In the morning, the four princesses got dressed early before the rest of Seahorse Tower was awake and took Daisy down to the pet barn.
Ella kissed the rabbit’s floppy ears before placing her back in the hutch with her brothers and sisters. She fetched some extra hay for the rabbits and helped Rebecca move the hay bales into another part of the barn. Daisy hopped up and down her run happily with her ears pricked up.
“She’s still got lots of energy even after hopping down all those passageways,” said Lottie, smiling.
“She’s quite an adventurous rabbit,” said Ella.
“Hey – you know what today is?” said Rosalind, suddenly excited. “It’s Pet Picnic Day!”
“Ooh, yes!” said Summer. “I’d forgotten about that.”
“What’s Pet Picnic Day?” asked Ella.
“Every month we have a picnic and the pets come along too.” Rosalind grinned. “And we’re allowed to wear our own clothes instead of school uniform.”
“And the cooks give us the yummiest cakes and jellies for the picnic,” added Summer.
“But the best bit is that each tower takes turns at being in charge and today it’s the turn of Seahorse Tower!” said Lottie.
A shadow fell in the doorway. “Well, you four aren’t going to take part in it!” said Molly. “I’ve told Miss Goldwin that you weren’t in your room at bedtime last night. She’s coming here right now to tell you off.”
Ella’s stomach turned over. Then she noticed Molly’s mean smile and knew she had to say something. “I’m really sorry I knocked you over into the water that time,” she said to the older girl. “But it was an accident and I don’t think it’s fair of you to carry on being angry about it.”
“Well said!” Rosalind folded her arms and glared at Molly.
“I know that captains are supposed to make sure people follow the rules,” added Ella. “But aren’t they also meant to look after new princesses and help them feel at home in Harebell Castle?”
“Yes, Ella,” said Miss Goldwin, stepping into the pet barn. “That’s exactly what they’re supposed to do.” She gazed at the girls with bright eyes. “As it happens, Rebecca has told me how helpful you’ve been here in the pet barn. Was there a good reason for you to be out of bed last night?”
“Yes, Miss Goldwin. There was,” said Ella truthfully.
The Headmistress turned to the older girl. “You see, Molly. There was no need to worry. But perhaps you’d like to come back to my office where we can talk about your job as a Seahorse Captain.”
Molly turned red and muttered, “Yes, Miss Goldwin.” Then she left the barn without looking at Ella and the others.
Miss Goldwin smiled. “Now, as it’s Pet Picnic Day, you’d better start taking these animals outside. I’m sure the rest of your tower will be along soon to help you.”
“Yes, Miss Goldwin,” said the girls.
The four princesses picked up the rabbits one by one and put them in a run on the grass. Then they rushed inside to get changed into their best dresses ready for the picnic.
Ella put on her beautiful cream-coloured dress decorated with green leaf patterns. She added her favourite bracelets and a tiara with gleaming gold flowers.
Rosalind was wearing a dark-blue dress and a golden tiara that sparkled with sapphires. “I like your bracelets,” she told Ella. “They’re really pretty.”
“Thanks!” Ella smiled.
Lottie pulled on a crimson dress with silk sleeves. Then she squashed a ruby tiara on top of her red curls. “We’d better hurry. We don’t want to let the other girls from our tower do all the work.”
“I’m nearly ready!” Summer smoothed her dress, which was edged with red ribbon. Then she quickly brushed her golden hair.
The princesses rushed down to the kitchen where they collected a bundle of picnic blankets and three large baskets. The baskets were filled with sandwiches, sausage rolls and the biggest chocolate cake Ella had ever seen.
They took everything out to the field and began spreading the picnic blankets on the grass. They handed out plates decorated with a starfish pattern and poured glasses of sparkling lemonade for everyone.
The whole school sat down on the picnic blankets to enjoy lunch while their pets played around them. Ella took a bite of delicious chocolate cake. She could see Daisy bouncing up and down, enjoying the fresh air and the warm sunshine.
Lottie’s sister, Emily, and her friends from Coral Tower came to sit with Ella and the others. One girl, Freya, was holding a lovely black cat with blue eyes and white paws.
Freya shook back her blonde plaits and said to Lottie, “Do you remember my kitten, Minky? You were staying at my castle in Northernland when Minky got lost in the snow.”
“Of course I remember!” said Lottie, stroking the little black cat. “I could never forget you, Minky.”
After the picnic, Miss Goldwin organised them into teams ready for a three-legged race and a beanbag race.
Lottie’s pony, Strawberry, trotted up to the fence to find out what all the excitement was about. He shook his long mane and gave a whinny. Then Summer’s parrot flew down to perch on her shoulder, not wanting to miss out on the fun either.
Ella picked up Daisy from her rabbit run and hugged her. She looked round at all the girls and their pets having fun together. The castle looked bright in the sunshine. A gentle breeze blew in from the cliffs where the orange-and-white lighthouse gleamed in the middle of a sparkling blue sea.
“Are you all right, Ella?” asked Rosalind.
“I’m so glad I came here,” Ella told her with a big smile. “I know I’m going to love being a Rescue Princess.”