'Shall we go for a walk around the village?’ Lady Clarissa asked Clementine as they climbed the stairs to their room.

Clementine nodded. ‘Will Aunt Violet and Uncle Digby come too?’

Her mother shook her head. ‘Uncle Digby’s going to have a lie down and I suspect Aunt Violet might be planning a rest too.’

‘Is Uncle Digby all right?’ Clemmie’s voice was anxious. Since he’d spent time in hospital earlier in the year, she worried a lot about the old man.

‘Oh, yes, darling. I think the drive just took it out of him – and having the car break down was a little bit stressful.’

‘Especially with Aunt Violet there,’ said Clementine.

‘Yes, especially with Aunt Violet there,’ her mother agreed.

The pair walked along the hall to their room at the front of the hotel. It had a beautiful view over the harbour. Aunt Violet’s room was even bigger, with a bay window seat. Uncle Digby’s room was on the other side of the hall, looking over the back garden.

Lavender appeared to be snoozing in her basket. But as soon as Clementine picked up the sparkly red lead that was hanging on the wardrobe door, the tiny pig scrambled to her feet and danced about at the child’s knees.

‘Someone’s keen to go exploring,’ said Lady Clarissa as she grabbed a pink cardigan for Clementine and threw a white jacket around her own shoulders.

Clementine snapped Lavender’s lead onto her collar and the trio set off.

Downstairs, they bumped into Mrs Dent, who was balancing a stack of plates from the dining room.

‘Have a good walk,’ the old woman said with a smile. She carried on into the kitchen.

‘Oh, I forgot the camera,’ Lady Clarissa said. ‘I’ll just dash up and get it.’

Clementine was left standing on her own in the entrance hall. ‘Mrs Dent’s lovely, isn’t she, Lavender?’ Clementine said to the little pig. ‘But I’m not sure about Della. I don’t think she likes me.’

The floorboards creaked and Clementine spun around. She saw a face peeking out from one of the doorways. It was Freddy.

The boy’s blue eyes widened underneath his mop of blond hair. ‘Is that a pig?’

Clementine nodded. ‘Her name’s Lavender.’

‘She’s cute,’ the boy replied as he took some tentative steps towards them. He knelt down and gave Lavender a rub on the neck.

The little pig repaid him by nibbling his fingers.

‘That tickles,’ he giggled. ‘Is she a piglet?’

‘No,’ Clementine replied. ‘She’s a teacup pig.’

‘Cool!’ said the boy. ‘I’ve never seen one before.’

‘Where’s your sister?’ Clementine asked.

‘She’s making up a dance,’ said Freddy. ‘She does that all the time.’

‘I love dancing,’ Clementine said.

Lady Clarissa walked towards the children. ‘Hello, Freddy.’

The lad looked up and smiled. ‘Hello. Are you going for a walk?’

Clementine nodded.

‘Can I come?’

Clarissa looked at her daughter and raised her eyebrows ever so slightly. Clementine smiled and nodded.

‘Yes, of course, but you’ll have to ask your grandmother,’ Clarissa said.

The boy dashed to the kitchen. He was back in no time, grinning. ‘Granny said I could go.’

‘What about your sister?’ Clarissa asked. ‘Do you think she’d like to come as well?’

Freddy shook his head firmly. ‘No. She’s busy.’

‘You can be our tour guide,’ Clementine said.

Freddy nodded. ‘Can we go now?’

Lady Clarissa thought the lad was awfully eager to get moving. He rushed down the hall and wrenched open the front door.

‘Come on, there’s a lot to see,’ the boy said as he held the door open for Lady Clarissa, Clementine and Lavender.

As Freddy pulled it shut behind him, a shrill voice screeched, ‘Freddy, where are you? You’re supposed to be helping me with my dance.’

There was the sound of a door slamming and pounding feet on the stairs.

Clementine looked back at the house. ‘I think that was your sister.’

‘I didn’t hear anything,’ the boy replied and bounded off down the garden path.

Clementine looked at her mother, who shrugged, and the pair kept walking.