Free The Kingdom of Carbonel by Barbara Sleigh Page A

room. We shall have to think of some way to hide the chair, or Mum will want to know where it came from.’
    â€˜Smuggle it down to the Green Cave for the moment, and cover it with leaves,’ John suggested. ‘But
I’ve
got something to tell
you
!’
    When John described the conversation he had overheard when he was hiding in the half-built house, it was Rosemary’s turn to be impressed.
    â€˜Thank goodness they didn’t catch you!’ she said. ‘Well, it’s quite clear that Mrs Cantrip and that Dibdin woman are hatching some plot with the Queen of the Broomhurst cats. Tudge said that trouble was brewing.’
    â€˜And he thought it was against Fallowhithe!’
    â€˜If they’re meeting tomorrow night on top of the tallest building in Broomhurst, it must be onthat new ten-storey block of offices that Mr Featherstone told us about. I’d give my boots for us to be behind a chimney so that we could listen to what they’re up to.’
    â€˜John!’ said Rosemary excitedly. ‘Why shouldn’t we go?’
    â€˜But they’re meeting in the middle of the night. How could we get on to the roof ? The place would be locked up!’
    â€˜Well, said Rosemary, ‘as Mrs Cantrip said, “there’s other ways than walking”!’
    â€˜John whistled. ‘Do you mean the rocking chair? Do you think it could carry us both?’
    â€˜We could ask it in the morning. I think it’s had enough for one day. Come on, let’s feed the kittens.’
    It was growing dusk when they reached the greenhouse. When they opened the door an unexpected sight greeted them. Blandamour was sitting on an upturned flower pot, and at her feet were the two kittens, both sitting up as straight and still as their royal mother.
    Woppit looked on with her head on one side and a doting expression on her brindled face. ‘Hush!’ she said to John and Rosemary. ‘The little darlings is saying their lessons!’
    In small, piping voices the kittens were repeating:
    â€˜No paw or whisker in the dish,
Whether meat or fowl or fish…’
    Calidor’s voice faltered when a delicious tendril of haddock smell wafted from the plate Rosemary held and tickled his nose.
    â€˜Calidor, pay attention!’ said Blandamour. ‘Each awkward…’
    The black kitten sighed, but went on:
    â€˜Each awkward bone be sure to gnaw
Upon the plate, not on the floor.
Lap your milk from out the platter
From the edge, and do not scatter
Drops from either bowl or mug
On quarried floor or silken rug.
Steady lapping, rhythmic, quiet,
Is correct for milky diet.
After food, wash paws and face,
And don’t forget to purr your grace.’
    â€˜Very good, my children. Now you may eat,’ said Blandamour. ‘But remember what you have repeated. Greetings to you, John and Rosemary. My children are well, and if they are closely confined, no doubt you have your reasons!’
    â€˜We certainly have, Your Majesty!’ said John. ‘It’s like this…’
    Blandamour listened in silence. Only once did she interrupt to summon a grizzled old tabby cat with four white stockings who was sitting in the shadow of the bushes outside.
    â€˜Merbeck, my cousin and chief councillor,’ she said. ‘He too must hear your tale.’
    When the children had finished, she bowed her beautiful white head.
    â€˜You have done well and bravely, and I am grateful. But it will need more courage still to fly to Cat Country and overhear Grisana’s schemings. It may even be dangerous. Merbeck, should we not send a pair of animals instead?’
    Merbeck shook his grizzled head. ‘I think not, Your Majesty. Grisana is wily in her wickedness. Her sentry will be on the alert for foreign cats, but flying humans they will not expect.’
    â€˜Couldn’t I go too, oh, couldn’t I?’ asked Calidor, standing with his short legs spread out and his tail