The Puzzle Ring Read Online Free PDF Page A

the garden in awe. ‘Imagine if she did, though. I wonder which rose it was?’
    â€˜She died hundreds of years ago, Hannah. Roses do not live that long! It’s not reasonable to think any one of those roses is more than ten or twenty years old.’
    â€˜They could be the descendant of the rose planted by Mary, Queen of Scots,’ Hannah argued. ‘Just like I’m the descendant of the people who lived here then.’
    â€˜I suppose that may be possible,’ Roz conceded. ‘Though I still think it’s very unlikely she ever came near this place!’
    Hannah was not listening. She stood still, staring up at Wintersloe Castle, which had just come into view behind the trees. Built of warm golden-grey stone, the house basked in the sunshine, surrounded by a tangled profusion of flowers. At one end was a tall pepper-pot tower, its bronze roof turquoise blue with age. At the other end was a small turret crowned with a pointed roof on which stood an ornate weathervane. In between was a tall house, with large bay windows, tall chimneys, crow-stepped gables and steeply pitched slate roofs that sported stone gargoyles and heraldic beasts.
    â€˜Wow!’ Hannah said.
    â€˜See, I told you it wasn’t a castle. Built in the 1860s, I think.’
    â€˜It looks like a castle.’
    â€˜Believe me, real castles were never so pretty. It’d take a marauding army about ten seconds to breach this place’s defences.’
    â€˜It’s gorgeous!’
    â€˜If you like that sort of thing. I must say,
I
think it’s the most impractical house I’ve ever seen. All it needs is a folly in the garden.’
    â€˜What’s a folly? I thought that meant doing something stupid?’
    â€˜Yes, exactly. In this case, architecturally speaking.’ Seeing Hannah’s look, Roz smiled. ‘It means when you build something in your garden that has no use. You build it just for the look of it. Rich people in Victorian times used to build fake ruins in their garden, for example. Too much money!’
    â€˜Not everything has to be practical, or useful, you know.’
    â€˜Why not? What’s the point of it if it’s not useful?’
    â€˜I don’t know. Fun, perhaps? Or maybe, just because it’s beautiful?’ This was an old argument between mother and daughter, and so was conducted lazily, without rancour.
    â€˜Does it really have a ghost?’ Hannah wanted to know.
    â€˜Of course not. The whole concept of ghosts is completely irrational, you know that.’
    â€˜I wish it did.’
    Roz cast her a look, half amused, half irritated. ‘The only scary thing in this house is your great-grandmother, you can trust me on that. Come on, let’s get it over with.’
    Together they walked up the broad stone steps to the front door. Roz smoothed down her skirt with both hands, took a deep breath, and then put her finger to the bell. They heard a shrill ringing somewhere inside the house.
    She was just ringing it again when the door was flung open.
    A very old, very small woman stood in the doorway. Her back was so stooped she had to twist her head sideways to see. A cloud of short white curls covered her head, and her skin was as creased and spotted as ancient linen. Her green eyes were dim and clouded. At the sight of Hannah, her whole face lit up. She reached out two trembling, clawlike hands and seized Hannah’s shoulders, drawing her down into a close embrace.
    â€˜My darling girl, it’s so very good to see you!’ she said in a soft, husky voice. ‘Let me have a look at you! Are you not the very picture of your father? Red as any Rose, we always say round these parts! Just look at you, my lamb!’
    Hannah normally disliked being kissed and hugged by strangers, but this little old woman was so soft and gentle and sweetly scented Hannah hugged her back just as naturally asif she had known her all her life. She was conscious of