The Case of the Spilled Ink Read online

  For Hailey ~ HW

  For Wai Yee with much love ~ ML

  Contents

  Title Page

  Dedication

  31 Albion Street, London

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Copyright

  “You’re really going to go?” Maisie stared at her friend Alice in surprise. “But won’t it be strange? I mean, you’ve never been to school before. And it’s a boarding school! You’ll have to live there, with all those other girls!”

  Alice didn’t answer for a moment. She stroked her white cat, Snowflake, who was stretched out on her lap, and watched Snowflake’s kittens chasing each other in and out of the chair legs. “I know,” she said at last, very quietly. “I’m to go next week. I’m a bit frightened, Maisie, to be honest. That’s why I asked you to come. I wanted to have someone to talk to. I don’t really know what it will be like, living with lots of other girls.”

  Maisie nodded. She didn’t think she would like it at all.

  “But Papa is so happy, and I do very much like Miss Darling – I mean, oh, I still don’t know quite what to call her. I keep thinking of her as my governess, and then remembering that they’re married. But I don’t mind her being my new mother, I think. I want them to be able to go to Italy on their wedding trip, without having to worry about me. And we haven’t any relatives I could stay with, and Papa says I can’t stay in the house on my own, not for three whole months. So school it has to be.”

  “But what happens when they come back?” Maisie asked. “Will you stay at school?”

  “Papa says that I can stay there if I like it, or they’ll find another governess. Miss Darling said she would be quite happy to go on teaching me, but Papa thought that might be strange.” She sighed, and then looked up with a tiny smile. “At least Papa has convinced Miss Prenderby, whose school it is, that I must be allowed to take Snowflake, and Blanche and Lulu. I couldn’t bear to leave them behind.”

  Maisie nodded. She would miss her dog Eddie terribly if she had to go away without him. At the moment he was being looked after down in the kitchens by the cook. He and Snowflake disliked each other very much, and showed it. Maisie just hoped he was behaving himself. She sighed heavily.

  “I’m the one being sent off to boarding school, Maisie!” Alice giggled. “What’s the matter?”

  Maisie gave a little shudder. “Eddie. I only hope he’s behaving. He got us into awful trouble on the way here. We walked past a lady with a little lap dog – you know, a really fluffy one that doesn’t walk, just gets carried everywhere. That was the problem, she was carrying it and I thought it was part of the fur on her jacket! If I’d seen there was a dog I’d have put Eddie on his lead. And it was so tiny, I think Eddie thought it was a rat. You know what he’s like about rats…”

  “Oh dear… Did he chase it?”

  “Not really… He didn’t have to. It didn’t run away, it was too scared. It just stayed snuggled up inside the lady’s jacket while Eddie barked and barked, and tried to jump up at it. He got mud all over her dress.”

  Maisie shuddered as she remembered. “We ran away instead,” she whispered. “She actually started to call for a constable. So I picked up Eddie and just ran!”

  Alice clapped her hand across her mouth. “How awful!” she whispered through her fingers, but her eyes were wide and fascinated. “You do have such adventures, Maisie…” She sighed. “I never have adventures. Even that ghost we thought we’d found when we stayed at that eerie house in the country turned out to be darling Snowflake!” She rubbed Snowflake’s ears, and the white cat purred graciously. “And there certainly won’t be any adventures at Miss Prenderby’s Academy. Papa assures me it’s a most proper establishment.”

  Maisie wrinkled her nose in disgusted sympathy, and Alice nodded sadly. “All the other girls are very ladylike, apparently. There’s even one who’s distantly related to the queen. And three Honourables – you know, the daughters of lords. Papa said Miss Prenderby was extremely keen to tell him that.”

  Maisie frowned. “They aren’t going to be very keen on me visiting then, are they? I don’t look grand enough to hobnob with the daughters of lords.”

  “Don’t worry, Maisie,” Alice assured her quickly. “I made Papa tell her that you had to be allowed to visit me. That’s part of the reason he chose a school in London, after all. I don’t think Miss Prenderby was very happy about friends visiting, but Papa is paying her an awful lot of money. She couldn’t really say no.” She smiled at Maisie and stood up, draping Snowflake over her shoulder like a smart fur stole. “Now you’d better come and see the worst thing about going away. It’s a present from Papa. I can’t bear to leave it!”

  “Can’t you take it with you?” Maisie asked.

  Alice giggled. “Not really. He had it made for Miss Darling and me, so we can spend time as mother and daughter together. It’s in the garden, so we can go out through the kitchens and bring Eddie with us. Snowflake doesn’t really like it outside anyway.”

  It was true – as soon as Alice opened the bedroom door, Snowflake sniffed at the corridor in an unimpressed sort of way, and jumped from Alice’s shoulder back to the armchair. Alice giggled again. “See?”

  Eddie greeted them delightedly in the kitchen, dancing round Maisie as though he hadn’t seen her in months. Maisie inspected him anxiously, but she couldn’t see any telltale meaty stains around his chops – perhaps he’d managed not to steal anything. Although the cook still seemed relieved to see the girls.

  “I’m taking Maisie to see you-know-what,” Alice said mysteriously, and the cook whisked several little packets into a wicker basket and handed it to Alice to take with her. “Don’t spoil your lunch, Miss Alice,” she added, beaming.

  “Where are we going?” Maisie asked, as Alice pattered down one of the paths. For a London garden, Alice’s was huge, with several enormous old trees, a rose terrace and a fish pool with a fountain.

  “You’ll see! Oh, and don’t let Eddie go after the goldfish, Maisie, he’ll fall in!”

  Maisie hurried over to the pool, where Eddie seemed to be considering trying to walk on the lily pads, and scooped him up. Then she chased after her friend.

  Close to the high stone wall at the end of the garden stood a giant tree, an oak, Maisie thought, though she wasn’t certain. Trees were not something she had studied. Although I probably should do, Maisie decided, frowning to herself. She was quite sure that her hero, the great detective Gilbert Carrington, would be able to identify a tree from just a fragment of leaf. And who was to say it wouldn’t be a vital clue in an investigation of her own, one of these days?

  “Look!” Alice squeaked, pointing excitedly up into the tree.

  Maisie peered among the new green leaves and gasped. High up in the branches was a tiny house, perfect and painted white. It looked like something out of a fairy tale.

  “There are steps, you see,” Alice explained. She pulled Maisie by the hand up the little staircase built around the trunk, and Eddie scampered after them. “There! Isn’t it lovely?”

  Maisie gazed at the little room, her eyes wide. It reminded her of Alice’s doll’s house – the way that everything was so small. Except this doll’s house had a table and chairs they could sit on, and a real little stove with a shiny copper kettle on it. It was the prettiest toy she had ever seen.

  “Of course, it’s rather sad that I have to go away just when it’s finished,” Alice sighed. “But in the summer, when Papa and Miss Darling – Mama, I mean – when they’re back, then i
t will be lovely…”

  She sounded sad, and Maisie patted her hand. “Perhaps you’ll be able to invite your friends from school here,” she suggested.

  “Maybe. They all sound so stiff and grand, those Honourables. Not fun like you, Maisie. Oh, what if I hate it?” Alice clutched Maisie’s hands, her eyes filling with tears.

  “You won’t,” Maisie told her firmly. “But if you do, I’ll come and help, somehow. Your papa said I can visit, didn’t he? They won’t let me come every day, I shouldn’t think, but you can send for me. You can … ummm … hang a signal out of your window!”

  Maisie’s last case had been a series of daring art thefts, and the gang had been caught when Maisie cracked the signal code they were using, which involved next door’s washing line. Admittedly, she had thought she was solving a mystery about stolen washing, and she’d come across the art thefts almost accidentally, but she had still managed to identify the thieves!

  “Oh yes!” Alice nodded excitedly. “Then it would be like a real adventure! Papa told me my sitting room will have a nice view of Russell Square. If I need you I shall hang out my blue bonnet, the one that tickles my ears. I never wear it. It’s a very bright blue – you couldn’t miss it. Do you promise you’ll watch for it? The school isn’t all that far from here, but it’s a long way, over to Bloomsbury, if you’re walking…”

  Maisie shrugged. “I’m used to running errands, it won’t matter. You only think it’s a long walk because you go everywhere in your carriage, or your papa takes you in a hansom cab! Don’t worry, Alice. I can come past every day, if you like.”

  Alice hugged her. “Oh, Maisie, that does make me feel better. Even if I don’t see you, I shall know you’ve been to check that I’m all right. My own personal detective!”

  “Gran, can I go and visit Alice at school? She’s been there two weeks now, and I promised I’d go and see her. I’d have liked to go before, but Alice said the school doesn’t allow too many visitors, in case the girls get homesick.”

  “I don’t like the thought of you going over that way,” Gran murmured, as she peeled potatoes over the sink. “Mr Lacey may think it’s good enough for Miss Alice, but I wouldn’t send you to a school there, Maisie.”

  “I wouldn’t like to guess how many guineas that school costs,” Maisie giggled. “It’s an Academy for Young Ladies, if you please. I don’t think the lodgers’ rent would stretch to it, Gran.”

  “Don’t remind me.” Gran sighed. “We still haven’t let that second-floor room, remember. We’re watching the pennies. But even if that school is dear, I don’t like to think of Miss Alice near those rough, dirty places. Russell Square may be smart, but it’s far too close to some very unsavoury streets. You’re not to go near Seven Dials, Maisie, do you hear me? Murders and all sorts happen round there.”

  “I won’t, Gran, I promise. I know about the murders – Gilbert Carrington solved a most awful bloodthirsty murder, don’t you remember? When there was a foot left in the bottom of the stove!”

  Gran put her hand to her mouth in horror, and Maisie realized she wasn’t actually doing her own argument much good. “Besides,” she added hurriedly, “it isn’t even on the way.”

  Gran sniffed, as though she thought the dreadful Seven Dials might act like a magnet for someone as nosy as Maisie. She didn’t really approve of Maisie’s detecting habits.

  “I’ve finished all my jobs now, Gran. Please can I go?” Maisie begged. “Alice said in her letter that I could come any time this afternoon.”

  “Oh, I suppose so. Do you know how to get there?”

  Maisie nodded, trying not to smile. Gran didn’t know that Maisie had walked past Miss Prenderby’s Academy every day for the last two weeks, just as she had promised Alice. But she hadn’t been anywhere near Seven Dials. Gran was right. The difference between smart Russell Square and the narrow, dirty streets only a few minutes closer to the river was shocking. Even Eddie thought they smelled bad.

  Russell Square itself was lovely, Maisie thought, as she and Eddie walked past the fenced gardens. The houses were tall and much smarter than those in Albion Street. Miss Prenderby’s house was not one of the largest, but it still looked grand to her. Little iron balconies, with pots of flowers standing on them, ran along the glittering windows.

  She and Eddie walked up the freshly whitened steps which led to the double front door. By the side of the door was a glowing brass plate, which read Miss Prenderby’s Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

  It was all a bit daunting, and Maisie began to wish that she hadn’t brought Eddie with her. He was sitting next to her on the top step, giving his ears a good scratch. He did not look like the sort of dog who visited young ladies of quality.

  But she had been invited, Maisie reminded herself firmly. She banged the shiny brass door knocker firmly, and smiled at the maid who came to answer it. “Miss Lacey, please. She’s expecting me.”

  “Oh…” The maid, who wasn’t all that much older than Maisie, looked doubtful about this. And particularly doubtful about Eddie. “What name shall I say then?”

  “Maisie. Maisie Hitchins.” Maisie did her best to ignore the way the girl was looking her up and down, and went on smiling politely.

  “You’d better follow me…” the maid started to say, but she was interrupted by a delighted yelp that echoed through the dark entryway. She stepped back hurriedly, as Alice flung herself down the stairs and hugged Maisie.

  “Miss Alice…” the maid murmured, beckoning Maisie in hurriedly. “You’ll have Miss Prenderby complaining. Get inside, do.”

  Several other girls popped their heads round a door down the hallway and stared. Maisie could hear them whispering.

  “Who’s she?”

  “Is she a new pupil?”

  “Of course she isn’t! Look at the state of her dress!”

  This last comment was followed by a chorus of giggles, and Maisie went pink and tried to pretend she hadn’t heard. There was no point telling these posh girls what she thought of them, and getting herself thrown out before she’d even had the chance to speak to Alice.

  “Just ignore them, stupid little gossips,” Alice said crossly. “Come up to my rooms, Maisie. Lizbeth, may we have tea, please.” She swept Maisie away towards the stairs, glaring at the girls still nosying round the door.

  Alice seemed to have grown bolder, Maisie thought, smiling to herself. She hadn’t been used to spending time with other girls at all, but now she was holding her own. Maisie stared back at the girls as they went past, noting in surprise that the littlest of them looked no more than five years old. Who on earth would send such a tiny child away to school? Even a very smart school…

  “Forget the dress, just look at that dog,” someone sniggered, and Maisie whipped round to see the oldest of the girls smirking at her. A very tall, pretty girl, older than Maisie and Alice, but not by much. She had glossy black ringlets, and her dress was very smart, with a lace collar. Maisie disliked her at once.

  “Ignore Bella, she’s horridly rude,” Alice said quite clearly, pulling Maisie away and up the stairs. “Come on, Eddie darling. You shall have a biscuit.” She glowered at the dark-haired girl as she said it.

  “Are they all like that?” Maisie asked in dismay, as she followed Alice into her pretty sitting room. Snowflake stood up on the armchair and hissed furiously at Eddie.

  “No, it’s really only Bella, but some of the others copy her. Though she’s mean to them too, half the time.” Alice sighed. “Ow, Snowflake! Don’t scratch. You know quite well you don’t like Eddie, you’ll be much better off in my bedroom.” She shooed the kittens in too, and closed the door. “Most of the girls are perfectly nice, though I do miss having someone as sensible as you to talk to, Maisie. People make the most dreadful fuss about things here.”

  “What sort of things?” Maisie asked curiously, but they were interrupted by a quiet knock on the door, and a girl their own age backed her way in with the tea tray.

  “Oh, this is
Florence!” Alice sprang up to clear books off the little table. “Florence, this is my friend Maisie.”

  Florence put the tray down, and bobbed a curtsey to Maisie, which made her feel quite strange. She wasn’t used to being curtseyed at.

  “Florence, what’s the matter?” Alice asked worriedly. The girl’s nose was bright pink, and her cheeks were wet. She wrung her hands together, and then dabbed at her face with her apron. She looked exhausted, and so thin, Maisie thought.

  “Nothing, Miss,” Florence whispered. “Just Miss Bella. She made me spill the milk, Miss. I’m sorry, I’ll go and fetch some more.”

  “Oooohh! That girl!” Alice said furiously. “I wish I could slap her, Florence, I really do.”

  Florence smiled at her. “Don’t you dare, Miss Alice. It’s very kind of you, but you’ll get in trouble. Oh, and Miss Amaryllis says have you seen her best dancing slippers?” she added. “They’ve disappeared, and she’s making ever such a commotion about them.”

  “She probably just put them down somewhere and forgot,” Alice suggested, but she looked worried. “I don’t mind the milk, Florence, we’ll manage with what there is. You’ll be in trouble if you go back for more, won’t you?”

  “Yes, Miss. Thank you, Miss,” Florence said, backing out gratefully.

  “Poor thing,” Alice muttered. “She’s an orphan. She came here just before I did from the Foundling Hospital and she has to work so hard.”

  “What was that about Miss Amaryllis?” Maisie asked.

  Alice frowned. “She’s the girl who has the next room. Can’t you hear her?”

  Maisie listened. Someone next door was stomping about, and wailing, and quite possibly throwing things.

  “I’ll go and see if she’s all right in a minute, but I might let her calm down a bit first.”