are going to live here for a while.”
“Scarlet’s here too?” Aiden was thrilled.
“And Nat …” Seb began and thought that if Aiden opened his eyes any wider they would pop out of their sockets.
“Nat? Really, Nat too?” Then a thought crossed his mind, “What about Zach, is he staying as well? That’d be so cool.”
“No, just us four. I’ll explain later.” Seb was bursting to tell Aiden about his misgivings of the whole situation – the convenience of it all – but he couldn’t say anything in front of his mum or Miss Angel and now Mr Duir was walking back into the kitchen. Aiden’s foster father had apparently departed without saying goodbye.
“Well, Master Lord, welcome to the Annexe.” Mr Duir smiled and placed Aiden’s small rucksack beside his stool.
“So Aiden is going to board too?” Seb’s mum sounded pleased.
“Yes, and Nat Kitchener,” Miss Angel said, dropping lightly from her stool to get some milk from the fridge. Pouring a cup each for Seb and Aiden she returned to the kitchen’s island counter. “Remarkable coincidence. Her parents are off on some cruise – last minute notification as prize winners in a big competition. They apparently heard that your children were going to board here and asked if Miss Kitchener could too.”
Seb’s mum looked guilty. “Oh, I probably am responsible for them finding that out. I am sorry. I phoned Nat’s Mum, Amelia, to see if she had any spare clothes Scarlet could borrow. I had to explain why …”
“Oh, it’s really not a problem, Mrs Thomas.” Miss Angel was beaming. “And I will be honest with you; it was I who contacted Aiden’s parents. We were aware that he had certain unique circumstances that would require a change of living arrangements in the next few months and just thought it would suit all if he came to stay here now.” She looked at Aiden who was nodding enthusiastically.
“I am so pleased. I prefer the idea of Seb and Scarlet having companions, and two such nice children too.” His mum looked at Aiden who blushed.
“Good. All sorted then.” Miss Angel moved towards the living room. “I think I hear the caretaker.”
Sure enough there was the clanking sound of a latch being lifted in the back hallway.
“Seb, why don’t you take Aiden up and help him settle in,” Mr Duir suggested. Seb led Aiden to the back hall, passing The Caretaker, who nodded to them but said nothing, on the way.
Aiden was chattering excitedly.
“I was really nervous when I was told I was going to board at the school.” His freckles picked out the light from the flamers lining the staircase and shone it back onto the jewels encrusted in the walls. “But now I know you guys are here too I am so excited.”
“I didn’t know you lived with foster parents, Aiden. I am sorry.”
“I never like to talk about it. My mum discarded me when I was four. I vaguely remember her. I don’t remember or even know who my father is. And I have stayed with lots of different foster families since then. This is about the longest time I have spent with any of them. I’m not sure why none of them seemed to like me enough to want to …” There was an awkward pause.
“Come on, Aiden. Come and see our room,” Seb said. He really didn’t know what else to say. Aiden had had a rough time of it and now Seb felt guilty for the resentment he often felt towards Scarlet. He grabbed Aiden’s elbow and ushered him up the staircase. “You’re going to love what’s on the bookshelf – it’s like the teachers loaded it especially for you.”
Aiden’s jaw dropped as he walked into the room. The sky outside was now almost dark. Seb didn’t need to flick on the light switch; flamers lit the whole room. The jewels in the floor, walls and doors all sparkled. It looked utterly magical.
He turned to Aiden, whose head now carried a halo of flamers. “Which bed do you want?”
“I really don’t mind, Seb. Three of them…?” Aiden left the question hanging.
“Apparently there are only two beds in the girls’ room.”
Right on cue the door opened and Scarlet bustled Nat into the room.
“Our room sparkles too, Seb! Oh Aiden, hi. So pleased you’re here too.” Scarlet grabbed his arm. “Look at these.” She pushed him down onto one of the beanbags and pulled a couple of books from the shelf, dropping them onto his lap. “Bet you love this collection, don’t you?”
Aiden was engrossed in seconds, flicking through the books then examining the other titles on the shelf.
Nat drifted to stand close to Seb and spoke quietly, “Isn’t it lovely? Are you happy to be here, Seb?”
He smiled at her. “I am now.”
Minutes later their mum came up to see the rooms and Scarlet shot off, with Nat, to give her a grand tour.
“She’s so excited,” Aiden laughed. “It’s infectious.”
He got up from the beanbag holding a stack of books and plonked them onto the middle bed. He slipped his shoes off, arranged his pillows against the bedhead and, sitting back, hefted a huge book onto his lap.
“Is that the bed you’ve chosen?” Seb asked.
“Oh, did you want it, Seb? I’m sorry.” Aiden made to move.
“No, I’m happy with this one.” Seb bounded onto the one nearest the window and, kicking his own shoes off, lay back with his arms folded behind his head.
He stared at the glittering ceiling.
“Aiden, do you not think it’s a bit convenient that we all end up here … on the same day?”
Aiden grinned, sitting cross-legged like a sparkly-freckled leprechaun. “Yes I do!”
“Yes: our fire, Nat’s parents’ prize, your foster parents’ needing more room— ”
“Don’t you think it’s fantastic?” Aiden’s excited reaction wasn’t quite what Seb had expected. He thought Aiden, of all people, would worry they were being manipulated. Seb voiced his concerns.
“But how else are they going to help us learn? We can’t just do it during school hours; we’re all meant to be together, to become the Group that joins Mr Duir and his Group. We can’t do that if we go our separate ways every evening and weekend, can we?”
Seb was stunned at how easily Aiden accepted the situation. Glancing at the pile of books on his bed Seb realised that this was probably his friend’s dream come true. Just as he, Seb, had used to escape into his own world of books, so Aiden must have been using fairy tales and myths as a retreat, a haven, from his own disrupted and unhappy life. And now a magic wand had been waved and Aiden was living in his haven … and he seemed happy about it. Suddenly Seb felt a growing feeling of excitement.
“What about Zach though?” he asked. “He’s meant to be part of the Group.”
“I’m sure they’ll sort something out,” Aiden said with absolute conviction.
Sleeping Arrangements
After saying goodbye to their mother Scarlet and Seb joined Nat and Aiden upstairs and unpacked the basic clothing she had provided, Scarlet disapproving of most of it.
The smell of cooking from downstairs made Seb realise he was ravenous. He wondered what time it was; it was now pitch black outside and there didn’t seem to be a clock or watch anywhere. He guessed ten o’clock-ish.
“Scarlet, what’s the time?” he asked, expecting her to produce her mobile phone, then realised it must have been lost in the fire or left at the hospital with the clothes they had been wearing.
She shrugged. “Dunno, but that smells nice,” she said, noticing the delicious smell that now filled the room.
“It does,” Aiden agreed. “Do you think it’s for us?”
Drawn by hunger, the four stomped back down the stairs. The fire in the living room crackled cheerfully, the front curtains had been drawn and the sofas looked comfortable and inviting. But the kitchen, with the sound of crockery being placed on the island counter and that lovely smell, was far more enticing.
There was no sign of Mr Duir or Miss Angel. The Caretaker, dressed in a lighter blue hoodie now, the hood of which was down, and w
ith long, glossy hair tied back in a low ponytail, stood by the Aga placing cheese on toast on five plates.
“Ah, so you are all hungry!” The Caretaker turned and waved them to the counter then followed them over, handing them each a plate. Seb was starving and gazed at the golden cheese which was still bubbling on the toast. Forgetting his manners and not waiting to be asked he took a huge bite and began crunching happily as The Caretaker placed a pan of milk onto one of the Aga hotplates.
Within minutes, and without conversation, the four of them had cleared their plates and were served with piping hot chocolate, on which The Caretaker had spooned dollops of whipping cream.
“Do take them upstairs with you,” The Caretaker said, clearing away and handing Scarlet a biscuit tin.
As they wandered through to the sitting room The Caretaker’s voice followed them. “Get some sleep. Wash and dress before you come down for breakfast.”
“What time is it?” Seb asked.
“Oh, I thought I said. Bedtime!” The Caretaker moved across to the sink and began washing up.
Hot chocolate way too hot to drink, they got into their pyjamas while it cooled. No one bothered with a shower.
“We were wondering, well … do you mind if we sleep in here?” Scarlet, now in a onesie, poked her head round the boys’ door.
“There are only three beds,” Seb stated, not sure he wanted Nat to see him snoring and dribbling during the night and with his bed-hair first thing in the morning.
“We could bring in one of the mattresses from the girls’ room,” Aiden offered.
“Yay,” Scarlet said and