Wakestone Hall chapter sampler

Stella snatched her washbag off its hook and crammed the musical box inside, along with her sponge and her hairbrush. She drew the string closed. The bag looked rather lumpy. She bundled her towel over her arm and hoped Miss McCragg would not notice. She was just in time. Miss McCragg clumped over and yanked open the drawers of Stella’s dressing table. She stirred the contents around, frowning. She poked under the pillow, prodded the mattress, and then moved along to Ottilie’s bed. Stella let out the breath she had been holding. They hurried along to the washroom. The older girls were looking nervous. ‘Someone was out of bed. In the kitchen. In the night.’ ‘It’s against the rules. There’ll be trouble.’ ‘ Shhh ,’ hissed one of the girls, looking anxiously over her shoulder. ‘No talking.’ Stella, Agapanthus and Ottilie exchanged a look. ‘They didn’t see us,’ said Agapanthus under her breath, as they washed their hands and faces in the icy water. ‘Of course not. Nobody saw us.’ Ottilie looked around to make sure none of the big girls were watching them, and then she nudged Stella and beckoned her into the lavatory stall at the end of the row. ‘Quick,’ she breathed.

31