Read Julius and the Soulcatcher for Free Online Page B

wife, I’d make you a Major.”’
    ‘Indeed,’ said Mr Flynn.
    ‘I kept the officers in line for the colonel whenwe were stationed in Gibraltar. A kind heart and firm hand was what they needed. Such fine young men. Far away from home, so full of high spirits.’ Mrs Trevelyan appeared to lose herself to her memories. She sighed as she looked at the pictures and trophies on the walls.
    Mr Flynn pulled at his collar as if it were choking him. ‘And how is Emily?’ he asked.
    ‘Emily?’ said Mrs Trevelyan, coming back to the present. ‘Such a dear girl. She exhibits so many possibilities. However, she does continue to be an unfortunate influence on my young ladies. They follow her in every way, Mr Flynn.’
    ‘Oh, I see.’
    ‘They have taken to calling out “oi” to one another, like barrow boys at a bare-knuckle bout. Oh, no offence, Mr Flynn. I’m sure your bouts are of a highly refined variety.’
    ‘Indeed they are, Mrs Trevelyan.’
    ‘Unfortunately, dear Emily has what can only be described as leadership qualities,’ said Mrs Trevelyan.
    ‘I see. And that is to be dis couraged?’ said Mr Flynn.
    ‘Indeed. It is most un becoming.’
    ‘But I’m sure, Mrs Trevelyan, that you have leadership qualities yourself. Qualities sufficient to command a regiment, that the late colonel—forgive me for being so bold—did not find disagreeable,’ said Mr Flynn.
    It was Mrs Trevelyan’s turn to blush. She smiled and twirled the arm of her spectacles between her thumb and forefinger. ‘Oh, Mr Flynn. How gallant you are. Yes, indeed. I am sure you are correct. I have the highest regard for your judgment in all things, as you know. If Emily were to marry a military man her qualities might be put to good use. But, I fear, any other eligible young man might find her somewhat confronting.’
    Julius felt a tickling on he cheeks. He knew he was blushing, but he wasn’t sure why. He hoped Mr Flynn and Mrs Trevelyan didn’t notice.
    Just then a scream rang out from the hallway. Julius jumped.
    ‘One of the young ladies, getting caned?’ said Mr Flynn.
    ‘Certainly not,’ said Mrs Trevelyan, standing to attention. ‘My young ladies receive lines for their transgressions.’
    The scream rang out again. Mrs Trevelyan hurried to the door and opened it. Another scream—louder this time—was followed by much clattering and banging.
    ‘Allow me,’ said Mr Flynn. He hurried past before Mrs Trevelyan could object. Julius followed close behind. In four seconds they were at the foot of the stairs, where a young kitchen maid was screaming in terror.
    Emily ran down the stairs behind them, followed by other schoolgirls. ‘Wot’s the matter, Nell?’ she asked.
    ‘There’s a bleeding flower in the kitchen, miss. It’s trying to kill us all.’
    ‘What is this nonsense?’ said Mrs Trevelyan.
    Mr Flynn looked at Julius.
    Cripes, Higgins. It’s Tock’s orchid.
    ‘Emily, where’s the kitchen,’ said Mr Flynn, above the screaming.
    ‘This way,’ she shouted, and ran along the corridor beside the stairs.
    Julius and Mr Flynn followed. The cacophony of cries and clattering pans grew louder as they ran down a flight of stairs and into the kitchen.
    Julius stared at the chaos through a fog of flour.
    Clara, the assistant cook who had let Emily in the night before, stood in the middle of it all. She was swinging a broom around her head while a fat woman in a cook’s bonnet was wailing and throwing anything she could get hold of.
    ‘Look, over there,’ said Mr Flynn.
    Something scurried along a shelf of jars. It flashed past too quickly for Julius to see clearly what it was. Clara used her broom as a lance to stab at it. Jars fell to the flagstones, shattering and sending up clouds of cinnamon and nutmeg.
    Emily, who had worked her way into the middle of the mayhem, picked up a meat-tenderising malletand held it ready as Julius and Mr Flynn ran past her.
    The scurrying thing leapt from the shelf to the row of bells