Read Online Invitation to a Stranger by Margaret Pearce - Free Book Online

worked on that place at one stage.”
    â€œ Really! Could I go and visit?”
    â€œIf Jeff is prepared to take you.”
    At netball that afternoon Katie agreed with Ronnie that it would be helpful to discover if the big mansion had secret rooms or cellars, just in case they were hiding captives.
    There was a minor problem. Jeff was highly indignant as being asked to escort them to the Sunset Glory Home on their way back home.
    â€œIf we run late getting home, Mum’ll freak out,” he protested. “Can’t you do it some other time?”
    â€œWe only want to spend five minutes talking to Granny Sullivan,” Ronnie coaxed. “We can still be back before dark.”
    â€œAnd it’s not really out of our way,” Katie said. “Just a straight level road to the nursing home.”
    â€œI’ll be glad when all this nonsense of escorting you two is well over,” Jeff grouched. “All right, but don’t push your luck.”
    Katie and Ronnie exchanged glances. Maybe they were wasting time asking Granny Sullivan about the old mansion, or then again, maybe not.

 
    Chapter S ixteen
    Â 
    Granny Sullivan was an old lady with short white hair. She had faded brown eyes in a narrow brown face. She didn’t really look ninety, Ronnie thought as they introduced themselves. She didn’t look wrinkled enough and her eyes were too alert.
    â€œCampion,” she mused. “You would be the grandchildren of that old rogue Colin Campion wouldn’t you?”
    â€œI suppose,” Jeff said stiffly.
    â€œAnd Katie would be Fancy Jim Smith’s granddaughter. He was a goer, that one.”
    Ronnie looked at Katie, who had coloured up. Interesting, mused Ronnie. Who was Katie’s grandfather that he could be an embarrassment to Katie?
    â€œWe’re doing a school assignment on old houses, and Mum said your father was a builder,” Ronnie said. “What do you know about the mansion in Castle Street?”
    â€œMy Pa did all the brickwork and foundations,” Granny Sullivan said.
    â€œWhat foundations?” Jeff asked.
    â€œWine cellars, cool rooms and storage rooms, I suppose,” Granny Sullivan said. “I remember how deep the cellar was when it was dug out. It was a real fancy house for those days. It had butler’s pantries, and third floor rooms for the servants, and dressing rooms and a study and library, and music rooms. Believe it even had a secret passage.”
    â€œWow!” Jeff said. “Where would they put a secret passage?”
    â€œFrom the top of the stairs on the first floor down to the kitchen,” Granny Sullivan explained. “Not really a secret passage, just back stairs for the staff, except Pa said they built a bookcase in front of the door so it would be less noticeable.”
    â€œThe house is built fairly high off the ground,” Ronnie said. “ So would the poor servants have to access the foundation cellars and cool rooms from outside?”
    â€œ Seem to remember Pa saying he pointed out to the new owners that their precious wine could get damaged if the servants had to access the cellars from the outside. They ended up ordering him to do another access from inside of the butler’s pantry.”
    â€œ Really,” Ronnie encouraged.
    â€œIn those days owners didn’t worry how inconvenienced their staff were,” Granny Sullivan said with a chuckle. “But they were very concerned that their precious wine would get overheated or too cold from being taken through the yard.”
    â€œ So whereabouts in the yard did he build the access to the cellars?” Ronnie asked.
    Before Granny Sullivan could answer, there was a soft knock on the door. A nurse came in.
    â€œYou’ll have to visit some other time,” she apologised. “It’s Mrs. Sullivan’s dinner time.”
    â€œAnd we’ve got to get back home before dark,” Jeff reminded the two