I arrived back at the front of our family cottage. My heart was thumping in my mouth. I needed to get inside before my parents saw me. I probably looked a complete state with hair all messy and ruffled. No doubt my clothes would be covered in leaves and debris. It was hard to see in the dark, so I gave myself a quick brush down.
I stood in the shadows of the cottage and could see Ava was in the courtyard, and I could see Mum and Dad as well. Ava was carrying a torch and seemed agitated, the way she couldn’t quite stand still, whilst Mum and Dad were keeping her there, as they swooned about what a beautiful party it was and how grateful they were to her and Josephine for inviting her.
I tried to make a run for the front door, but Mum must have heard my feet crunch on the pebbles.
‘Sasha, there you are, we were looking for you. We’ve had enough, absolutely done in.’ Mum came forward and strained to see me in the dark.
Ava then turned and headed back in through the gates and towards the main house.
‘Oh bloody hell, what’s got into her? It’s supposed to be a party,’ Mum said as they made their way towards me. Dad was carrying Hunter on his back.
‘I’m busting for a wee!’ I shouted and ran towards the house, which was always left unlocked. Mum and Dad had become incredibly trusting and would never have left their house unlocked until we moved here.
I rushed into my bedroom and slammed the door shut.
What was an impulse decision, and in hindsight, one I was already regretting, would almost certainly put mine and my family’s life here at Saxby in jeopardy. And was it worth it for everything that had happened that evening? I would have to wait until the morning to find out.
I woke to the sound of Mum’s footsteps heading up the stairs and stopping outside my door.
‘Sasha.’ She knocked lightly.
‘Yes,’ I groaned. I had got into bed way past midnight but couldn’t sleep for hours. So I snuck downstairs and hid my clothes from the party in the washing machine where Mum had a wash on ready to go. They were worse than I thought – there was a huge mud patch on the leg of my trousers, which I had sprayed with stain remover to little effect before I stuffed it in the washing machine.
It must have been about 3 a.m. when I finally drifted off, dreaming of all the momentous things that had happened that night.
Mum opened the door, bringing in a stream of light with her. I shielded my eyes with my hands. Mum was carrying a steaming cup of tea.
‘Thought you might need this, love. I heard you get up three times last night. Did you not sleep well?’
‘No, must have been all that rich food and fizzy pop.’
Mum placed the mug down next to my bed.
‘Ah well, it’s not as if we do it every day now, is it? A splurge every now and again is worth it, hey?’
‘Yes.’
‘Madam’s in a right huff this morning. Told me a Japanese vase has gone missing.’
My heart leapt into my throat as I thought about the vase that sat in Ava’s study.
‘I looked at her and said, “I hope you aren’t implying that I took it.” She quickly changed her tune then, said, “Oh, no, Darcy, I would never imply such a thing.” Asked me to keep an eye out for it. And to mention it to you. The cheek. She reassured me it was just in case you might have seen something, or maybe that traveller friend of yours? Does she think anyone would be so bold as to walk into the house and steal a vase? Stealing is a sackable offence. I hope you know that, girl.’
‘Of course, Mum.’ I gulped. ‘I haven’t seen or touched a vase.’
‘I know, I know. I just couldn’t help but feel she was implying something. There was definitely some air of threat in her tone. And the way she was so adamant that I mention it to you too. I know you aren’t a thief, love. This family has always been straight down the line. Pity people like them still see us poorer folk as potential thieves. Gets my back up, it does.’
I started to feel a little light-headed.
Mum grabbed my hand. ‘You need to scrub those fingernails – what were you doing last night? Honestly, girl, didn’t I bring you up to have a little more care for your personal hygiene?’
I looked down at my fingernails, which were black with grit and dirt; I hadn’t noticed when I had gone to bed. I had let my family down colossally. I could never tell Mum what I did at the house last night. Or what happened afterwards. She would never understand my desire to know more about the Clemonte family and what secrets the old house held. The thing was, now I knew them, it no longer felt as exciting as it had done before. But I had made a deal with Ava last night. I would have to hold on to what I knew for the rest of my life and never tell a soul. Was that even possible? I would bury it for as long as we were living at Saxby. Then after that, who knew.
But for now, all I could see in my mind’s eye was the Japanese vase and the last place I had seen it the previous evening.