Ella raced along the corridor after Rosalind. They ran downstairs to the balcony with the bronze bell. Rosalind began pointing things out as they passed. “The music and the art room are down that corridor,” she said breathlessly. “And the staff room’s there too.”
They carried on down the next set of stairs to the entrance hall.
“I promise I’ll show you round properly later on,” added Rosalind. “There’s the hall – you’ve seen that, haven’t you?”
Ella nodded. “Where do we go for lessons?”
“There are lots of classrooms and a science lab around here somewhere,” said Rosalind, waving her arm. “I get a bit lost sometimes because there are so many rooms. That door with the purple crown painted on it is the Throne Room where we do our Royal Skills classes.”
Ella glanced curiously at the door with the purple crown. Her mum had told her a lot about the Royal Skills classes. Those were the lessons where you practised behaving in a royal manner – learning to bow and curtsy.
“Come on! We can look at all that later.” Rosalind pulled her out of the front door and they ran across the garden together.
“Where are we going?” said Ella.
Rosalind grinned. “You’ll see!”
They ran past a row of greenhouses. Then Ella saw Lottie and Summer waving at them from the doorway of a long, wooden barn.
“This is so exciting!” called Lottie. “I wish I was getting one too!”
Ella’s brow wrinkled. “What do you mean? Getting what?”
Summer giggled and stood back from the doorway. “Come inside and we’ll show you.”
Ella stepped into the shadowy barn. At first she couldn’t see much. What was that smell? It made her think of hay and animals.
Rosalind switched on a light. “Welcome to the pet barn!”
“Oh!” Ella stared round the barn in delight. There were pens on one side and rows of smaller hutches on the other. A lamb bleated right next to her, making her jump. The little animal stuck its head over the side of its pen and looked at her nosily.
“What do you think?” said Rosalind, beaming.
“Wow! This is great!” said Ella. “I’ve never seen so many animals in one place.”
“There are guinea pigs, gerbils and hamsters here, as well as the sheep and chickens which belong to the school,” explained Lottie. “Cats and dogs are allowed upstairs in the bedrooms as long as they’re well behaved, and ponies like my Strawberry live in the stables.”
“Birds live in the bird house next door and that’s where my parrot Kanga is meant to be,” said Summer. “Except that he keeps on escaping to come and find me!”
“Hello, girls!” A lady with freckled cheeks wearing jeans and wellies came into the barn. “Ah, is this someone new?” She smiled at Ella.
“I’m Ella,” said Ella shyly. “I arrived today.”
“Lovely to meet you!” the lady replied, brushing mud off her hands. “I’m Rebecca. I look after the pet barn and make sure that all the animals are happy and well looked after. Did you bring a pet with you?”
Ella shook her head sadly.
“But that’s the good news!” Rosalind burst out. “We told Miss Goldwin that you hadn’t got a pet and she said you could choose one of the new baby rabbits and look after it!”
“Really?” said Ella.
“Yes, really!” said Rosalind, grinning.
Ella’s heart lifted. “Oh, thanks! That’s amazing!”
“It was Rosalind’s idea,” said Lottie. “Then Summer found Miss Goldwin and I asked her if it was OK.”
“That sounds like excellent teamwork,” said Rebecca, smiling. “I hope you enjoy choosing a bunny, Ella. I must get on now – the horses need feeding.” With a quick wave, she headed out of the barn.
“Bye, Rebecca!” called the princesses.
“Can I choose a rabbit right now?” asked Ella.
“Of course you can! I’ll show you where they are.” Rosalind skipped down the barn, avoiding a bucket of water that stood by the sheep pen.
Summer and Lottie ran after her and they stopped next to a large hutch that was full of hay.
“Come and look, Ella,” said Summer. “You’re going to love these bunnies. They’re so cute!”