Read Online Shiverton Hall by Emerald Fennell - Free Book Online Page A

‘I lost a contact lens. I was just looking for it.’
    Amber nodded sagely. ‘Ah yes, of course.’
    Arthur thought he’d just about got away with his fib, when Amber grinned. ‘I’ll help you look,’ she said, and knelt down.
    Mortified, Arthur did the same, and began the futile and humiliating task of searching for an imaginary contact lens.
    ‘So how are you finding school?’ Amber asked, feeling under a rock.
    ‘It’s great,’ Arthur replied, shaking a bug from his sleeve. ‘Professor Long-Pitt is a nightmare, but apart from that it’s amazing.’
    ‘The reputation didn’t put you off?’
    ‘What? All the ghost stories? I don’t really believe in ghosts.’
    Amber frowned. ‘How can you be at Shiverton Hall and not believe in ghosts?’
    ‘It’s people you ought to be scared of,’ Arthur said quietly. ‘They’re much more dangerous.’
    ‘I wouldn’t be so sure about that.’
    ‘Well, if I see a ghost I’ll let you know.’
    Amber smiled. ‘Deal.’
    They continued to search on the ground, and Arthur found his fingers edging closer to Amber’s. As though sensing Arthur’s nerves, Amber shifted a little towards him and smiled beatifically.
    ‘Do you miss home?’ she asked. Her breath on his face smelled like violets.
    ‘Not right now,’ Arthur replied.
    ‘Don’t you miss your friends?’
    Arthur really didn’t want to think about his old school; the memory of it creeping towards him, threatening to ruin the moment.
    ‘I hated my last school,’ he said, hoping to put an end to it.
    ‘Why?’ Amber asked.
    ‘Something happened to me there,’ Arthur said hoarsely, fighting the impulsive desire to tell Amber everything.
    ‘What happened?’ Amber asked, taking Arthur’s hand. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’
    All of the things he had managed to blot out over the past few weeks came roaring back to him like a freezing blast of wind through a reluctantly opened door. He struggled to breathe, panic clogging up his throat.
    ‘Arthur,’ Amber said. ‘Are you OK?’
    Arthur stood up suddenly, yanking his hand from Amber’s, angry with himself for losing it in front of her. ‘I’m sorry,’ he muttered.
    Amber smiled sympathetically. ‘Please don’t be sorry,’ she said quietly. ‘It’s my fault. I didn’t mean to pry – I shouldn’t have asked.’
    ‘Forget about it,’ Arthur said, calming down a little. ‘I’m just exhausted after football.’
    ‘Of course,’ Amber replied. ‘But, Arthur, if you ever need to talk about anything, you know you can always talk to me. I like you a lot.’
    The dread that Arthur had felt slipped away. ‘You like me?’ he asked, dazed.
    Amber blushed. ‘I’d better go. The bell’s about to ring.’
    Arthur watched her go, all anxiety forgotten, completely smitten.
     
     
    George was so jealous that he could barely speak: Amber Crighton actually liked one of his friends. Arthur had edited out the part of the story where he had nearly suffered a panic attack. Later, in the dining hall, George just couldn’t resist telling Penny and Jake.
    ‘Amber?’ Penny said, trying to sound light-hearted. ‘She’s very pretty.’
    ‘I think you’re prettier,’ Jake said quietly.
    George hooted with laughter so Penny threw a bread roll at him.
    After the excitement of a potential romance between Arthur and the prettiest girl in the school had subsided, the friends discussed the trip to Grimstone the following day. The lower-school students were allowed to visit the small town once a term, and Arthur and his friends had all organised their passes for the same Saturday. The Shiverton students saved up their pocket money so that they could spend it on hot chocolate piled with whipped cream and marshmallows, and sweets from one of Grimstone’s many sweet shops. Arthur was looking forward to the trip; as much as he had enjoyed Shiverton so far, he was beginning to feel a little cabin-feverish.
     
     
    The next day they all waited outside for