Silas and the Winterbottoms Read online

  ‘Uncle Silas brought Mangrove here for a reason,’ she explained. ‘He’s old, Milo – really, really old – and he has all these crazy ideas about the human soul. See, he’s invented some sort of chamber, only that chapter was torn out of the book and I don’t know what it does. What I do know is that Uncle Silas is planning something really bad . . . and somehow we’re a part of it.’

  Milo looked at her doubtfully. ‘Crazy scientists, hidden shelves, missing chapters – why should I believe any of this?’ he said bluntly. ‘For all I know this is just some insane story you and Isabella whipped up to trick me.’

  ‘Isabella has been working against me since I got here,’ declared Adele. ‘What I’m telling you is true. Look around, Milo: Uncle Silas has locked us up, the phones aren’t working. He has sealed us off from the world. Do you really think he invited us here out of the goodness of his heart? We’re trapped on this island, Milo. We’re trapped whether you want to believe it or not.’

  ‘I can leave any time I want to,’ said Milo.

  ‘No, you can’t,’ said Adele sadly. ‘The truth is . . . I don’t think Uncle Silas intends for any of us to leave. Not ever.’

  Milo saw the certainty and terror on his cousin’s face and it scared him to death.

  ‘You know how I feel about Uncle Silas,’ he said, sitting down next to her on the bed, ‘and the truth is, I have my own suspicions about him. You’ve heard about the car accident that killed his fiancée, Lady Bloom?’

  Adele nodded. ‘She left him Sommerset in her will.’

  ‘Well, I’m not so sure it was an accident. I don’t have proof yet, but I’m working on it.’

  ‘We need to stop him, Milo,’ said Adele more urgently. ‘Dr Mangrove is building something in the basement – I heard Mrs Hammer and Bingle talking about it. Only I haven’t found a way down yet. I know where the blueprints for the house are hidden but I’m going to need your help making sense of them.’ She held out her hand. ‘Come with me and I’ll show you.’

  Milo hesitated but only for a second. He realised there was really no choice but to work with Adele. Uncle Silas was planning something horrendous and he had to be stopped – it seemed their very lives were at stake.

  With a brief nod of his head Milo got up and climbed onto the ledge with his cousin.

  Trying hard not to look down, Adele jumped first, grabbing the thick bough directly above her head. She moved easily between branches and reached the outer limbs of the tree’s summit in moments.

  Following his cousin’s lead, Milo jumped out towards the sycamore. He landed clumsily, thumping his hip against a thick knot on the tree branch. He steadied himself, down on his hands and knees like a cat. Carefully he craned his neck, as if he were howling at the moon, and spotted Adele in the upper branches.

  ‘Come on,’ Adele whispered. ‘It’s easy once you start!’

  ‘If you say so,’ he replied doubtfully.

  Shakily Milo crawled along the large twisted bough. He grabbed a nearby limb and managed to get onto his feet, splaying his legs along the branch to steady himself. With trembling hands he grasped the limb above and slowly pulled himself up. Before he was even aware it was happening, Milo was climbing swiftly through the tree.

  When he finally reached Adele his arms were aching.

  ‘Did I mention I’m scared of heights?’ he whispered, his breathing rapid.

  Adele smiled. ‘You did great.’

  ‘If it’s okay with you,’ said Milo with a grin, ‘I’d really like to get out of this tree.’

  ‘We just need to climb up to that next branch,’ she said, pointing the way. ‘We can reach the window on the second-floor landing from there.’

  Milo stood up and took his hand from the overhanging branch as he adjusted his footing. ‘Lead the way,’ he whispered. ‘The sooner I’m on solid ground –’

  Silence.

  Adele looked over. He was gone. His muffled screams exploded from below her and Adele looked down just in time to see her cousin smash against a thick branch and tumble down, his body jolting as he hit the ground.

  ‘MILO!’

  Adele swung from limb to limb until she was low enough to leap to the ground. She knelt over Milo’s body, his arms and legs twisted and tangled like a rag doll. A river of blood flowed from underneath his body.

  She screamed and lights began to illuminate like spot fires all over Sommerset House.

  AFTERMATH

  ‘He is dead,’ said Isabella, tears pooling in her blue eyes

  ‘No, don’t say that!’ cried Adele. ‘Milo can’t be dead.’ She slumped down onto the floor outside Milo’s bedroom and leaned her head against the wall.

  ‘What on earth were you two doing up a tree?’ Isabella asked her cousin yet again. ‘It does seem very strange, Cousin.’

  ‘I told you . . . we were just talking,’ was all Adele could manage in response.

  ‘Talking in a tree at midnight?’ said Isabella. Then she smiled softly. ‘Poor Adele! You must feel so dreadfully guilty. After all, Milo wouldn’t be lying in there close to death if you hadn’t made him climb that silly tree.’ She patted her on the head. ‘Still, you mustn’t blame yourself.’

  Adele covered her face and began to cry. It was all her fault and she knew it.

  When the medical team arrived from the hospital they immediately braced Milo’s neck and had him moved upstairs to his bedroom chamber for a thorough examination. It was early afternoon before his door opened again.

  Both girls looked up at the same time as Rosemary stepped out into the corridor.

  ‘How is he?’ cried Adele, jumping to her feet.

  ‘Milo’s dead, isn’t he, Aunt Rosemary?’ Isabella wailed. ‘That poor little orphan has crossed over to the spirit world!’

  ‘He hasn’t crossed anywhere,’ said Rosemary firmly. ‘Your cousin is alive and well but he has been badly injured. He has a broken leg and a lot of bruising on his back and arms. You can go in and see him – but only one at a time. Doctor’s orders.’

  ‘He’s going to be all right?’ asked Adele anxiously.

  ‘He will be.’ Rosemary wiped the tears from Adele’s face. ‘He’s asked to see you.’

  ‘He has?’ Adele’s eyes widened. ‘Is he angry with me?’

  Her aunt smiled. ‘Go and find out for yourself.’

  As Adele approached the bed she studied Milo carefully – his black hair falling lazily around his face, his plastered leg propped up on a pillow. There were cuts on his chin and a bruise on his left cheek. One of his fingers was bandaged and she saw a dark purple bruise covering his right arm like a tattoo.

  ‘Are you . . . does it hurt much?’ she asked.

  ‘No,’ said Milo, ‘not too much. Just a little.’

  ‘Milo, I’m so sorry,’ she said, tears once again falling down her face. ‘You are hurt because of me. You could have died! This is all my fault!’

  ‘No it’s not, Adele,’ said Milo firmly. ‘It was my choice to climb out that window, no-one made me do it.’ He glanced over at the group of nurses and doctors who were busy packing away their equipment and lowered his voice. ‘Besides, we had a good reason for being out there last night. Nothing’s changed, Adele – we still have to stop Uncle Silas.’

  ‘I was hoping you would say that,’ said Adele, relieved. ‘In fact, I have an idea that just might work. Listen –’

  Just then the door opened and Bingle entered the room. Stiffly he crossed the floor and stood against the far wall with his arms folded behind his back.

  ‘Um, Bingle,’ said Milo, after a few moments, ‘what are you doing?’

  ‘Your uncle has asked that I keep an eye on you.’ He smiled but it was hardly convincing. ‘Just to make sure you don’t suffer a relapse. Don’t worry, Master Milo, you won’t even know I’m here.’

  ‘I don’t need a babysitter,’ said Milo.

  ‘Of course not,’ agreed Bingle. ‘This is purely a precaution. As you know, Master Milo, there is an assassi
n running about the place and I suppose your uncle is worried.’

  Realising that they no longer were able to speak privately, Adele announced that she had better leave so that Isabella could come in and visit.

  ‘Thanks for coming,’ said Milo. ‘And remember, none of this is your fault.’

  ‘I’ll try. Thanks, Milo.’ Adele leaned down and kissed her cousin on the cheek. ‘I’ll come back after dark,’ she whispered in his ear. ‘Leave the window open. We don’t have much time left.’

  ‘You have seen the boy?’

  ‘I have. Bingle alerted me as soon as the medical team returned to the hospital,’ said Dr Mangrove, placing his medical bag on a table beside Silas’s bed. ‘Milo was given a sleeping pill with his dinner so there was no danger.’

  ‘Will he recover fully?’ said Silas tensely.

  ‘He will,’ confirmed the doctor. ‘Apart from his injuries, the boy is in perfect health.’

  A look of relief swept across Silas’s ashen face. ‘We can proceed then.’

  ‘Most definitely.’

  ‘Now tell me about the elixir,’ said Silas. ‘Were you able to salvage any of the roses my idiotic niece cut up?’

  ‘Most of them,’ said Dr Mangrove. ‘However, it was a complicated matter. The cell structure of the Phoenix Rose is very temperamental. Extracting the elixir was never going to be easy.’ His small eyes clouded over. ‘If only I had more of the Panacea; from that miraculous plant all things are possible. As it is, I have barely enough to survive the year.’

  ‘We will get more, Mangrove,’ said Silas with certainty. ‘You have my word. But the elixir . . . there is enough for our purposes?’

  ‘Yes . . . but only just.’ Dr Mangrove pulled the small glass bottle from his jacket and held it up to the light. ‘This is all we have – every drop.’

  ‘Give it to me,’ said Silas, eyeing the elixir greedily. He held out his trembling hand and Dr Mangrove gently placed it on his palm.

  ‘Every single drop is precious,’ the doctor reminded him. ‘It has taken several lifetimes to finally produce a perfect batch.’

  Silas eased his frail body up and placed his bony finger under the side table next to his bed. A wooden panel slid back from the headboard. Silas placed the elixir into the compartment before shutting it again.

  ‘When can we begin, Doctor?’

  ‘The chamber should be ready by tomorrow.’

  Silas smiled darkly. ‘Excellent.’

  THE WAY DOWN

  After dinner Adele returned to the eastern wing and knocked on Milo’s bedroom door. As usual Bingle answered.

  ‘Yes, Miss Adele?’

  ‘I’ve come to see Milo,’ she told him, trying to peek over Bingle’s shoulder to catch a glimpse of her cousin.

  ‘I’m sorry, Miss Adele, he is still sleeping.’

  ‘You said that three hours ago,’ said Adele, unable to hide her frustration. ‘Can’t I just come in and sit a while?’

  ‘That’s very thoughtful of you, miss,’ said Bingle, ‘but I have strict instructions that Master Milo is not to be disturbed. Perhaps you could come back in the morning?’

  ‘I guess so,’ she replied doubtfully.

  All afternoon she had been troubled by a strange feeling – Milo was in danger and she could not wait until after dark to see him. In an effort to ease her worry she had tried several times to visit her cousin but every time Bingle had an excuse why she could not. The butler was trying to keep them apart, she was sure of it.

  ‘Well, good night, miss,’ said Bingle as he closed the door in her face. Then she heard the key turn in the lock.

  Moments later Adele took off down the corridor, breaking into a sprint.

  She was going to find a way into the basement even if it killed her.

  Isabella had been looking for her cousin all over Sommerset House and when she got to the library and found a pile of mouldy old books strewn across the floor beneath a concealed bookshelf she knew that something suspicious was going on. But what?

  She searched the library and the drawing room but found no trace of Adele. Frustrated, and rather hungry, Isabella headed for the kitchen – an apple and a cup of iced tea was just the tonic she needed to clear her head and figure out what her cousin was up to. Turning down the long hallway of the east wing Isabella caught sight of a wild mop of tomato-coloured hair disappearing around the corner. Adele!

  But where on earth was the silly girl going?

  Then it hit her. The basement.

  Adele had found a way in!

  Suddenly a great many things made sense to Isabella – including why Adele and Milo had been up in that tree last night. They must be in on it together. Yes, that had to be it! Those double-crossing little rodents had made a pact to find Uncle Silas’s priceless treasures and split the loot fifty-fifty.

  As Isabella stomped down the wide corridor her blood was boiling. How dare they cut her out! She was family, after all.

  Isabella stalked towards the storeroom door and threw it open. Inside the dimly lit room she was confronted by Adele’s terrified eyes blinking back at her.

  ‘Isabella, you scared me!’ said Adele, her voice shaking. She was holding a large book in one hand and a lantern in the other. ‘I thought you were –’

  ‘Uncle Silas?’ interrupted Isabella. ‘I know what you are up to, Cousin. You and that homicidal orphan are trying to steal Uncle Silas’s hidden treasures – I’m ashamed of you both!’ She looked around. ‘Where is your partner in crime?’

  ‘Put a sock in it, Isabella,’ snapped Adele as she shut the storeroom door. ‘The only thief in this house is you.’

  Isabella gasped. ‘Me? How dare you! I am not a thief!’

  ‘Of course you are,’ said Adele matter-of-factly. ‘But that’s not important right now. Uncle Silas is going to hurt Milo and I’m certain it’s connected to what Dr Mangrove is building in the basement. That’s why we have to find a way in.’

  Isabella frowned. ‘What do you mean, hurt Milo?’

  ‘I’m not exactly sure,’ admitted Adele. ‘I just know that Dr Mangrove has all these twisted theories and Uncle Silas brought him here for a reason. Milo is locked in his room and they won’t let me see him. Something is very wrong, Isabella.’

  ‘Cousin, do I look stupid to you?’ she said sharply. ‘The truth is, you are looking for Uncle Silas’s pile of gold and you’re trying to cut me out. Well it’s not going to –’

  ‘Please, Isabella, just for a moment try not to be such a brat!’

  Isabella’s mouth fell open but, amazingly, she did not speak.

  ‘This isn’t about money or treasure or who will inherit Uncle Silas’s fortune,’ said Adele sternly. ‘It’s about something dark and awful happening underneath our feet. Milo needs our help and we are going to give it to him.’

  ‘You’re serious, aren’t you, Cousin?’ said Isabella slowly. ‘Milo’s really in trouble?’

  ‘I think we all are,’ whispered Adele, ‘and that’s why we have to find out what’s going on in the basement.’ She handed the book to Isabella. ‘The blueprints clearly show that the only entrance to the basement is in this room. But so far, I can’t find any sign of it.’

  Isabella glanced at the faded yellow pages. They showed a labyrinth of tunnels underneath the mansion and a set of stairs located in the southern corner of the storeroom. But if they had been there once, they certainly weren’t there any longer.

  ‘It doesn’t make sense,’ said Isabella, glancing around the cluttered room stacked with crates and overstuffed boxes. ‘How does an entrance just disappear?’

  Adele held a finger to her lips. ‘Shh!’

  A scraping sound, like a box being pulled along the ground, was coming from a darkened corner of the room. Isabella froze. Trembling, Adele stepped forward, holding the lantern out in front of her. The storeroom fell quiet again.

  Adele let out a sigh of relief. ‘Probably just a mouse.’

  ‘A mouse?’ said Isabella, lo
oking terrified.

  Then he emerged from the darkness into the lantern’s warm glow. He was grinning.

  ‘Looking for something, children?’

  Isabella screamed. ‘Uncle Silas! No, we weren’t looking for anything,’ she said nervously. ‘Adele and I were just . . . playing hide-and-seek. It’s such fun, isn’t it, Cousin?’

  ‘No,’ said Adele firmly. She did her best to swallow the fear rising in her throat. ‘We were looking for a way into the basement.’

  ‘Were you indeed?’ said Silas coolly.

  Adele nodded. ‘You see, we know what’s going on down there.’ It was a lie, but Adele was desperate. If she could make Uncle Silas believe that they already knew what he was planning, then perhaps he might reveal what was really going on. ‘We know all about Dr Mangrove and his building project. We know everything, Uncle Silas.’

  ‘Excellent work, Adele,’ he sneered, his dark eyes sparkling with pure hatred. ‘You have no idea how much I want to believe you – but alas, I cannot. The truth is, child, if you really knew what was going on in the basement you would not be looking for a way down.’ He shook his head, his eyes never leaving her. ‘You would be running far, far away.’

  Suddenly Isabella exploded into a loud laugh. ‘Oh dear – Adele’s lost her mind! I blame all those books she reads.’ Slowly stepping back, Isabella began edging towards the door. ‘Don’t worry, Uncle; I don’t believe any of it. Adele is just confused, that is all. I suggest you have her locked up in an asylum until she sees sense. That seems fair, don’t you think?’

  Swiftly Silas moved his chair forward, blocking the doorway. Isabella screamed, jumping back.

  ‘Don’t be in such a rush, child,’ said Silas coolly. ‘Let us bond for a while – that’s what families do, is it not? Perhaps we could start by discussing the stolen property my security staff discovered in Adele’s closet a short time ago.’