Read Online Shiverton Hall, the Creeper by Emerald Fennell - Free Book Online Page B

see George limp towards him, his curly hair plastered to his sweaty forehead.
    ‘Football went well, then?’ Arthur giggled.
    ‘I’m going to die,’ George spluttered. ‘Those eight-year-olds, they’re vicious.’
    ‘How were the Forge triplets?’
    ‘Even worse,’ George replied. ‘Awarded the teams extra goals for kicking the ball at my head. They are pretty interested in you, though. Dan kept on asking me all sorts of questions.’
    ‘Uh-oh. You don’t think they’re planning something, do you?’
    ‘Well, it’s either that or they’ve suddenly become your biggest fans.’
    ‘So I’m in trouble.’
    ‘I’d say so, yep,’ George said cheerily. ‘I might pop into Aunt Bessie’s while we wait for the bus. Wanna come?’
    ‘No way. I am not going in there for a second time,’ Arthur said. ‘She’s trying to shift the bonbons again – be on your guard.’
    George loped towards the cigar-scented fog of Aunt Bessie’s and Arthur waited by the bus stop. Grimstone high street always looked like the sort of place you’d put on a poster to promote British tourism, with its pretty mismatched cottages and tea rooms, but Arthur particularly liked it at this time, in the evening, when the lights twinkled from the windows and mist hung over the cobblestones. It seemed rather more deserted than usual, though; in fact, once George had disappeared into the sweet shop Arthur seemed to be the only one around.
    It was getting colder and Arthur pulled his wool blazer closer to him. He wasn’t sure if it was the grey light of the evening or the sudden chill, but he had the uneasy feeling that someone was watching him. He looked behind him: nothing. When he turned back around, he jumped. There was a woman standing in front of him, rail-thin and haggard, wearing a thin nightdress, her long hair hanging over her face.
    She sprang forward and clutched at Arthur’s lapels. Arthur struggled to get away, but her grip was surprisingly strong.
    ‘Have you seen my son?’ she whispered, her bloodshot eyes only a few centimetres from Arthur’s. ‘Have you seen my son?’
    Arthur shook his head.
    ‘He should be around here somewhere,’ the woman said, letting go of Arthur and looking desperately down the empty road.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ Arthur replied. ‘I haven’t seen anyone. What does he look like?’
    The woman looked at Arthur as if he were mad.
    ‘You know what he looks like,’ the woman hissed. ‘His picture’s all over town.’
    Arthur realised who this woman was and took her arm gently. ‘It’s rather cold out here tonight,’ he said, shrugging off his jacket and putting it over her shoulders. ‘Would you like me to call someone for you?’
    ‘My son,’ the woman said miserably.
    Arthur did not know how to reply.
    The bell of Aunt Bessie’s Sweet Shop rang out into the street and George emerged. The woman turned to Arthur and grabbed his hand.
    ‘When you see him,’ she whispered imploringly, ‘tell him I’m looking for him.’
    The woman scuttled away, nearly knocking George over and tipping his bags of bonbons on to the street.
    ‘New girlfriend?’ George laughed, looking after the woman as she disappeared down a side street. ‘Looks like she’s nabbed your blazer.’
    ‘I think she’s Andrew Farnham’s mother,’ Arthur said.
    ‘Oh.’ George’s smile vanished. ‘That’s terrible. What did she say?’
    ‘Nothing. Just looking for her son, I guess.’ Arthur shivered. ‘Another detention for me from Long-Pitt for losing my blazer,’ he said grimly.
    ‘You can have my spare one,’ George said.
    ‘Thanks, mate,’ Arthur replied, hugely grateful. He knew his mum wouldn’t be able to afford another one. For some reason, the Shiverton uniform cost as much as a handmade Italian suit.
    George looked back down the street. ‘Wait –’ he squinted – ‘is that Xanthe and Penny?’
    The two girls were walking down the street towards them, their heads bent together