Free The Madness by Alison Rattle Page A

just the change in the air.
    ‘Still want me to teach you how to paddle, then?’
    Noah held tight to the hound’s leash and looked back at her in surprise. He laughed. ‘Indeed I do! But we shall have to wait until the pier is finished now, won’t we?’
    Marnie shook her head. She stepped towards him and lowered her voice. ‘If you want to see the ocean at its best, meet me on the beach tonight, at eleven.’ She pointed. ‘Over there, beyond the ironworks. The tide’ll be just right.’
    Noah laughed nervously. ‘Tonight? After dark? Will that not be dangerous?’
    Marnie raised an eyebrow. ‘No more dangerous than your great lump of a hound on the loose.’
    Noah laughed at her cheek. ‘But it will be cold,’ he said. ‘And I usually take to my bed by ten o’clock.’
    ‘And where’s your bed?’ asked Marnie. ‘Still in the nursery?’
    Noah opened his mouth to protest. Then shut it again. ‘I’ll see what I can do,’ he murmured. ‘Eleven o’clock, you say?’
    Marnie nodded. ‘I’ll be there anyway,’ she said. ‘Whether you dare to come or not!’ She turned and went back into the hut, her hands shaking slightly as she picked up the last of the towels.
    There was a ripping sound and a shower of wood dust fell on Marnie’s head and shoulders. She looked up to see that Smoaker had pulled the first plank off the roof and was peering down at her through the space.
    ‘What did he want?’ he asked.
    ‘Nothing,’ said Marnie carefully. ‘He was just poking his nose around.’
    ‘Huh! Well, he can bleedin’ well keep his toff’s nose out of our business! Caused us enough trouble already, that family.’ Smoaker grunted as he began to prise the next section of roof off.
    Marnie blinked the dust from her eyes and hurriedly finished packing the towels. She wanted out of the hut quick, before the whole lot fell down around her.

21
    The Journal of Noah de Clevedon
    Clevedon. SEPTEMBER 5th 1868, Saturday
    This morning, a slight breeze blew in through my chamber window and woke me up. There were clouds in the sky too that, at long last, softened the brutal blue of these past weeks. I somehow knew today was going to be different. A change at last from the damnable routine of late.
    I breakfasted well, then waited until Mother took her mid-morning nap before taking Prince – who has been confined to the grounds for far too long – for a walk down to the village.
    I was not altogether prepared for the sight that met my eyes down on the seafront. The place is transformed! The esplanade and beach are barely visible beneath the vast amount of materials that have arrived for the pier. Father will be pleased to hear that progress is being made.
    I was hoping to bump into the girl Marnie, but not quite in the way that I did.
    Prince’s spirits were high and he escaped his leash and ran down the slipway towards the beach, almost knocking the poor girl to the ground. Luckily, she was quite unharmed. She was also much changed in her manner. She was actually pleasant to me! We talked freely for a few moments and she even teased me lightly. There was no coyness about her at all. She is a strange creature, but all the more fascinating for it. She reminded me how I’d asked her to teach me to swim and has dared me to meet her on the beach tonight, after dark!
    I know I should not go. It is against all that is proper. But I also know that nothing will stop me from being there.
    I did not mention her to Mother when she questioned me about my day.

22
    White Silk Stockings
    Marnie was having second thoughts. She wasn’t at all sure why she’d asked Noah to come to the beach. She was mad at herself, if the truth be told. Her night swims were her one precious secret; the only thing she had managed to keep hold of that meant anything to her. Now she had invited a near stranger to share it.
    As Marnie lay at the edge of the bed listening to Ma’s breathing, she thought that maybe she shouldn’t go at all. Let the