Wakestone Hall chapter sampler

Stella slipped into the stall, and Ottilie shut the door and ducked down behind the lavatory, peeled back the linoleum, poked her fingers into a knot hole and lifted up a floorboard. Underneath was a small cavity, where the pipe from the lavatory went down under the floor. It was a perfect hiding place. It already contained a little toy rabbit, made of felt and embroidered with coloured silk. ‘See,’ whispered Ottilie, pointing into the cavity. ‘I found it. It’s safe, I think. You can share it, if you want. There’s room.’ ‘Thank you,’ whispered Stella. She took the musical box out of her washbag and placed it in the cavity, beside the rabbit. Ottilie stroked the rabbit with the tip of her finger. ‘My m-mother made him for me when I was little,’ she said. ‘It reminds me of her —’ The dressing bell clanged, making them both jump. Ottilie pushed the floorboard down and flattened the linoleum back into place. They rushed back to the dormitory. Stella took off her nightgown and pulled on clean drawers, chemise, stays, stockings and petticoat, twisting around to do up the buttons and tie the tapes. She pulled the dress on over her head and buttoned it up as quickly as she could. The collar and cuffs were attached with hooks and tiny bone buttons, and they

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