Free Castle of Shadows by Ellen Renner

of schooling?’
    She shook her head, blushing.
    ‘But you can read, obviously.’
    ‘My mother taught me, before she…’
    ‘I see.’ He paused, his face grown so cold and remote she was almost frightened. ‘I owe you an apology, Charlie,’ he said. ‘I have been so concerned with finding the mother that I forgot about the daughter. Don’t worry. I will rectify my mistake. And now, I’m rather busy today and can’t allow myself the pleasure of seeing you to your quarters. I trust you can find your own way back?’
    ‘But my father? The Republicans?’
    ‘I am well aware of each and every radical organisation at work in this country. They are observed and kept under control. Your father has entrusted the care of the Kingdom to me. I take that charge very seriously.’
    He rose from his chair, and she jumped up, feeling suddenly like a scared rabbit, although she couldn’t imagine why, as he took her hand and bowed over it, smiling at her with real warmth in his eyes. He held the door open, and Charlie almost ran from the room. She had done the right thing, giving him the letter. He wouldfind her mother for her. She knew it. But, kind as he had been, something about Alistair Windlass unnerved her.
    She pounded up the grand staircase, racing past the corporal and his moustaches, the marble and crystal, the pomp and polish and smell of power, without noticingany of it. The only thing she wanted was to get back to her attic. Things were going to happen now. Not just abouther mother. Things about her. She had seen it in Windlass’s face. And Mrs O’Dair was not going to like it. Charlie didn’t know whether to be pleased or terrified.

Nine
    ‘Stand still, girl! How do you expect Mrs Petch to set the hem straight if you keep fidgeting?’
    Charlie looked at the floor and tried not to move. It felt as if she had been standing on this chair in the housekeeper’s office, with Tobias’s mother pinning up the hem of her new dress, for hours. She avoided O’Dair’s eye. For days now, the slightest thing sent thehousekeeper into spasms of fury.
    Charlie had not seen the Prime Minister again, but she thought about him constantly, and about his promise to try to find her mother. He was Prime Minister of Quale. Surely he would succeed. When he did, her life would change again, and Mrs O’Dair would no longer matter.
    Her nose began to itch, but if she raised a hand to scratch it, the housekeeper would shout and poor Rose Petch would tremble with fear. She wrinkled her nose and tried to ignore the itch. The seamstress gave a weary sigh and leant back on her heels. ‘I’ve finished, madam. Shall I help the Princess off with the dress and take it away to hem?’ She cast an anxious glance at Mrs O’Dair, who was seated at her desk writing out the household accounts.
    ‘One moment,’ ordered the housekeeper, rising fromher chair. The seamstress gave a gasp of dismay and scurried to one side as Mrs O’Dair stalked round Charlie with the deadly intensity of a buzzard circling for prey. ‘This silk is far too expensive to allow errors. The Prime Minister would have it, although I told him it was too dear. What a waste!’ she hissed, shooting a vicious glance at Charlie. ‘Very well. You may take the wretched thing away. I want it finished by morning.’
    ‘Yes, madam.’
    Charlie was soon free of the heavy silk. Rose picked up her old clothes.
    ‘You are not paid to help the girl dress.’ Mrs O’Dair had not looked up from her desk, but her voice was heavy with menace. Rose’s hands shook as she bundled her sewing together. She gave Charlie a timid smile and fled the room.
    All the time she was dressing, Charlie felt O’Dair watching her. As she was pulling on her boots, she dared a glance at the housekeeper. O’Dair’s black eyes were fastened on her, glistening with an emotion that made Charlie shiver and look down, her fingers suddenly clumsy as they struggled with the broken laces. She’d always known