Free Alfie Bloom and the Secrets of Hexbridge Castle by Gabrielle Kent Page A

for inviting us into your humble home, young Alfred. Our chauffeur is waiting. Wouldn’t do to leave the Bentley in view of all and sundry.”
    â€œBloody tree-huggers,” Alfie heard him mutter as they left.
    â€œI’d like to assure you that there are some relatively normal people in the village,” said the red-haired woman with a grin. She held out her hand. “Hazel Reynard. I teach English and history at Wyrmwald House.”
    â€œIt’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Reynard,” said Alfie’s dad. Alfie followed his dad’s lead and shook the teacher’s hand a little clumsily.
    â€œMiss Murkle and Miss Snitch might not have wanted the grand tour, but I’d love to see the library if Alfie doesn’t mind showing me around instead?”
    At that moment a slightly worse-for-wear Gertie Entwhistle dragged Alfie’s dad away to judge whether her beetroot-and-chocolate cake or Mrs Arbuckle’s lemon meringue pie was nicer.
    The twins joined them as Alfie led the way upstairs. Nearing the library, he was surprised to hear voices coming from inside. Miss Reynard put her finger to her lips and they crept towards the door to listen. It sounded as though furniture was being moved and drawers opened and closed.
    â€œThere must be something round here that can tell us where it is and how to open it,” said an irritated voice.
    â€œOf course there is – you’re not looking hard enough,” snapped someone else.
    â€œDo you think there’s a key?”
    â€œThat’s why we’re looking, to find out! Now stop wasting time and keep a lookout. Brats are swarming over this place like ants, and that Merryweather woman seems to be there every time I turn around.”
    Footsteps approached the door. Miss Reynard quickly flung it open and breezed into the room as though in mid sentence. “… and that is the gruesome reason it is called a portcullis. Oh, hello, Miss Murkle. Sorry, did the door hit you? Miss Snitch, how lovely to see you at a social event. Have you met our host and his cousins? They’ll be attending Wyrmwald in September.”
    Alfie was growing more and more impressed with Miss Reynard. Murkle rubbed her bruised nose and glared. Snitch’s voice cut through the silence.
    â€œYes, we have met the boy. I’m afraid we got rather lost and noticed several children running amok in here. We sent them packing and are making sure they haven’t damaged anything.”
    Miss Reynard smiled. “I’m sure Alfie is very grateful.”
    â€œEr, yes, thank you so much,” said Alfie, taking his cue and earning a glare from Snitch that nearly knocked him over.
    â€œWell, everything seems to be in order, so we’ll be going.” Miss Snitch cast one final sharp glance at Alfie as she left the room. Murkle waddled after her as Robin whispered in Miss Reynard’s ear.
    â€œMiss Murkle, I think you forgot something,” she called, pointing at something the headmistress was trying to conceal under her cardigan.
    â€œMy mistake,” spluttered Murkle. “It was on the floor when we came in. I, um, wasn’t sure where to put it.” She grudgingly handed over a roll of paper. Alfie watched them march away down the hallway and wondered what they had really been up to.
    â€œWhat did you take from Miss Murkle?” he asked, when he was sure that they had gone.
    â€œThey appear to be plans of the castle.” Miss Reynard rolled them out carefully on to the table. “I wonder what they were looking for?”
    â€œWhatever it was, it sounds as if they didn’t find it,” said Alfie.
    â€œThat’s true, but it could be a reason to be careful around them. Murkle and Snitch are not the sort of people you want to take an interest in you.”
    Alfie was surprised to hear her refer to the head teachers by their last names alone.
    â€œNow that’s enough about them.” She