ‘You now have the day off.’
    Clementine looked outside at the heavy sky. The rain didn’t look as if it was going to let up