The Star Bracelet

by Paula Harrison

  “I wish we could try some,” said Scarlett longingly. “Look at those ones with the white chocolate icing and strawberries on top. I bet they taste awesome!”

  Lily gazed at the mountain of mixing bowls and the table covered in flour. “We must have been cooking for hours! Let’s clear up and then have a picnic lunch outside.”

  “I’ll wash up – I’m good at it!” Scarlett poured water into the sink before adding big squirts of washing-up liquid.

  Lily and Zina dried the bowls and spoons that Scarlett washed. Fudge began to squeak, and only settled down when Zina gave her another bottle of milk.

  “What a sweet little kangaroo!” Cook handed Lily a picnic basket. “Here you are. I’ve made you some sandwiches and there are crisps and apples in there too.”

  “Thank you!” Lily took a picnic rug from the cupboard and the princesses trooped into the garden.

  The sun was beaming down and a blue-feathered parrot watched them from the top of a tree. Lily led them down a path on to a wide stretch of grass and spread out the rug. “We can have the picnic here.” She set the basket down and took out the cups and plates. Zina put Fudge onto the grass beside her.

  “Lily, is your mother all right?” asked Zina suddenly.

  Lily turned to look. The queen was standing very still beside a flowerbed and staring at the ground. She put a hand to her forehead and sighed.

  Lily hurried over to her mum. “Is it all right if we have a picnic—” She stopped, noticing some rows of squashed bluebells.

  The queen fixed her eyes on Lily. “Have you girls been playing around here? Did you tread on this flowerbed?”

  Lily’s mouth dropped open. “No, we didn’t, I promise! We’ve been in the kitchen baking cakes.”

  The queen nodded. “I was sure you wouldn’t have done it. But oh … my beautiful royal bluebells … and the lilies have been trampled too. The only flowerbed that hasn’t been damaged is the one with the roses near the golden wattle trees.”

  Lily’s heart sank. She’d always loved lilies because she was named after them. Now their stalks were bent and the bright-pink petals were scattered across the earth. Only a few lilies were still standing.

  It seemed strange that the flowers left upright were dotted round the border. What could have flattened some flowers completely but left others alone?

  “Lady Hamilton was right.” The queen picked up a crushed bluebell. “It must have been kangaroos that caused all this damage. She warned me that they can ruin gardens. Look at how the creature has bounced on some flowers but not on others.”

  “I didn’t see any kangaroos here when we came out of the kitchen,” said Lily.

  “What about the kangaroo that Matt was looking after? When he returns tomorrow I’ll be having a serious talk with him about that creature.” The queen’s hand tightened round the broken bluebell. “Perhaps Lady Hamilton was right about the kangaroo sanctuary too. I’m beginning to think I shouldn’t allow one to open around here after all.”

  Lily searched for the right words. She wanted to tell her mum that kangaroos couldn’t have done all this damage. She wanted to say they were lovely animals that just needed a place where they’d be safe. But what if it was kangaroos that had flattened all the flowers?

  Queen Caroline walked back into the palace, still holding the squashed bluebell. Zina and Scarlett came over to join Lily.

  “What’s wrong, Lily?” asked Zina, holding tight to Fudge.

  “My mum thinks it was kangaroos that did all this to the flowerbed.” Lily twisted a lock of hair around her finger. “She says maybe there shouldn’t be a kangaroo sanctuary near here after all. But I don’t understand – we’ve never had problems like this before!”

  “Maybe the mother kangaroo came back to look for Fudge.” Zina stroked the joey, whose sweet brown eyes were peeping out of the top of her jumper.

  Lily shook her head. “The mothers never come back. Matt told me that once … and I don’t think Hoppley could have done so much damage by himself.”

  “Hoppley was asleep in the stables this morning. I’m going to check if he’s still there.” Scarlett ran off.

  Lily’s mind was spinning as she knelt down on the rug and took food out of the picnic basket. They’d spent hours baking for their cake sale but if her mum changed her mind about the kangaroo sanctuary there would be no point in having the sale at all.

  “Don’t worry,” said Zina. “I’m sure we can prove it wasn’t a kangaroo. Are there any other animals that squash plants?”

  Lily shook her head. “I can’t think of any.” She handed out the sandwiches. They looked delicious but suddenly she felt too worried to be hungry.

  Scarlett raced up and sank on to the picnic rug. “Hoppley’s still sleeping on a hay bale and he doesn’t look like he’s moved. I don’t think he did anything wrong!”

  Zina bit into an apple. “Someone’s outside the gate, Lily. Is it Matt? I thought he was coming back tomorrow.”

  Lily scrambled up and looked through a gap in the fence. “No, I think that’s Lady Hamilton’s car. I wonder why she’s parked out there. She left here hours ago.” Putting down her sandwich, she crept over to the gate.

  The posh black car was parked on the other side of the road with the front window half open.

  “I can’t see anyone inside,” whispered Scarlett, who had followed her. “Shall we use ninja moves to get a bit closer?”

  “I’ll go!” said Lily. “I won’t be long.” Putting on her star bracelet, she slipped lightly across the lawn as if her feet hardly touched the ground.

  The driver, Delby, was pacing up and down beside the car with a phone to his ear. Lily waited till he turned away before tiptoeing through the palace gate and sliding behind a nearby bush. Safe in her hiding place, she touched the star bracelet gently. With the help of a little magic, ninja moves had become easier than ever!

  “Yes, most of it’s done, My Lady,” Delby said into the phone. “Shall I come back now?” He swung round and Lily froze. He must be talking to Lady Hamilton. But what did he mean – most of it’s done?

  Delby carried on pacing while Lily watched him from behind the bush. “No, My Lady, the princesses are in the garden so I can’t go back right now. I’ll return and finish off tonight.” He pressed a button on the phone and put it in his pocket. As he climbed into the car, something pink dropped off the bottom of his shoe.

  After he’d driven away, Lily climbed out of her hiding place. Crouching down, she studied the scraps of pink on the ground. Her stomach tumbled over and over. She knew what they were. Lily petals!

  Scarlett and Zina came running out. “Did you find out why Lady Hamilton’s driver was here?” said Scarlett breathlessly.

  Lily picked up the bits of torn petal. “These came off his shoe. He must have stepped on the flowers and bits of petal got stuck to his heels. That means he was the one that ruined the flowerbeds … and I bet Lady Hamilton told him to!”

  When Lily rushed inside to tell her mum about Lady Hamilton’s driver, the queen cut her off. “That’s enough, Lily! I’m sure nobody spoiled the garden on purpose. I know you don’t want it to be true but I really think it must have been kangaroos.”

  Tears pricked Lily’s eyes as she left the parlour. Scarlett and Zina were waiting for her outside.

  “Come on!” whispered Zina, putting an arm round her. “Let’s go and talk in your room.”

  They went up to Lily’s bedroom and Zina put Fudge down on the floor as she was wriggling so much. The little kangaroo flexed her legs and managed a baby hop.

  “Go on, Fudge. Try jumping higher!” said Scarlett.

  Fudge did three little jumps in a row to reach the window. Then she stopped and nibbled the end of the curtain.

  “She seems to be getting stronger all the time,” said Zina.

  Lily smiled at the joey. “Well done, Fudge! At least no one can blame you for the ruined flowers.” She sighed. “I’m sure Delby spoilt those flowerbeds but my m
um thought I was being silly when I told her.”

  “It must be Lady Hamilton’s plan for stopping the kangaroo sanctuary,” said Scarlett. “She’s made your mum think kangaroos are nothing but trouble!”

  “It’s really unfair!” Lily’s cheeks went pink. “And the last thing the driver said was I’ll return and finish off tonight.”

  “So he’s planning to trample on the other flowerbeds too.” Zina’s eyes widened. “Then your mum will be so cross that she’ll never want to see a kangaroo again!”

  Scarlett’s eyes gleamed. “But all we have to do is catch him damaging the garden. Then we’ll have proof it wasn’t a kangaroo at all.”

  “We’d have to take my mum outside to show her what he was doing,” said Lily, frowning, “And I think she’d tell us off for being awake so late and make us go to bed. Unless … maybe we could take a picture!”

  “That’s brilliant!” Scarlett jumped up so suddenly that Fudge squeaked and hid behind the curtain. “I brought a camera from home to take pictures of Estaland. We can use that!”

  “Do you think we’ll get close enough to take a picture?” said Zina.

  Scarlett grinned. “We’ll do some extra-awesome ninja moves and sneak in really close!”

  Lily’s tummy tingled as she thought about slipping out in the dark to catch Lady Hamilton’s driver in the garden. It was a bit scary… but she couldn’t let anyone get away with blaming the poor kangaroos for something they didn’t do!

  Scarlett and Zina put on their very best dresses for dinner that evening as Lily had told them they always dressed up when there were visitors. Scarlett wore a dark-green dress. A gold tiara with emeralds rested on top of her dark curly hair. Zina wore a long white dress and a silver tiara dotted with diamonds. She walked gracefully, holding the hem of her dress in one hand.

  Lily’s best dress was pale blue with a long skirt stretching down to her ankles. She loved the way it floated as she walked but it did get in the way of running sometimes. Her silver tiara, which was decorated with pearls, had an annoying trick of slipping down her forehead. But she was too busy thinking about kangaroos to notice her long dress or slippy tiara this time.

  Queen Caroline smiled and talked about Estaland all the way through dinner. She didn’t mention the ruined flowerbeds.

  The girls tucked into beef burgers and veggie burgers served with Cook’s special royal chips and a leafy green salad. Then there was ice cream for pudding topped with raspberries and chocolate sauce. They climbed the stairs after dinner feeling very full and excited about their plans for that evening.

  “I’ll get my camera.” Scarlett’s eyes shone. “Then we can go and find a place to hide in the garden!”

  “Wait! We’ll be seen too easily if we go out wearing these clothes,” said Lily. “Especially you in that white dress, Zina.”

  Zina wrinkled her brow. “I don’t have many dark clothes. Most of my dresses are white or yellow…”

  “I have LOTS of black leggings,” Scarlett told them. “I’d wear leggings every day if I could! Come to my room and I’ll find them.” Running into her bedroom, she started pulling things out of her suitcase. Socks, T-shirts and tiaras went flying in all directions.

  “Didn’t you unpack before dinner?” asked Zina, trying to tidy up the mound of clothes on Scarlett’s floor. “I’ve hung all my things in the wardrobe.”

  “Oh no, I was too busy! Here you are.” Scarlett handed Zina and Lily some leggings.

  “Thanks!” said Lily. “Let’s meet again in an hour. I don’t think Lady Hamilton’s servant will be here before dark.”

  Back in her room, Lily took off her best dress and tiara and put on the leggings with a dark-blue T-shirt. Fudge was still asleep, so she played with the star bracelet, putting it on and tiptoeing from one side of the room to the other. Then she leaned on the windowsill, watching the sky turn from sunset orange to dark blue and then to black. A bright full moon rose, turning the whole garden silver.

  Lily thought about her mum. She hoped the queen wouldn’t be cross with them for creeping outside when they were supposed to be in bed but she couldn’t think of any other way to prove that kangaroos hadn’t damaged the garden.

  There was a knock on the door and Scarlett came in. “Are you ready? Are you bringing Fudge?”

  Lily stroked Fudge’s ears. The joey’s eyes were shut tight. “I think we should leave her here.”

  Scarlett nodded. “She might get upset if she’s bumped around in the dark.”

  Lily slipped the star bracelet into her pocket and followed Scarlett, but as she reached the door Fudge squeaked. Then she twitched her ears and kicked against the cloth bag.

  “What’s wrong?” Lily stroked the little joey, trying to calm her down, but Fudge wriggled even harder.

  Lily caught sight of some car headlights sweeping down the road beyond the palace fence. Lady Hamilton’s servant might be here at any moment. There was no time to lose. Picking up the bag with Fudge inside, she hung it carefully over her shoulder.

  “Maybe she doesn’t want to be left alone.” Scarlett rubbed the joey’s furry nose. “After all, she’s only a baby.”

  They went to knock on Zina’s door and then together the princesses crept downstairs to the hallway. Sneaking into the kitchen, Lily found two torches in a drawer and gave one to Zina and the other to Scarlett. Then she slid back the bolt on the door and tiptoed out into the moonlight.

  The princesses waited for their eyes to get used to the dark. Strange night-time sounds poured over them – chirpings and squeaks and rustling in the trees.

  Lily felt a prickle on the back of her neck. She knew the garden really well, she reminded herself. All the odd shapes in the dark were just trees and benches – things that looked quite normal in the daytime.

  Scarlett nudged her. “Where shall we hide?”

  “Over here!” Lily led them to the golden wattle trees. “This is the only flowerbed that didn’t get damaged, so Delby is sure to come this way—” She broke off as Zina gave a shriek. “What is it?”

  “There’s something by that tree trunk – something big!” squeaked Zina.

  A branch snapped. Two dark eyes gleamed in the torch beams. Then a brown furry animal the size of a pig sniffed the ground with its stubby nose before turning and trotting away.

  “It’s only a wombat!” said Lily, smiling. “You made me jump, Zina.”

  “It made me jump!” giggled Zina.

  “Shh!” hissed Scarlett. “I can hear a car.”

  The princesses listened. The thrumming engine noise stopped and a stocky figure appeared at the palace gate and pulled at the padlock. Then the man gave up on the lock and climbed over the gate. Landing heavily on the other side, he lumbered across the garden.

  “Turn off the torches. He’s coming this way!” whispered Lily.

  “Here – you’ll probably get the closest.” Scarlett pressed the camera into Lily’s hands. “Push this button to take the picture.”

  Lily’s heart raced. She slid a hand into her pocket and took out the star bracelet. Then she tiptoed forward, watching from between the branches and leaves.

  As the dark figure came closer, Lily could see that it was Delby, Lady Hamilton’s servant. He had a heavy frame and a round face, and he was puffing from the effort of climbing over the locked gate.

  Lily crept to the edge of the clump of trees. Fudge kicked inside the bag and she quickly stroked the animal’s fur to make her quiet.

  Delby switched on a torch and swung the beam across the garden. Then he headed straight for the rose bushes that were bursting with beautiful red blooms. Lily slipped the star bracelet over her wrist. Her ninja moves had to be perfect. Heart thumping, she stepped out into the open.

  Delby raised his foot over the flowerbed.

  Lily slipped closer, keeping to the shadows. Then she lifted the camera to her eye, her finger ready on the button.

  Stamping his foot, Delby broke the first rose stem. Then he crushed
the rose petals under his boot.

  Lily held her breath and pressed the button. There was a click and a light flashed on the camera.

  Delby stumbled. “What…? Who’s there?”

  Lily put the camera in her pocket and looked around in panic. Where could she hide? Quickly, she dived behind a golden wattle tree.

  “Ouch!” Delby hooked his trousers away from the thorn and shone his torch right and left. Then he stopped with the beam fixed on Lily’s hiding place. “Oh no! A giant kangaroo is following me!”

  Lily’s mouth dropped open. What was he talking about?

  The man covered his eyes. “I’m sorry, kangaroo. I was only doing what My Lady told me to.”

  Lily looked down at Fudge, who was blinking in the bright torchlight. Suddenly she realised what was going on. She was hidden behind the tree, but Fudge was leaning forward and Delby must have spotted her. The torch beam cast a long shadow of Fudge’s head, making her look much bigger than she really was!

  While Delby was covering his eyes Lily slipped back among the trees and took off the star bracelet. Scarlett squeezed her hand and whispered, “Did you get a good picture?”

  “I think so,” Lily whispered back. “Delby seems spooked out, doesn’t he?”

  Scarlett giggled, covering her mouth.

  “It’s disappeared!” moaned Delby, staring all around. “Who knows what’s hiding in the shadows!”

  Lily kept completely still. She hoped the man would be scared enough to go home. Fudge shuffled inside the bag and made a little bleating sound.

  “What was that? It sounded more like a lamb than a grown kangaroo! There’s some kind of moonlight trickery going on.” Delby marched towards the trees where the girls were hiding.

  “Everyone split up!” hissed Scarlett.

  The princesses scattered in all directions. Zina raced towards the back door while Scarlett ran towards the ruined flowerbeds. Lily dodged round the side of the golden wattle trees, before dashing towards the house.