Moonlight Secrets (#2 Penderry's Bizarre)

Chapter Four

Bunny settled Pikoo on a nest of blankets and ran her hand over his soft pelt. "I'm sorry, Pikoo, but you must stay here. I promise I'll be back soon."

With a squeak, the mongoose rolled, chasing its own tail. Bunny laughed, then got up and closed the door behind her. She fastened the green ribbons of her cloak under her chin and went downstairs. Two slumbering dogs lay in her path and she stepped over them. Anju followed her along the hallway, arms raised for balance. Like crossing the living floor of a forest, the journey to the front door was full of obstacles. The shaggy-haired breed lifted its head and huffed air through its lips.

"Uncle Appleby, we're going out," called Bunny.

From the sitting-room, his voice rang like a gong. "Stop."

She reached the room and peered around the splintered, brown-stained frame. The air smelled thick with brandy and dog.

Appleby leaned over the side of his chair, reaching for his walking stick. "You're not going anywhere, girl, not after last night's trouble."

"But I must retrieve my belongings. They were in the carriage with Mr Carte."

He snatched his cane and aimed the tip at her, his voice rising an octave. "No, no, no. You're not to go there. Leave the matter to the police."

"But that could take days. It is daylight now, and Anju will be with me. Really, Uncle, no harm will come to us, I'm confident. And besides, we'd like to explore town."

"You don't listen, do you?" he spluttered. "You're not ready to be out there in society."

"It can't be as perilous as the jungle."

"This isn't the jungle, it's worse – it's London." With a flash of temper, he struck the cane on the floor.

To everyone's surprise, the end of the stick snapped and spun through the air. The broken piece of cane fell to the rug, and for a moment they all stared at the spot where it landed. A grandfather clock ticked, filling the silence. Then Bunny took Anju by the elbow and steered her out of the house.

"He's mad," she said when they were outside the house. "Utterly mad."

They hurried up the garden path and opened the screeching gate. Barks rose behind them, snouts and paws pressing against the window. Appleby's shrill commands were wasted on the disobedient pets.

"I'm so sorry I brought you here, Anju. I promise I will write to Papa and get us out of this awful place. Oh, my. You must be so cold."

Anju glanced at her own thinly covered shoulders. "I lost my dupatta."

"Well, that's another reason to get our luggage back today. Here, wear my cloak."

She protested, waving her hands. "No, no, Bunny. I can cope, really. Listen, are you sure this is a good idea? We don't know our way around. How will we find this Orson Carte?"

Bunny pulled a rolled up paper booklet from her cloak pocket and showed her. "The Post Office Directory."

"Where did you get that?"

"Uncle had a copy." She pointed at the cover. "It contains names and residential addresses. I've already found Mr Carte."

"Really?" Anju's eyebrows rose at the prospect of recovering their belongings. In the end, she gave a resigned sigh. "Very well, then, let's go."

They travelled on foot until the suburban streets merged with London's busy West end. At a cab-stand, Bunny asked the driver of a hansom cab to take them to the Carte residence. Soon, they were on route, and passed through a noisy market. Anju watched the town with interest, but Bunny had no true wish to see the dirty city. She huddled in the corner, planning a telegram to her father.