Chapter two

Edmund and Lucy were having a row about who got the curtain first. I took Lucy's hand and said, "Come on, Lucy, I'll show you a better place to hide."

I led Lucy to an empty room, save for a large wardrobe. As I helped Lucy get in, we head Peter's far away voice "50….49…48…47…. 46….. 45… 44…43…42…41"

Before I left she asked me, "Where will you hide?"

"I'll think of somewhere, don't worry." I said with a smile, although my mind was still on the letter.

Shutting the door of the room, I went to a remote corner of the large house where I was sure that no one would find me. I also had a feeling that the letter did not bring good news.

I immediately opened the letter, and my eyes widened in shock.

To Lady Vincent:

We regret to inform you of your Father's death. Lord Vincent has at last passed away from a terrible case of scarlet fever. .As you are well aware, he has been battling this for 6 months. You are now sole heiress to the Vincent estate and all of your Father's holdings, stocks, and other various properties. Its total worth is estimated to be roughly 60 thousand pounds. Once again, I offer my deepest sympathies.

Sincerely,

Mr. Haleton Overseer of the V. Estate

.

I'm all alone was my first thought. My second was this, I'm a rich orphan. How unpleasant. Then I heard Lucy's shout, "I'm back! I'm alright, I'm back." I slowly walked down the stairs to where they were all gathered, just in time to hear Susan say,

"Does this mean I win?"

"I don't think Lucy wants to play." Peter said with a puzzled expression on his face.

"But….weren't you wondering where I was?" This time Lucy was wearing the puzzled look.

Edmund apparently felt the need to point out, "That's the point, that's why he was seeking you."

"What's wrong?" I asked automatically, if albeit absently, as my mind was still on the fact that my father had passed away.

Peter turned to me and said, "Lucy thinks she's found a forest in the upstairs wardrobe. And she saw a faun, who….talks."

I blinked once, and then a second time as my mind struggled to process this information.

"What?"

"Exactly" Susan said a bit triumphantly.

Lucy stamped her foot impatiently.

"Come on! I'll show it to you!" she said, pulling Peter's hand as she spoke.

We all followed her into the room where the wardrobe was. She threw open the doors of the wardrobe and went inside.

While she was going in Susan turned to me and said, "Do you really believe her?"

"I see no reason not to. Unless…" I was abruptly cut off by Lucy coming out of the wardrobe.

"It's not there anymore." She said sounding close to tears.

They all raised their eyebrows as if to say I told you so.

"But it was there, it really was!"

"That's enough, Lucy." Susan said sternly.

"Well, I believe you!" Edmund said shocking his family and I must admit myself as well.

Lucy started to smile and said "You...You do?"

"Sure, didn't I tell you about football field in the bathroom cupboard?" Edmund asked with a hint a sneer on his face. All I wanted to do at that moment was shake him until his teeth rattled.

By then, Lucy was in tears.

"ED! What do you think you're doing? You always make things worse!" Peter said harshly.

"Shut up, you think you're Dad but you're not!" Edmund said, then turned and stomped away.

"Well that was nicely handled." Susan said glaring at Peter.

"But it really was there." Lucy sniffled.

"Susan's right, Lu that's enough." He said.

I smiled sadly at Lucy and held my hand out to her, she took it and we left shutting the door behind us.

After I left Lucy, I went to find my Godfather. He too had received a letter from the overseer of my estate. He told me that I was welcome to stay with him as long as I needed. I took him up on that.


"Peter, Peter wake up!" Lucy's voice rang through the empty corridors; she was evidently unconcerned about waking the entire household. I am not a morning person, Lucy better have a good reason to have woke me up.

Nevertheless, I got up and threw on my housecoat.

As I neared the boys' rooms I heard Lucy say "I've been there, and this time Edmund went too.

All eyes turned to Edmund; I think he rather enjoyed the attention.

"You saw the faun?" Peter asked tiredly.

"Well, no…he was…..where were you?" Lucy asked Edmund.

"I was pretending, pretending that her game was real. That's the problem with little kids; they don't know when to stop pretending." He was looking immensely pleased with himself. Until Peter pushed him down on his bed.

"HEY!!" came Edmund's protest.

"Edmund?"

"What?"

"Shut up."

Lucy had already run out of the room crying, Peter had to run to catch up with Susan to get Lucy before they got in trouble.

I sent Edmund a look of utter repulsion.

I took a deep breath to calm myself.

"Edmund, why do you insist on making your siblings lives miserable? Do you enjoy seeing your sister cry? One day, you won't have them. They won't be there to cover up your mistakes, which you've made a lot of. You have a family, treat them like one." I snapped the last sentence and walked out.


It was a fine day, so Susan suggested they all go outside.

"We could all use some fresh air". I believe were her exact words.

I had quickly noticed that whenever Peter or Susan told him to do something, Edmund always threw a temper tantrum. How old was he again?

As regular as clockwork, Edmund said "It's not like there isn't air inside."

"Yes, but I believe she said fresh air." I pointed out.

He glared at me, to which I responded with a sweet smile.

The boys were playing cricket, when I heard a loud CRASH. When I looked I saw the stained glass window had been shattered.

Instantly I conjectured what happened, Peter threw the ball, probably very hard, and in response Edmund had hit the ball with the same if not more force than his elder brother had thrown it.

We all raced to the second floor and to their horror a suit of armor had been knocked over.

"What are you children up to now?" demanded Mrs. Macready's angry voice.

"It's the Macready!" Susan said and started run.

I was mildly amused at her representation of Mrs. Macready. She was a bit crusty at times but she had a good heart.

As we ran, I didn't even know why I was running.

"Quick, in here!" I looked to where Peter was suggesting and saw that it was the very same room in which the wardrobe was.

"You have got to be kidding me." Susan said in a tone of disbelief.

Yet when she heard what sounded like Mrs. Macready's foot steps on the stairs, she ran into the wardrobe along with the rest of us.

"Ouch!"

"Stop shoving.!"

"You're on my foot."

"Peter, move!"

Peter and Susan and I fell onto a soft blanket of snow.

"Impossible."