Chapter Five

Lost and Found

Bea sneaked out of the palace with Alfie, who’d decided that going into town without Mr Wells would be a great adventure. Bea had reluctantly left Tiger in her bedroom. The little kitten just wanted to play and Bea worried that if he was taken outside he might scamper off and get lost somewhere.

Bea took the posters and Alfie carried a large roll of sticky tape. They stuck one poster on a lamppost on the main street in town, one by the harbour and one in the park. Then Bea went into the bakery and asked Mr Patel if she could put one up in the window.

“Of course you can, Princess Beatrice,” said Mr Patel. “I wondered where the little kitten had gone. Mrs Brown came to ask if I would look after him but I’m sure you’re doing a much better job.”

Bea blushed. “I hope you don’t mind that I took him with me?”

“Not at all!” cried Mr Patel. “Would you like to take this cat food that I bought? I picked it up from the corner shop just in case.”

“Yes please!” Bea took the packets of cat food. “Thanks for your help.”

Mr Patel smiled. “Good luck with everything, Princess Beatrice.”

Alfie and Bea set off down the main street. “Tiger’s owner is sure to see one of the posters,” said Bea. “I just hope they see it in time.” Her stomach tightened. Her dad would be back tomorrow and he would expect the kitten to be gone from the palace.

“Hold on, there’s one left.” Alfie shook the last poster. “Where shall we put it?”

“We could ask the Makalis if we can put it up in the Sleepy Gull Café.” Bea shaded her eyes to look at the pretty wooden café sitting on the clifftop behind the beach. “We’d better hurry though. If we don’t get back in time for dinner, Mrs Stickler is sure to ask lots of tricky questions about where we’ve been.”

Alfie and Bea climbed the steep cliff path. Patches of sea thrift bloomed beside the footpath like little pink lollipops. The waves made a gentle shhh as they lapped against the beach and seagulls cried as they swooped overhead. At the top, the path led to the café, which had pots of basil and coriander growing beside the door.

The Sleepy Gull Café was one of Bea’s favourite places because her best friend, Keira, lived there. She and Bea had been friends for years and Keira loved visiting Ruby Palace almost as much as Bea loved coming to the café. Keira’s parents, Mr and Mrs Makali, cooked lots of dishes. The spicy spring rolls and crumbly chocolate brownies were among Bea’s favourites.

Bea made her way into the café, breathing in the delicious cooking smells.

“Bea!” Keira ran out from behind the counter. She had smiling brown eyes and her long hair was pulled into a ponytail. “Dad’s been making a fresh batch of tacos. Would you and Alfie like one?”

“They smell amazing! But we actually came to ask you a favour. Please could we put a poster up on your wall?” Bea explained about rescuing Tiger from the tree. “I hope Tiger’s owner will see one of the posters. No one at the Kite Festival knew where he came from.”

Keira’s eyes widened. “Poor little kitten! I’ll ask mum and dad about the poster.” She disappeared into the kitchen.

Bea couldn’t hear their conversation over the sounds of chopping and sizzling. Keira came out a moment later with her mum.

“Of course you can put up your poster, Princess Bea,” said Mrs Makali, straightening her flowery apron. “Then you and Prince Alfie must try some pineapple milkshake. It’s the latest new flavour I’m trying out.”

Bea stuck the poster on the café wall and she, Keira and Alfie drank the delicious pineapple milkshake. Then Bea said goodbye to her friend and they hurried along the cliff path towards the palace. The sun was already sinking in the sky and they didn’t dare be late for dinner.

They took a short cut and climbed into the palace garden, scrambling down a plum tree that grew right beside the wall.

Bea jumped down first and as she landed she spotted someone in a grey jacket moving among the trees. “Hello, is that you, Mrs Cherry?” she called, expecting it to be the palace gardener.

Leaves rustled and the figure moved out of sight.

“That was strange,” said Bea. “Maybe it was one of the grooms from the stables.”

“What was strange?” Alfie twisted round as he jumped from the tree. He lost his balance and landed with a bump. “Ouch! It’s all right – I’m OK.”

Bea noticed a scrape on his leg as she pulled him up. “You’ve cut your knee. Let’s go inside and get you a plaster.”

They’d just reached the palace steps when Mrs Stickler came rushing out of the front entrance. She looked them over with a sharp frown. “Princess Beatrice, before the king left he told me all about the stray cat you brought back here. I’m very pleased to see you’ve followed his orders and got rid of the creature.”

Bea went red. Mrs Stickler clearly didn’t know that Tiger was still inside Bea’s room. “The thing is…” she began, but the housekeeper cut her off.

“There’s nothing worse than having to clear up a lot of mess left by an animal,” Mrs Stickler said sternly.

Bea had been just about to tell the housekeeper that Tiger was still upstairs but she stopped herself. Mrs Stickler disliked animals so much that she might decide to throw the kitten out of the palace immediately.

“Bea, my knee’s starting to hurt. Can you find me a plaster?” Alfie winced as he limped towards the stairs.

“Sorry, Mrs Stickler. I’ve got to go.” Bea rushed after her brother and helped him along the corridor.

Maybe the “Lost and Found” posters would do the trick and Tiger’s owner would come knocking on the palace door. But if they didn’t Bea was determined to keep the kitten safely hidden until tomorrow.