Free Magenta McPhee by Catherine Bateson

poured.
    â€˜I say,’ Ricardo said in Lady Rosa’s ear, ‘do you think this might be true?’
    Her heart was thumping so loudly she thought everyone would be able to hear it. My father, she thought, my father still alive! But, when she answered Ricardo, her tone was as quiet and calm as her mother’s had been. ‘I have no idea,’ she said, ‘really, these people come out of the woods and declare themselves servants of the Old Ones but half of them are just after money. You know how it is, I’m sure.’
    Ricardo looked down at her. She was paler than ever, he thought, but the slight smile that met his look betrayed nothing of her thoughts. She would make a wonderful wife, he thought – beautiful and clever. What more could a man want?
    â€˜Shall we step outside?’ he asked. ‘The moonlight makes the parapet an inviting place to dally.’
    Lady Rosa swallowed. No man before had asked her such a thing. But it was a good time while her mother’s attention was diverted. It was really now or never. She bent her head and they walked slowly towards the great doors that opened on to the parapet.
    Actually, I wasn’t sure what a parapet was. I googled it and it turned out it was a narrow walkway around a wall. Perhaps a garden would have been a better place for them to pash? But I liked the sound of the parapet. Also, they could lean on the wall and see the castle grounds stretch out in front of them. The moon would shine on them. No, the moon would beam on them while they kissed.
    But how did I write about kissing? What would Lady Rosa feel? I’d never kissed anyone – not like that.
    I tried it on my hand. It just felt strangely as though I was sort of munching my own hand. Yuck. I could probably have gone into the lounge room and spied on some kissing. Trib and Mum were watching some romantic war film in there. But I could hardly go in there with my notebook and make notes.
    There’s always some hitch with writing. Like in the emails from Dad when I’d just think, yes, I’ve got it right, and I’d sail along confidently saying this and that. Then I’d realise Spooky had asked me an unanswerablequestion, like where do you see yourself in five years’ time, Max? What kind of question was that, anyway?
    Why did they have to kiss? Would Lady Rosa enjoy it? Would I enjoy it?
    â€˜You are very beautiful,’ Ricardo said as they surveyed the view before them. It was full moon and the grounds were lit up as though specially for them. Further away, the forest was a shadowy mass of trees.
    â€˜Thank you,’ Lady Rosa’s heart was beating wildly. She thought he might kiss her. The setting was right, the mood was right. Would he?
    As though he knew what she was thinking he took one of her hands and raised it to his mouth, looking at her the entire time. His mouth lingered on her hand. She didn’t try to pull her hand away.
    I left them there because Dad had driven into Mum’s driveway and was tooting.
    I’d decided to warm him up to the idea of meeting Spooky. I’d worked out my plan and put it into action practically as soon as I was in the car.
    â€˜I’m sick of being an only child,’ I told him, ‘it’s boring. There’s never anyone to play with. Like this weekend – Mum and Trib did nothing but discuss wedding stuff. Boring.’
    â€˜Well, I can’t do anything about that,’ Dad said, ‘and nor can your Mum, I wouldn’t think. She wouldn’t wantto start a new family at her age. Babies and toddlers are hard work and kids are just plain expensive.’
    â€˜But you could meet someone who already had a kid,’ I pointed out, ‘that would be ideal. I’d have a stepbrother.’
    â€˜I’m not rushing into a new relationship just to satisfy your demands, kiddo,’ Dad said, ‘and anyway, it wouldn’t necessarily be a stepbrother. I might meet