Clementine Rose and the Famous Friend 7 Read Free Page B

too. The Rose Room had received the most attention over the years and was by far the loveliest of all.
    Clementine couldn’t see where the voice was coming from. ‘Excuse me, Miss Richardson, but where are you?’ she asked as she walked into the room.
    â€˜S-s-stop right there,’ the voice stuttered. ‘What is your name and why are you here?’
    â€˜I’m Clementine and I live here.’
    â€˜Nobody told me there were children. Are you the only one?’ The woman sounded nervous and a bit cross too.
    â€˜Yes, except when I have friends over to play. Sometimes I have sleepovers with Poppy and Sophie, and Jules comes too,’ Clementine explained.
    â€˜Why did you come? Where’s your mother?’
    â€˜She’s running my bath and Aunt Violet has gone to bed with a headache, but that’s just because she didn’t want to do the washing up. Uncle Digby was answering the front door and helping the man with a delivery, so there was only me left,’ said Clementine.
    â€˜Go away. I don’t want to see you. I don’t want to see any children at all.’
    â€˜Why?’ Clementine asked.
    â€˜I have my reasons.’
    â€˜Aunt Violet doesn’t like children very much either but I think I’ve grown on her – at least, that’s what Mrs Mogg said to Mummy,’ Clementine said.
    â€˜I didn’t say that I don’t like children,’ the woman said, her voice softening a little.
    Clementine frowned in confusion. ‘I just came to see what you wanted. If it’s a cup of tea you’ll have to wait for Uncle Digby because I’m not allowed to make it yet. But if you want a glass of water or a biscuit or a piece of cake, I could get that. So long as I don’t have to use the big knife.’
    She craned her neck around the nearest bedpost. At last she spotted the woman. Miss Richardson was sitting at the writing desk but Clementine could only see the top of her grey head.
    â€˜I don’t want anything. Now off you go,’ said Miss Richardson. She still hadn’t turned around.
    Clementine was about to ask Miss Richardson about her book when she heard her mother calling her name.
    â€˜What are you waiting for? Shoo!’ the old woman quavered.
    Clementine reversed out of the room and closed the door.
    â€˜Clemmie, what were you doing in there?’ Lady Clarissa demanded. She had searched everywhere for the girl.
    â€˜Miss Richardson rang the bell and Uncle Digby had gone to see who was at the front door and Aunt Violet had gone to bed so there was only me.’
    â€˜Did you find out what Miss Richardson wanted?’ Lady Clarissa asked.
    Clementine shook her head. ‘She wouldn’t tell me. I don’t think she likes children much.’
    â€˜Oh dear. Go upstairs and hop into the bath while see what I can do here. I’m sure that Miss Richardson has her reasons for not wanting to talk to you. You just have to remember that not all grown-ups are fond of children,’ said Lady Clarissa.
    Clementine nodded. ‘I know that. I live with Aunt Violet.’

By Friday morning Clementine hadn’t seen any more of the mysterious Miss Richardson. She had tried to accompany her mother or Uncle Digby to deliver trays of food or freshly washed clothes to the woman, but she was sent away each time. As the week wore on more guests came to stay, so Lady Clarissa and Uncle Digby were kept very busy. Aunt Violet was left in charge of getting Clementine to and from school each day.
    â€˜Do you think there’s something wrong withMiss Richardson?’ Clementine asked from the back seat of Aunt Violet’s shiny red car as they sped towards school on Friday morning. ‘Maybe she’s allergic to sunshine or something.’ Clementine gasped. ‘Maybe she’s a vampire!’
    Clementine had heard of vampires only recently. Tilda and Teddy were so disappointed that there were no ghosts at