The Secret of Moonacre - SECRECY

Chapter 4

By the time our evening meal had been lovingly prepared by Marmaduke, there was still no news nor sign of Robin. I would have expected at least a note or a pebble on my window sill to give me some indication that he was okay. Non the less, I had come to the conclusion that he had probably gone to the De Noir castle and forgotten, which was actually rather rude.

I bid my goodnight's to Ms Heliotrope and my Uncle before slipping into the library to begin my thorough research. After what felt like hours of searching high and low and through almost every book in the manor, there was absolutely no relation to Duncan anywhere to be found.

My uncle must really want Duncan to be far buried into the ground. 

I kept persevering looking again and again, until I finally gave up and was walking out the door until something caught my eye on the desk. An old book, which I later found to be a journal was open on the wooden desk by the door. There was a tear along the page and underneath was a scrap piece of paper filled with writing. I sat at the desk and studied the journal filled with Uncle's hand writing. Since my thirteen year old self, I had become less nosey and decided not to pry into my Uncle's thoughts and instead read the letter poking out the page.

'Dear Benjamin,

How so, you have been so disrespectful and selfish to this family. You know that when our  awful, old, sorry brother died that the money was passed on to me, being the eldest sibling. But being the selfish brother you are, of course you kept the money for yourself. As the wisest and eldest of this family I shall be paying you a visit in a fortnight, claiming what is rightly mine at long last. Now, brother, don't think setting that niece of yours loose is going to get in my way. I have her under control, she shan't be an issue to me. I am coming in full force, and nothing shall defeat me. Therefore, you have had plenty of warning to find elsewhere to take your family, and I expect a full welcome party.

Best wishes dear brother,

Sir Duncan'

The paper fell to the ground as I became lost for thought. So many things didn't make sense. For one, my father only had one brother, Benjamin. Secondly, he couldn't just come claim Moonacre in a second. Moonacre belonged only to the fairest hearts and kindest souls, and from reading this note, Duncan clearly was not a candidate for taking on such a role in this valley. And in what was could I be under control? I was now a free spirit, no longer running away from fear, nor felt any sense of being watched. 

I was becoming increasingly frustrated. I snapped the paper up from the floor and stormed up to my tower, slamming the door shut behind me and sliding into my chair to begin piecing together this mess. 

Nothing sprang to mind immediately. I thought about asking my mistress. I didn't exactly want to go flaunting this letter to Ms Heliotrope. She would only panic and get indigestion and run to Uncle Benjamin to find answers. Then I would be in trouble. I think Uncle had made it quite clear I was most definitely to stay out of this one. 

Marmaduke would have been the next best person, but I couldn't guarantee his secrecy. Besides, he was probably well on his way home by now. 

A harsh knock on the door startled me and I shoved the letter into the drawer. It definitely wasn't an Uncle Benjamin knock, that was always lightly. Ms Heliotrope would gently tap, and Digweed was normal. This was far more severe, and I could sense the urgency. 

Just in case, I grabbed the candlestick from the bedside table and perched behind the door, almost like the same time Loveday startled me. 

"Who is it?" I said. 

"Who do you think?" The voice replied. 

I rolled my eyes and let down my guard. I opened the door to a right as rain, drenched Robin. I quickly glanced behind him to check that Uncle hadn't heard anything. I feared for what he might do if he knew Robin was here. He was not comfortable with his company, let alone in his own home.