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having to give up her room but she wished that her mother had warned her. And why couldn’t Aunt Violet have given up her room instead? Clemmie stopped at her mother’s bedroom door. She turned the handle and peered inside. Her schoolbag, her doll’s house and all her toys were piled in the corner. She opened the wardrobe. Her mother had hung all of Clementine’s clothes inside and Lavender’s basket was at the bottom. A mattress was made up at the foot of her mother’s bed. And in the corner she noticed a large suitcase.
    Downstairs, the doorbell rang again. As Clementine scurried downstairs, a terrible thought came to her. She hadn’t seen Pharaoh or Lavender for a long time. Her mother would be very unhappy if they’d been locked in one of the guest rooms.
    Clementine opened the front door. A handsome young man was standing on the step. ‘Hello,’ he said. ‘I’m Ryan. The groom.’
    ‘Hello.’ Clementine held the clipboard in front of her. She felt very official and important. ‘Do you want to check which room you’re in?’ she asked. ‘I can’t read much yet. I’m only five.’
    The man took the page and had a quick look.
    ‘Here it is. I’m in the Blue Room.’
    ‘The Blue Room?’ Clementine said nervously. ‘But that’s Aunt Violet’s room.’
    ‘Sorry? Do you think there’s been a mistake?’ he asked.
    Clementine shook her head. ‘No. I’ll show you where it is.’ She marched upstairs feeling quite pleased. If it was good enough for her to give up her room, then it was good enough for Aunt Violet too.

    It wasn’t long before the groom’s parents arrived, completing the wedding party staying at the house. Clementine helped them to their rooms without any assistance from Aunt Violet, who was still making tea.
    Clementine invited everyone to the kitchen – not that Mrs Fox was impressed at all.
    Everyone seemed to know each other, which Aunt Violet found a blessed relief. She hated making small talk. Clemmie was pleased to see that Pharaoh and Lavender had emerged from their hiding place and were now playing a vigorous game of chasings with the three children.
    ‘Clementine, why don’t you take the children and Lavender for a walk in the garden,’ Aunt Violet said testily.
    ‘Oh, I’m not sure about that,’ said Karthika anxiously. ‘It’s getting cold outside.’
    ‘It was not a suggestion,’ said Aunt Violet.
    ‘Let’s go and get your coats, shall we?’ Karthika instructed.
    The telephone rang and Clemmie ran to pick it up. ‘Hello, Penberthy House,’ she said, just as her mother had taught her. ‘Oh, hello Mummy. Is Uncle Digby all right?’

    Her mother could hear the hubbub in the background. ‘What’s happening there, Clemmie?’ she asked.
    ‘Afternoon tea,’ the girl replied.
    ‘In the kitchen?’ her mother asked.
    ‘Yes, Aunt Violet said that it was a pain to have it in the dining room or the sitting room.’
    ‘Oh, good gracious!’ Lady Clarissa fussed. ‘These people are paying very good money to stay at the house. I’m sure they didn’t expect tea in the kitchen.’
    ‘No, Mrs Fox was very cross,’ Clemmie informed her mother quietly, as she didn’t want the woman to hear her.
    ‘Did everyone find their rooms?’ Clarissa asked.
    ‘Yes,’ Clemmie replied.
    ‘Clemmie, I’m sorry about moving you. There was a last-minute change of plans and I didn’t have time to tell you or Aunt Violet. Is she very upset?’
    ‘I don’t know, but she and Mrs Fox had a fight,’ Clemmie explained.
    Lady Clarissa groaned. ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can. Can you ask Aunt Violet to put the legs of lamb in the oven, please? She’ll need to peel the potatoes too – they’re on the sink. Mrs Mogg will be there in a little while – I called and asked her to help with the dinner.’
    ‘Is Uncle Digby all right?’ Clemmie asked her mother again.
    ‘We’re not sure,’ her mother said truthfully. ‘But he’s being very well looked