Page 8 of Fiendish Delights
‘You should have punched him in the face, broken his nose and wrestled the doll from him,’ Hester said. She seriously over-estimated my fighting skills.
‘After all,’ she continued, ‘you managed to stab Humphrey Bridger in the back and stop him from stealing several chests of Jacobean gold, even though he was using blood magic to try and gain the upper hand. If you could beat him, you could have managed to get hold of a single toy.’
‘Those were very different, very specific circumstances.’
Otis nodded vigorously. ‘Don’t forget that Daisy could have ended up in jail for what she did to Humphrey. Violence is not the answer, Hester. I think this is a beautiful thing to do. She’s helping a little girl and a needy witch all at the same time.’
‘Yeah?’ She glared at him. ‘So why don’tyouask the troll for a toenail clipping then?’
Otis paled. ‘Daisy will do that,’ he squeaked. ‘She’s more persuasive than me. And she already knows this troll.’
I eyed them both. ‘Let’s stop with the bickering. I don’t want to spend a long time here. If we’re fast, we can get the clipping from Duchess and be back at the station in time to catch the next train home to Edinburgh.’
Hester nudged Otis. ‘It’s nothing to do with the train. Daisy doesn’t want Hugo Pemberville to know she’s loitering outside his house.’
‘Castle,’ I muttered. ‘He lives in a castle.’
‘Why is there a troll living near Hugo Pemberville’s castle?’ Hester asked with mock innocence.
‘Because,’ Otis said, missing the point, ‘Daisy sent Duchess the troll there to annoy Hugo.’
I stopped my bike, climbed off and leaned it against a fence. The least said about that particular episode, the better. ‘Let’s find Duchess and get this over and done with.’
‘Yes, Daisy,’ both brownies chorused as they exchanged glances.
‘Will you behave yourselves?’
‘Of course,’ Otis said.
Hester shrugged. ‘Maybe.’ It was the most I could ask for.
I walked around the corner, doing my best not to gape as Pemberville Castle came into view. I’d seen photos of the place and I already knew it was grand, but I wasn’t there to play tourist or admire the random vagaries of inheritance. I was on a mission.
Otis gasped. ‘That’s where Hugo lives?’
I ignored him.
‘There are turrets!’ Hester exclaimed. ‘How many bedrooms do you think there are?’
I marched forward, still pretending not to hear.
‘We could knock on the door. We’re in time for afternoon tea.’
‘He’ll have a butler. There will be cucumber sandwiches. And perfectly brewed tea.’
‘And those little macaron things that you see in French patisseries.’
‘And—’
I resolutely refused to look at either of them. Instead I cleared my throat and very loudly called, ‘Duchess!’ I walked to the bridge over the old moat which led to the castle gate. ‘Duchess! It’s me! Your old friend, Daisy!’ There was no answer, not so much as a whisper from the belligerent troll. I tried again. ‘Hello! Duchess!’
Still nothing. Maybe Hugo had found an alternative bridge for Duchess to reside under and persuaded her to leave. I drew as close to the edge of the bridge as I dared and scooted down so I could peer underneath it. The stone arch was angled in such a way that I couldn’t see much, so I shimmied further forward.Please be there, Duchess, I prayed silently.Please.
I’d barely moved more than a couple of inches when a voice drawled, ‘I knew you couldn’t stay away from me for long, Daisy, though I didn’t expect you to prostrate yourself in front of my home to get my attention.’
For fuck’s sake. ‘I’m not here for you.’ I sniffed, refusing to get up or look at Hugo Cumbubbling Pemberville. ‘I’m looking for Duchess.’
‘She’s not there.’
