Shadows at Stonewylde

16



The next day Leveret walked up to the Hall to see Magpie, very nervous about leaving her sanctuary and facing everyone. As she stomped down the lane, she realised she had a choice now, a significant one. She could skulk around as if she were embarrassed and ashamed, or she could take control of her situation and brazen it out. So she made her decision and felt much better for it. She met several people along the way but smiled and greeted them as if nothing had happened, and apart from a few stares, people were fine. In the Hall a group of older girls were standing in the entrance hall pulling on gloves and hats. They fell silent as she walked in and she felt awkward, feeling their eyes on her.

‘Blessings, Leveret,’ said one.

‘Blessings,’ she replied, smiling brightly at the whole group. It felt strange; normally she kept her head down and never looked people in the eye, wanting to avoid unnecessary contact. There was a pause whilst they all watched her.

‘We … we heard about what happened,’ said Iris, the elder of Kestrel’s two sisters and Leveret nodded. ‘You must’ve been feeling awful to have done that. Was it very frightening?’

‘No, not really frightening. I was just so unhappy I wasn’t thinking straight, I suppose. But it’s in the past now.’

‘Yes of course. I expect you just want to forget it ever happened.’

‘That’s right.’

‘Well, we’re sorry anyway. If you’re feeling down again don’t bottle it up, will you? There’s always someone to talk to if you need it.’

Leveret looked at them in astonishment and blushed with pleasure at the kind words.

‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘I’ll remember that.’

Magpie, still in the hospital wing, was doing very well. He sat in a chair by the window with a sketch pad and pencils, drawing the rooks flying around like bits of black ash in the grey skies. His smile was radiant when he saw Leveret and he leapt up, scattering pencils, and engulfed her in a great hug. She hugged him back and for the first time it was a pleasant experience; he didn’t smell horrible and she wasn’t worried about catching head lice.

‘You’re looking wonderful, Magpie. Let me see what you’re drawing? That’s fantastic!’

Her praise was genuine for he was a truly talented artist. Using just soft graphite pencils he’d captured the wintry scene perfectly. The rooks were exquisite, as if he truly understood rooks and what made them rooks rather than starlings or blackbirds or crows. He’d captured their essence in the way they flew, the angle of their wings, the way they positioned themselves in the sky. She could almost hear them calling.

‘You’re such a good artist, Magpie. We must make sure you get the chance to develop it, now your life’s all new and exciting. Who gave you the sketch pad and pencils?’

Using their special way of communicating, Magpie let Leveret know that it was Hazel and that she’d promised him paints too. She held his hand and looked at him and the image of the doctor came into her mind in minute detail, down to the cut of her blond hair and the pattern of the cable stitch on her pink woollen jumper. She also got a sense of Hazel’s kindness and concern, which Magpie had obviously picked up. The image of the paints wasn’t quite so vivid as Magpie’s knowledge and experience of these was smaller, but she saw a framed picture very close up with oil paint daubed thickly and guessed that was what he meant.

‘Hazel’s promised you oil paints?’

Magpie nodded happily and squeezed her hand. More than anything she sensed his exhilaration and joy at being free from daily fear and physical abuse. They sat together for a while, Leveret still marvelling at how he’d changed so quickly. She’d always known he was a sweet person from when they’d first met in the Nursery as tiny toddlers. She’d sensed the goodness in his soul even then, seen beyond the revolting, mute boy who could manage very little and made such a fool of himself all the time. Now maybe others would see it too and he’d have a proper place in Stonewylde’s society. Just as long as she could keep Jay away from him, but she had plans to protect Magpie.

While he continued drawing rooks, Leveret took a small pair of scissors from her pocket and showed them to him.

‘You know about scissors, Magpie. I want to cut a little tiny piece of your hair. See? I’ll do it to myself first and it doesn’t hurt. Now a piece of Maggy’s hair.’

To her relief he allowed her to snip off a lock of his golden brown hair, which she carefully wrapped and put in her pocket. That was the first part – but there was lots more to be done. She was just about to leave when Swift came in, looking as surprised to see her as she was to see him. They stared at each other.

‘What do you want?’ she asked finally.

He raised his eyebrows at this, looking down at her and enjoying the sensation. As he was a fairly small youth, looking down on someone else was quite rare.

‘That’s not very friendly, Leveret,’ he said smoothly. ‘I just came to visit Magpie and see how he’s getting on.’

‘He’s fine, no thanks to your mate Jay.’

‘Nor to you! Jay may have been hard on him but I gather you actually tried to kill him.’

She flushed at this and looked away. Swift took the sketch pad from Magpie, who’d stopped drawing and was gazing up at them both in consternation.

‘Very good, Magpie! Clever boy!’

‘Don’t talk to him like a dog – he’s not stupid.’

‘Really? Sorry, I didn’t realise.’

‘Why are you here? Did Jay send you?’

She knew Hazel had forbidden Jay to come anywhere near the hospital wing. But she also knew Swift was in league with Jay and her brothers, although she didn’t realise the true extent of it for Swift was very careful to be seen with the right people at the right time. He smiled sweetly at her and flicked his fringe aside.

‘I don’t get sent anywhere by anybody, Leveret. I only wanted to see how Magpie was doing. We are related, you know – our grannies are sisters and we’re old mates, aren’t we, Magpie?’

He put a hand on the boy’s shoulder but his body blocked her view so she didn’t see how Magpie flinched at his touch and curled into himself. Swift turned and gave her another charming smile.

‘Don’t make an enemy of me as well, will you, Leveret? You’ve got enough to contend with surely, with your brothers and Jay. I know what they’re planning and it’s not pleasant. You know, I could be a good friend to you if you’re nice to me.’

‘What are they planning?’ she asked, her mouth dry. This was exactly what she’d been trying to escape from when she swallowed the mushrooms. Leveret couldn’t face more bullying – she’d have to get her mother to put a stop to this and hoped she’d be more prepared to listen now.

‘I don’t know if I want to share that information with you, Leveret. You’ve only ever been hostile towards me so let’s see how it goes, shall we? Anyway, good to see Magpie’s on the mend. He’ll be living next door to my father, I hear, so I expect I’ll be seeing a lot more of him.’

‘I thought you were a boarder.’

‘Of course I am. But with my family’s cottage so close I’m always popping in. Father likes to hear all the news.’

‘I’d have thought Martin already knew all the news.’

‘Oh he does. Let’s say, we pool our knowledge. Well, I must be off. Bye, Magpie – keep up the drawing.’

When he’d gone, Leveret gazed at the door thoughtfully.

‘I don’t know if he’s alright or not,’ she said. ‘He isn’t as bad as Jay, is he? But they’re friends and I’m just not sure about him.’

Magpie shook his head and she ruffled his clean, golden hair.

‘You’re not sure about anyone, are you? But you’ll learn to trust people, I promise you, and I’ll still be looking after you. That’s what I’m off to do now.’

When she left the Hall, Leveret turned up the narrow path that led towards the cliff but branched off before she got that far and made her way to Mother Heggy’s cottage. She hadn’t been here since the day before the Solstice when she’d rushed in to collect the Death Cap mushrooms. She looked around the tiny place wishing that she could do it up properly. The dried mushrooms and herbs hung rather forlornly from the low rafters, and everywhere was layered with dust and cobwebs. Leveret decided she’d come up one day soon and really tidy it up.

But now she had something else to do. Making sure the door was securely shut, she went over to the hearth which took up most of one wall and climbed into the empty grate. Ducking down, she positioned herself under the chimney and reached up. Her groping hands found the alcove, up high inside, and she carefully retrieved the heavy Book of Shadows. She blew the dust and cobwebs off the piece of thick, waxed linen wrapped around it, and took it over to the ancient table where she opened it up and started to leaf through the pages.

As always when she touched the Book, Leveret felt a dark excitement race through her body. She also felt Mother Heggy’s ghostly breath on the back of her neck and she began to horripilate, rubbing her arms to stop the goose-flesh.

‘Blessings, Mother Heggy. Thank you for giving me the wrong mushrooms and for sending Clip to find us.’

There was no answer of course but some dried leaves by the door drifted slightly across the stone flagged floor, making a soft, whispery sound.

‘Now I need your help, dear Mother Heggy. I’m going to cast my first circle at the Dark Moon. Bring the magic to me please, Mother Heggy. Bring the dark magic to make my spell work.’

She bent her head and started reading the spell she’d found. This was the one she needed now, not the silly love spell she’d considered trying before. She found much of the writing hard to read for the ink had faded and it was spidery and badly spelt. She was just grateful that Mother Heggy had grown up in the time when Villagers were still taught to read and write, albeit at a basic level, otherwise there’d be no legacy of the crone’s wisdom. Taking a school notebook and pencil from her pocket she began to carefully copy out the words and list of things she needed. She smiled as she worked, feeling truly content. This was what she was born to do.

Leveret’s happiness was short-lived however, for when she returned home to her cottage in the Village, Maizie was waiting for her and dropped a bombshell.

‘Sit down, Leveret. I’ve something to give you.’

Her mother was very excited and Leveret felt intrigued. She guessed it was a Yule present as her mother hadn’t yet given her one but always made something special each year. Last year it had been a beautiful pair of soft mittens knitted with lamb’s wool. She sat back and smiled at her mother, who clumped up the stairs and then came down again slowly.

‘Close your eyes, Leveret!’ she called. ‘Close your eyes and put out your hands … there!’

Leveret opened her eyes and saw a garment of very soft, fine linen dyed a deep ivy evergreen.

‘Can you see what it is? ‘Tis a dress, a very special dress.’

‘It’s lovely, Mother,’ said Leveret in a puzzled voice, trying to sound enthusiastic. Her mother knew she hated dresses. ‘Thank you very much.’

‘No, you don’t realise, Leveret. ‘Tis a party dress to wear to the Oustiders’ Dance tomorrow night!’

Leveret looked up at her mother in horror.

‘But Mother, I’m not going to that!’

‘O’ course you are! Everybody over the age of fourteen is going. Yul told me he’d specially invited you when he dropped by to see you. I started making this way back in November when Yul first told me he were thinking of holding the dance, long before he announced it to everyone. I knew you’d nothing pretty to wear and you’d feel awkward, so I wove this special piece o’ linen from the finest flax and dyed it this lovely colour to bring out your green eyes. And I been sewing it ever since, trying to keep it hidden from you. Do you really like it?’

Her voice faltered and Leveret had to make a quick decision. Argue and insist she wouldn’t go, which was what she wanted but would hurt her mother dreadfully, or agree to go and make her mother happy, but practically die of embarrassment in the process. Given the recent events, there was little choice. She stood up and unfolded the dress to get a proper look.

‘Mother it’s beautiful – I love it! Thank you for all the love and time you’ve put into it for me. Especially when I know you’ve been upset with me.’

She kissed her mother soundly and then looked again at the dress. It was beautiful indeed; tight long sleeves with points that would fall over her hands like a Tudor gown, a sweetheart neckline that wasn’t too exposed but would show her slim neck, and tailored so it would cling to her body, making the most of her slenderness. The skirt was slightly flared and when she held it against herself, came to just below the knee. It was lovely and would flatter her well. But she hated dresses and she knew just how she’d feel in it – like a sparrow in kingfisher’s plumage, out of place and ridiculous.

‘That’s not all!’ said Maizie excitedly, delighted that Leveret was pleased with it. She’d been worried that she was wasting her time for nothing, that the girl would flatly refuse to wear it or go to the party. ‘Look, these are to go with it.’

From the bottom of the dresser she produced a box from the Outside World. Inside were a pair of delicate ballet pumps made of dark green suede, a perfect match for the dress.

‘Wow! How on earth did you get these, Mother?’

‘I didn’t – they’re from Yul and Sylvie.’

‘Really?’

‘When I told them I were making you the dress, Sylvie said she’d get shoes to match. She found them on the Internet for you – I hope they fit.’

Leveret couldn’t believe it.

‘I’m amazed Yul still wanted me to have them,’ she said. ‘He’s so angry with me.’

‘Yes … he’d wanted to burn the lot after the mistletoe misadventure. Thank the goddess I said no – I couldn’t bear to destroy such lovely things, though I never thought I’d give ’em to you, especially when you were to be kept in your room at the Hall over Yule. But let’s not dwell on that. You’ll look beautiful tomorrow night and I’ll be the proudest mother in Stonewylde!’

Leveret regarded her steadily and swallowed.

‘Mother, it’s the Dark Moon tomorrow night and I’d planned on celebrating it. This is something I really must do – it’s very important to me.’

Maizie frowned, remembering their new compromise and not wanting to break it so soon.

‘Right enough – where did you want to go?’

Leveret thought about this. She wanted to do it in Mother Heggy’s cottage but that was impossible. She couldn’t tell her mother how she used the place and she couldn’t sneak up there either – that would break their new trust.

‘I don’t mind. Tucked away in a corner on the Village Green maybe?’

‘Alright … does it matter when you do it?’

‘Not really. After nightfall, but not so early that there are too many people about to see me – and before midnight, of course.’

‘That’s fine. Go to the party first and then later on you can slip out to the Green and dance or whatever ‘tis you have to do. You’ll be safe on the Green with the Barn so close by. Is that fair enough?’

‘Yes, Mother, thank you. It’s so good not lying to you.’ She gave Maizie a hug. ‘But there’s one more thing.’

‘What?’ asked Maizie warily, thinking she’d now push it too far and make an unreasonable demand. ‘What do you want now?’

‘I’m really, really scared of going into the dance with all the Outsiders there and that strange music. Would you come in with me for a while at least? Please?’

On the morning of the Dark Moon Leveret rose early and went down to the river as the sun was rising. It was a beautiful sunrise that would’ve been perfect for the Solstice. The cold water glinted as the sun rose higher, glittering over all it touched with a pink-gold light. A water rat swam towards the river bank and then disappeared into its hole, and a crowd of mallards quacked loudly at Leveret’s intrusion as they bobbed about searching for an early breakfast. She stood on the river bank and drank in the beauty and peace, making the sign of the pentangle. Earth, fire, water, air – and the spirit in me, she thought. The shimmering water eddied past her, heading out to sea. She breathed deeply, her breath clouding out around her as she exhaled. Then she turned to the great willow that overhung the river, the same one that had sheltered the girls on the day of their preparations for the Rite of Adulthood.

Leveret stroked the lined and deeply fissured bark of the tree, calling on the spirit that lived there. The willow was a feminine tree and the spirit was ancient and powerful. She stood with her hand on the trunk, looking up into the tangle of branches that canopied overhead. She felt the energy all around her, alive and vibrant even though it was the heart of winter and trees were dormant. This one only slept and even in sleep its magic was strong.

‘Sister Willow, I greet you. I honour your spirit and ask forgiveness for the cuts I’m about to make. They’re done with goodness of intention and love in my heart for another. I only take what I need and no more. Blessings, Sister Willow.’

The whispered words hung around her as her breath had done. Taking a small kitchen knife from her pocket she began to cut pieces from the fine branches, wishing it were spring when the tree would be covered in whippy little shoots, so much easier to work with. Leveret felt an overwhelming sadness at the loss of the white-handled gathering knife, for even though she’d spent as much time as she could searching the Green she’d had no luck in finding it. Maybe somebody else had spotted it and picked it up. She grieved for its loss deeply but tried not to think of it now. This willow must be gathered with the right feelings in her heart and so she concentrated on that and shut out her sad thoughts.

At sunset she was out again, this time with a bag containing everything she needed for the spell and the circle tonight. She’d kept it very simple in the end, nothing like she’d planned to do when gathering at the Frost Moon. That bag had been confiscated but maybe that was for the best, the way things had now turned out. The spell she intended to cast tonight would be very basic but hopefully all the more powerful for it. Leveret planned to leave her bag containing all the necessities hidden somewhere on the Green, so she could just slip out of the party later and pick it up. She did a circuit of the clearing, looking for a likely spot. The trees were bare and although darkness would soon fall, she didn’t want to risk somebody finding her bag. She ended up under the only evergreen tree there – the great yew, the tree special to Yul and Sylvie. She felt its intense, powerful magic as she approached and knew it was a fitting choice, for the yew was the tree of the crone and Dark Magic.

But strangely she felt something else as she stepped under the low boughs and stood in the gloomy shelter. She felt love so strong it took her breath away. She felt passion and desire, adoration and ecstasy, an intermingling of souls that time couldn’t destroy. Leveret felt it winding around the branches, mixed up with the eternity that the yew represented, the phoenix-like ability to regenerate and grow again from the ashes and withering. She’d never felt anything like it and realised that it was Yul and Sylvie’s love she was picking up – their union of darkness and brightness into one.

Leveret had never before thought about the beautiful relationship between her oldest brother and his moongazy wife. She’d only ever seen it as a nuisance, something which had taken Yul away from her. Now she sensed a little of the magic of their partnership but realised that recently there’d been little evidence of their love. Both of them were miserable; perhaps they should come here and be reminded of what they’d once shared? Not wishing to intrude on this shrine to their unification, Leveret quickly hung the bag on one of the small branches that protruded from the pink flaking bark of the enormous bole. She bowed to the tree and slipped out back onto the Green just as the evening star was blooming.

At home Maizie was feverish in her excitement.

‘You better get down to the bath house now, my girl, else all the hot water will be gone.’

‘Mother, most of the people going tonight live up at the Hall and they’ll be using those bathrooms. There’ll be plenty of hot water in the bath house. It doesn’t start till eight o’clock and that’s practically four hours away.’

‘Alright, but don’t leave it till the last minute, will you? I want to help you get ready and I got to go to the Barn in a while to set out the food. I’ll be back in good time but have your bath whilst I’m gone. Are you feeling excited yet?’

‘I suppose so – but I’m more terrified than excited.’

‘You’ll be fine, Leveret. You’ll look so pretty in your new dress and all the boys’ll be wanting to dance with you.’

‘I doubt that very much,’ muttered Leveret, remembering Jay’s words only two weeks ago at the Moon Fullness. The ugliest girl at Stonewylde, he’d said, with a body like a boy’s. If anyone looked at her this evening it certainly wouldn’t be because she looked so pretty – they’d be gaping at how stupid she looked in such a lovely dress. A sparrow, not a kingfisher. She thought of all the unkind taunts her brothers had made over the years about her unattractive looks, and her recent resolve to enlist help to stop their bullying. She decided to try and broach the subject with her mother now but felt nervous, not wanting to spoil the new harmony by making her mother choose between her children.

‘Mother, I know you’ve always said I’m a tell-tale …’

Maizie eyed her warily and sighed.

‘Let’s not start on all that, Leveret. ‘Tis forgotten now – I know you never meant to tell lies about your brothers.’

‘But Mother, I—’

‘The thing is, my girl, I do understand they’ve tormented you over the years. O’ course I’ve always noticed that. It started when you were only a tiny little thing, but you see, they lost their father and ‘twas a very difficult time for everyone but especially Gefrin and Sweyn. The other four were older but they were only little boys theirselves and they didn’t understand what were going on. Then what with our Yul becoming the new magus and me being out every hour o’ the day and night trying to help organise the community … ‘twere a difficult time for us all. You were lucky – you were too young to understand anything.’

Leveret nodded – she’d heard all this before and knew it was part of her mother’s justification for believing her two youngest sons weren’t really so bad.

‘The thing is, Mother, that over the years they—’

‘Oh I know, Leveret, I know it’s gone on a long time. You don’t need to tell me that. But really, ‘tis normal for brothers to torment a little sister. You ask any girl with a big brother. But they’re older now and I know they’ve become much more kind and responsible. So let’s not dwell—’

‘But it hasn’t stopped! Really, they’re even worse now and they’ve said they’re going to—’

‘Leveret, you know this isn’t true. Please don’t spoil—’

‘Mother it is true! Clip saw what Sweyn did to me at Samhain!’

‘I know what Clip thought he saw – he came and told me. And I took it up with Sweyn and he explained everything. He were angry with you, right enough, for messing about and upsetting me. He did bob your head in the water – he admitted that. But he weren’t trying to drown you! You’ve just got into the habit over the years of making it all out to be much worse than it really is.’

‘Please, Mother, why—’

‘Leveret … this is a special night. Let’s not spoil it with any more o’ this talk. Let’s put it all behind us now. Please?’

Leveret hung her head. This is what always happened every time she tried to tell her mother; nothing had changed at all. She’d just have to find someone else to help her. Maizie went into the kitchen to check on her fruit pies baking in the oven and Leveret sat down at the table and started teasing out a pile of wool for felt-making. She’d taken Yul’s words to heart and was trying very hard to help her mother more. Yul had been right – Maizie did look tired nowadays.

Just then the door crashed open and in walked Sweyn and Gefrin. Maizie called out to them from the kitchen to sit down and she’d bring them in some mulled wine in a minute. They both stared at Leveret.

‘We just heard you’re going to the Outsiders’ Dance tonight, Lev!’

‘That’s right.’

‘Why?’

‘Why not?’

They both laughed.

‘I can think of lots of reasons why not,’ said Sweyn, his voice low so Maizie, clattering in the kitchen, couldn’t hear. ‘You’ll stand out amongst all those lovely Outside girls and we’ll be so embarrassed if anyone realises you’re our sister. You’re an ugly little bitch and—’

‘Wine’s warming up!’ called Maizie. ‘Won’t be long.’

‘And we don’t want you there cramping our style,’ added Gefrin. ‘Showing us up.’

He sat down opposite her and kicked her hard under the table. She flinched from the pain but carried on pulling at the clumps of raw wool, teasing it to fluffiness, keeping her head down. Sweyn came and stood behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders. His thick fingers dug cruelly into her collar bones making her gasp.

‘And Jay’s really got it in for you,’ he warned. ‘I mean really. He said you insulted him at the Moon Fullness. He don’t take that from no one but especially not you. Jay can be … well, put it this way, he’s a vicious bugger when he gets going. Don’t expect us to stick up for you – we’ll just walk away and leave him to it.’

Gefrin giggled.

‘We’ve seen Jay in action and it’s not pretty. I’ve heard people say his father Jackdaw was the same and he killed his wife, didn’t he? Like father like son. So watch out, Hare-brain, ‘cos he’s out to get you. He’ll be specially looking for you tonight.’

Maizie came in triumphantly, rosy-cheeked from the oven heat, bearing a tray of cups and a jug of steaming wine that smelt of blackberries, cloves and nutmeg.

‘Have you heard that Leveret’s coming to the party tonight?’ she said brightly, pouring the mulled wine and handing it round. ‘She’s got a lovely new dress and she’ll look so pretty.’

Sweyn choked into his wine and grinned at his brother.

‘We was just saying we’ll look out for her tonight, make sure she’s alright.’

‘Ah, that’s really nice of you boys – thank you. She’s very nervous, you see, and though I’ll be there at the beginning to help serve the food, I can’t stay all night. ‘Tis for the young people and Yul says we must leave you all to it once the party’s found its feet. If you’ll be looking after her I won’t need to worry.’

‘No problem, Mother,’ said Gefrin. ‘’Tis our pleasure.’

‘See, Leveret?’ said Maizie cheerfully. ‘Your brothers’ll make sure you have a special evening.’

‘We certainly will, Mother!’ said Sweyn, putting his arm round Leveret’s shoulders and squeezing her hard. She cringed at his touch. ‘We’ll make sure it’s a very special evening for her.’

Leveret stood outside the entrance to the Great Barn trembling like a kitten.

‘I can’t go in there, Mother!’

‘Don’t be silly – o’ course you can!’

‘Everyone’ll stare and laugh at me.’

‘No they won’t. If they stare at you ‘tis only because you look so lovely.’

It was true. Maizie was amazed at just how lovely Leveret looked. She’d always been such a tom-boy but tonight she’d blossomed into a beautiful young girl on the cusp of womanhood. The dress fitted like a dream, the tight bodice emphasising her surprisingly rounded breasts and tiny waist whilst the longer skirt gave her a bit of extra height, perfect as she was so small. They’d tied a scarlet ribbon round her neck with her silver charm – the crescent moon or bow of the Huntress – hanging from it. Most young people wore their Naming Ceremony charm until their Rite of Adulthood when it was replaced by the pewter pendant; it was a way of showing whether or not they were adults.

Maizie had insisted on sweeping up her long glossy curls and pinning them in a knot. With her wild hair swept back, Leveret was transformed. The sharp, pointy face with slanted green cat’s eyes became elegant, even delicate, and her eyes were stunning without dark curls constantly falling into them. Her neck was a slim white column accentuated by the scarlet ribbon and she looked like something from a fairytale.

‘Cinderella, you shall go to the ball!’ Maizie had laughed, overwhelmed by her daughter’s almost exotic beauty.

‘It’s the ugly step-sisters I’m worried about,’ Leveret had muttered in reply.

Now they both stood outside the Barn, Maizie with her arm around her trembling daughter.

‘See – the coach hasn’t arrived yet,’ said Maizie. ‘’Twill be better to go in now while it’s still quite empty, then you won’t feel so self-conscious. You can come and help me check on all the food.’

So they went in, feeling the alienness of the Barn. There was a disco set up with mixing decks, machines and electric lights and two strange men stood behind it busy with large head-phones over their ears. The music was very loud and full of bass compared to the fiddles, drums, guitars and flutes normally heard in here. But Maizie was right – there weren’t too many people around yet. Leveret hung up her cloak and stood in her dark green dress feeling very strange, as if she were another person.

And it seemed as if everyone else thought she were another person too. Bryony, Linnet, Skipper and Tansy, who were in her class at school, stood and stared at her in disbelief. They all looked nice but none of them were in Leveret’s league. The group of older girls who’d been so kind to her the other day actually came over to compliment her.

‘Leveret, you look absolutely stunning!’

‘Wow – I barely recognised you.’

‘Talk about the ugly duckling! Look, you’re a swan!’

Leveret giggled at this and began to relax just slightly. Maybe she did look quite nice and maybe people wouldn’t think she was hideous. Maybe – just maybe – Kestrel might notice her tonight?