Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present 3 Read Online Free PDF Page B

she commanded.
    Three children with the most beautiful sparkling brown eyes poked their heads around the doorway and waved.
    Clementine giggled as they appeared – one, two, three.
    The girls made a dash and hid behind their mother’s skirt but the little boy stayed in the doorway.
    ‘They’re not really shy.’ The woman leaned around and looked at them.
    ‘Would you like to come downstairs?’ Clementine asked. ‘We have chocolate-chip biscuits and a sponge cake that Uncle Pierre made and he’s the best baker in the world.’
    At the mention of food the girls skipped out and said hello. The little boy ran over to join them. Clementine led the group down the back stairs and into the kitchen where Aunt Violet was cutting the cake.
    ‘Hello there. I’m Karthika,’ the mother introduced herself. ‘And this is Arya, who’s five, and Alisha, who’s three. And Aksara – he’s two. This little one is Asha and she’ll be here soon.’ Karthika patted her belly. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you.’
    The old woman looked up and glared at the family. ‘Yes, I suppose it is.’
    ‘That’s Aunt Violet,’ Clementine chimed in.
    Aunt Violet cut a huge slice of sponge and dumped it roughly onto one of the plates. Clementine wondered why Aunt Violet had to be so cranky. Fortunately, the group was distracted by the front doorbell ringing.
    ‘I’ll get it,’ Clementine volunteered, but she didn’t move.
    ‘Go on, then. I’ve got my hands full,’ Aunt Violet told Clementine. ‘And there’d better be nothing wrong with that silly old fool Pertwhistle,’ she muttered under her breath. ‘I don’t know how we’d ever manage without him.’

Clementine opened the front door. Three people stood in a huddle on the steps. There was a couple, who looked older than her mother, but younger than Uncle Digby, and a very pretty young woman.
    ‘Hello,’ said Clementine.
    ‘We’re here for the wedding,’ said the man with a look of surprise. He wondered why they were being met by a child.
    ‘My name is Clementine. Please come in,’ said Clemmie. She was trying to remember exactly what her mother usually said when she greeted the guests.
    The trio walked into the hallway but the lady turned around just as Clemmie was about to close the door. ‘Uncle Orville,’ she called in a singsong voice. ‘Uncle Orville? Where are you?’
    ‘Hector,’ the woman said sharply, as she turned and looked at her husband. ‘Go and find your uncle. Now!’
    Clementine jumped. So did the young woman and Hector. He scurried off outside to locate the missing member of their party.
    The woman smiled like a shark at Clementine. ‘Where is your mother?’
    ‘Mummy and Uncle Digby have gone to the hospital with the doctor. He’s the groom’s brother and it was lucky he was here when Uncle Digby fell down. I’m looking after everyone with Aunt Violet,’ Clementine explained.
    ‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,’ said the young woman. ‘My name’s Harriet Fox.’
    ‘Oh!’ Clementine gasped. ‘You’re the bride. Mummy told me your name.’
    The woman beamed. ‘Yes, that’s right.’
    ‘I can’t wait to see your dress. And the tent is going to be so beautiful –’ Clementine prattled.
    The older woman cut them off. ‘Yes, yes, of course she’ll be beautiful, she’s my daughter. And I should hope we have a marquee and not a tent. Now, if you’ll go and fetch your aunt, I’d rather like to get settled in our rooms. We’ve had a long drive.’
    The young woman rolled her eyes at her mother and then smiled secretly at Clementine.
    ‘Okay.’ Clementine marched off towards the kitchen. Uncle Digby had been right about brides being funny about marquees. Well, bride’s mothers.
    Meanwhile, Aunt Violet was studying the room allocation list and trying to work out what it all meant. She had a red pen in hand and seemed to be doing some allocating of her own.
    ‘Aunt Violet,’ Clementine called. ‘The Foxes are here.’ Then she