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With trembling fingers, I copied down the letter into my case book.

"Done." I told Daisy. "Let's go and show the others!"

"Yes!"

We dashed across the hall, our hearts pounding. All of a sudden, Hetty appeared round a corner, almost slamming into us.

"Girls!" She exclaimed, straightening her maid's cap over her frizzy red hair. "What on earth are you doing?! I haven't seen you all morning! Your not... up to something are you?

"No, no! Of course not!" Daisy replied innocently. "Oh, also, could you inform Mrs Doherty that we'd like to share some tea with her in our bedroom? Thank you, Hetty! You're a real brick!"

And we raced off again without looking back.

Hardly soon enough, we found George and Alexander, sifting through a pile of clothes left on the floor of what must have been Francis' bedroom.

"Did you find anything?" They asked optimistically when they saw us.

"Rather!" We answered.

I explained what we'd found, Daisy butting in every now and then.

"Wow!" Alex said when we'd finished. "Geez, great job guys!" He hugged me.

I laughed, catching my breath.

"Well this just about solves the 'case'!" George pointed out. "Great work you two!"

"Miss Daisy? Miss Hazel?" We just about heard someone call from on the landing.

"Oh drat!" I hissed. "We told Mrs Doherty we'd like to have tea with her in our bedroom!"

"Well we can't let her see we've been in Francis' bedroom!" Daisy replied.

"Hurry!"

I crept quickly to the door, and opened it slowly. We all peeped out and tried not to gasp: Mrs Doherty was just across the hallway - there was no way to get to our bedroom without her seeing! We all stumbled backwards into the room and shut the door.

"Now how do we get ou-" I began, but I realised mid-sentence how we would have to get out.

We all turned the window and back to each other in unison.

"Honestly, you'd think I'd be used to it by now, but I'm not." I sighed. "Let's go. Quickly!"

We unlatched the window and squeezed out one by one. We clambered along the way we came last night, my legs shaking despite the familiarity of the route. At last, we caught sight of the familiar white and yellow stripy curtains of mine and Daisy's bedroom. Unfortunately, they were still drawn, and so we couldn't see if Mrs Doherty or anyone else was inside.

George knelt down close to the slightly ajar window and listened.

He gave a firm nod. "No one's there."

He then tried to fit his hand through the gap and open the window further, but it wouldn't fit.

"Ach!" He said. "Someone else try - my hands are too big."

"Allow me." Bragged Daisy.

She slipped her dainty hands through the gap, unlatched the window, and opened it wide. We shuffled in, hushing each other frequently to check for footsteps. All four of us settled down around the tea table, pretending that we'd been here for ages.

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Hi it's me again (sorry)
Did ya see what I did earlier? Share some TEA? Like, ya know? Tea... tea? Yes? No?

Thanks @AHardox for adding this to your reading list 'Best Books'!!!!!!!! :)
I don't deserve this really! Thank you so much!!

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