Read Online Somebody Stop Ivy Pocket by Caleb Krisp - Free Book Online
Authors: Caleb Krisp
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could punish Lady Elizabeth and wreak vengeance. What you did was wickedly cruel!’
‘That is true enough,’ said the ghost. ‘My actions were unforgivable.’
I cannot say why it was such a shock to hear the Duchess admit her guilt. But it was.
‘Unfortunately, I cannot help her,’ said the dead woman next. ‘But you , on the other hand …’
‘Do you know where Rebecca is? Can you tell me how I might reach her?’
‘I am between worlds,’ declared the Duchess, ‘and know little of such things.’ Then her eyes closed. She licked her lips, her black tongue slipping out like a serpent. ‘But if there is a way to unearth the girl’s exact location, I will try and find it.’
Which was wonderfully promising.
The ghost opened her eyes again. ‘However, I require something in return.’
I was frowning now. ‘Do not think you can fool me again,’ I said sternly. ‘If this is another one of your wicked schemes, I will know it.’
‘You be the judge, child,’ sang the ghost. ‘I only have one living relative – my cousin, Victor Grimwig. He is gravely ill, though he will not admit it. Victor’s savings are scant and although he dearly wants a proper burial, it must be one that he can afford.’
Was the Duchess asking me to help arrange a discount funeral for her cousin? The ghost seemed to read the wonder upon my face.
‘Yes, child, I am hoping that you will help arrange for Victor to have one of your delightful pre-measured coffins.’
‘What are you up to, Duchess? You’re a hateful sort of ghost, positively bursting with bad intentions – why do you wish to help your cousin?’
The Duchess of Trinity shook her head mournfully, the glow of her skin dimming. ‘I am trapped in the greylands, child, neither in one place nor the other. There is only one way I can move on – I must do some good in the world.’ She looked at me, her eyes two dark wells. ‘My life was wasted on vengeance and hatred and now I am trying to do a good deed. Surely there is no harm in that?’
I stepped down off the platform. Made no reply.
‘Will you help me bring peace to my dear cousin?’ The ghost moved swiftly, flying to my side. ‘And I will see what I can discover about poor Rebecca.’
Before I could answer, the unmistakable pounding of Mother Snagsby’s boots upon the stairs filled the parlour. I looked around at the dusty room. She would be furious. Keep me in there all day until it was clean. Which would make getting to the library and stealing that manuscript rather difficult.
The ghost seemed to read my mind.
‘Perhaps I can help,’ she purred.
The Duchess glided to the middle of the room and hoveredthere. She puckered her pale lips. Then she started to turn on the spot, like an enormous ballerina in a music box. And as she did so, clusters of dust began to lift off the surfaces of chairs and tabletops and window sills, flying at speed into her ghoulish mouth. In a few moments every surface sparkled and shone. Then the dead woman flew at Mother Snagsby’s mural and vanished into one of her heavenly clouds.
Only her voice lingered. ‘Think on it, child,’ it said. ‘I will return soon for an answer.’
‘Who were you talking to?’ said Mother Snagsby from the doorway.
‘Mr Talbot,’ I replied, pointing to the coffin. ‘He’s frightfully good company.’
‘Don’t be absurd,’ said Mother Snagsby, striding into the parlour.
She made her way around the room, running her finger across each and every surface. She frowned, a web of lines crowded around her eyes.
‘Well?’ I said brightly.
‘It is … clean,’ came the faint reply, ‘thoroughly clean.’
I pushed the dusting rag into Mother Snagsby’s hand and headed for the door. ‘You’re welcome, dear.’
Things began rather wonderfully. As I climbed the library steps, my mind fixed on the challenge ahead, I saw Miss Carnage off to one side, standing by a large pillar. She had her back to me, her head lowered. Which
‘That is true enough,’ said the ghost. ‘My actions were unforgivable.’
I cannot say why it was such a shock to hear the Duchess admit her guilt. But it was.
‘Unfortunately, I cannot help her,’ said the dead woman next. ‘But you , on the other hand …’
‘Do you know where Rebecca is? Can you tell me how I might reach her?’
‘I am between worlds,’ declared the Duchess, ‘and know little of such things.’ Then her eyes closed. She licked her lips, her black tongue slipping out like a serpent. ‘But if there is a way to unearth the girl’s exact location, I will try and find it.’
Which was wonderfully promising.
The ghost opened her eyes again. ‘However, I require something in return.’
I was frowning now. ‘Do not think you can fool me again,’ I said sternly. ‘If this is another one of your wicked schemes, I will know it.’
‘You be the judge, child,’ sang the ghost. ‘I only have one living relative – my cousin, Victor Grimwig. He is gravely ill, though he will not admit it. Victor’s savings are scant and although he dearly wants a proper burial, it must be one that he can afford.’
Was the Duchess asking me to help arrange a discount funeral for her cousin? The ghost seemed to read the wonder upon my face.
‘Yes, child, I am hoping that you will help arrange for Victor to have one of your delightful pre-measured coffins.’
‘What are you up to, Duchess? You’re a hateful sort of ghost, positively bursting with bad intentions – why do you wish to help your cousin?’
The Duchess of Trinity shook her head mournfully, the glow of her skin dimming. ‘I am trapped in the greylands, child, neither in one place nor the other. There is only one way I can move on – I must do some good in the world.’ She looked at me, her eyes two dark wells. ‘My life was wasted on vengeance and hatred and now I am trying to do a good deed. Surely there is no harm in that?’
I stepped down off the platform. Made no reply.
‘Will you help me bring peace to my dear cousin?’ The ghost moved swiftly, flying to my side. ‘And I will see what I can discover about poor Rebecca.’
Before I could answer, the unmistakable pounding of Mother Snagsby’s boots upon the stairs filled the parlour. I looked around at the dusty room. She would be furious. Keep me in there all day until it was clean. Which would make getting to the library and stealing that manuscript rather difficult.
The ghost seemed to read my mind.
‘Perhaps I can help,’ she purred.
The Duchess glided to the middle of the room and hoveredthere. She puckered her pale lips. Then she started to turn on the spot, like an enormous ballerina in a music box. And as she did so, clusters of dust began to lift off the surfaces of chairs and tabletops and window sills, flying at speed into her ghoulish mouth. In a few moments every surface sparkled and shone. Then the dead woman flew at Mother Snagsby’s mural and vanished into one of her heavenly clouds.
Only her voice lingered. ‘Think on it, child,’ it said. ‘I will return soon for an answer.’
‘Who were you talking to?’ said Mother Snagsby from the doorway.
‘Mr Talbot,’ I replied, pointing to the coffin. ‘He’s frightfully good company.’
‘Don’t be absurd,’ said Mother Snagsby, striding into the parlour.
She made her way around the room, running her finger across each and every surface. She frowned, a web of lines crowded around her eyes.
‘Well?’ I said brightly.
‘It is … clean,’ came the faint reply, ‘thoroughly clean.’
I pushed the dusting rag into Mother Snagsby’s hand and headed for the door. ‘You’re welcome, dear.’
Things began rather wonderfully. As I climbed the library steps, my mind fixed on the challenge ahead, I saw Miss Carnage off to one side, standing by a large pillar. She had her back to me, her head lowered. Which
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