Read Online The Deptford Mice 2: The Crystal Prison by Robin Jarvis - Free Book Online Page A

here?’
    An apologetic cough sounded behind them. ‘Forgive me good lady,’ said Thomas self-consciously. ‘I came to tell you about the party the rest of your Skirtings folk are arranging but I see you are busy. Excuse me.’
    ‘No, wait, please,’ called Gwen desperately. ‘Mr Triton, you seem to know this Starwife better than us. Is there any way she would release Audrey from this horrible bargain?’
    Thomas’ eyes were grave beneath his frosty white brows. ‘No ma’am. I’m sorry, but the Starwife clings to a bargain like a limpet to a stone. She does not make idle threats either: that family will surely perish if Miss Audrey does not go.’ The midshipmouse fumbled with the cloth bag in his paws. ‘I must leave now,’ he said, tugging the edge of his hat. ‘I have to return this, you see. No doubt you will see me in the morning if I guess rightly about the messages I’ll find waiting for me.’ He turned and left the Skirtings and began the journey back to Greenwich.
    ‘If it’s all right with you Mother,’ ventured Arthur, ‘I’d like to go with Audrey to make sure she’s safe.’
    ‘I don’t need looking after,’ said Audrey indignantly. ‘Just you stay here with Mother!’
    ‘Listen silly,’ argued her brother crossly. ‘I can go with you, make sure you settle in, then come back and tell Mother how you’re doing.’
    ‘Oh,’ said Audrey – she could see the sense in that.
    So could Mrs Brown. ‘That’s a very good idea Arthur,’ she said and hugged them both tightly.
    Meanwhile, Algy Coltfoot and Tom Cockle had brought out their instruments – whisker fiddle and bark drum – and soon the strains of a melody came floating in through the hall.
    Gwen Brown made her children wash the tear stains from their faces. ‘It may sound silly of me,’ she said, ‘but I don’t feel as though you’ll be away too long. Let’s regard this evening as a sort of grand going-away party. We’ll all be together again soon, you see.’
    Audrey and Arthur agreed – for her sake – though in their own hearts they doubted her. Audrey went to fetch her tail bells, which she had not worn for weeks. She felt that tonight was a good occasion to wear them once more.
    In the hall the other mice had not been idle. To celebrate the Chitters’ return to health, food had been brought out and decorations festooned the walls. Algy and Tom played ‘The Summer Jig’ and their audience danced and clapped heartily. Between tunes Mr Cockle slipped out a bowl of his own berrybrew and quaffed it down happily, hoping his wife wouldn’t see. Mrs Coltfoot was being congratulated on the success of her ointment and the Raddle spinsters were tittering on the stairs as usual.
    Into this mirth came Twit. He was immediately grabbed and hauled into the dancing – until someone called for him to play on his reed pipe. The fieldmouse darted away to fetch it.
    It was a joyful chaos of noise and laughter.
    Soon the tensions of the last weeks were forgotten – forgotten by everyone except Audrey.
    ‘Perhaps this is the last time I shall wear bells on my tail or have a ribbon in my hair,’ she thought.
    ‘With a rat for company I’ shan’t need to look nice.’
    ‘Come on Audrey,’ said Arthur, suddenly interrupting her thoughts. ‘There’s some terrific food here. Mrs Cockle and Mrs Coltfoot have been busy.’
    Arthur dragged his sister over to a crowded area where a cloth had been spread on the floor and laid with biscuits, cheeses, soft grain buns, jam rings and a large bowl of Mrs Coltfoot’s own speciality Hawthorn Blossom Cup. Gwen Brown was chatting mildly to Biddy Cockle.
    ‘Here she is,’ Arthur told his mother. ‘I found her over there all dreamy and sorry for herself.’
    Gwen linked her arm in her daughter’s. ‘Try to be happy, my love,’ she said. ‘It’ll be all right, you’ll see!’
    ‘Where’s Piccadilly?’ asked Audrey suddenly. It occurred to her that he knew nothing of the bargain.