GRACE'S SECRETS Grace changed the gear setting on her bike and sped along the tree lined gravel road towards the castle's front steps Out you come Coco she puffed as she down her bikestand and reached to unfasten the puppy harness She took the little ball of black and white fluff from the bike's basket and set him down at the foot of the put castle steps Inside now off you go Good boy Coco's little tail wagged and he took off in the other direction Hey Coco Come back So much for what you learnt at puppy preschool Coco didn't even turn Instead he bolted along the path that led to the castle's enormous maze Oh no you don't Grace raced after him It'll take me forever to find you in there and I'm already late Time to play chasings Grace ran around in circles calling until the dog began to chase her Then she charged up the sixteen stairs that led to the front entrance with Coco nipping at her heels 2
CHAPTER ONE As they entered the giant castle doors Grace stole a last quick glance at the enchanting Victorian lifestyle village of Faerie Glen Hollow that nestled in the valley below Grace's mother Charlotte was working behind the castle's reception desk sorting a bunch of polished cast iron room keys each with their own engraved brass tags bearing names like Bonnie Muir Suite Cinderella Suite King's Court Rooms and Faerie’s Snug She'd traded a dreary dead end job in event management Broome Western Australia for the live in position of hotel manager at the castle and Grace had traded thongs and shorts for Victorian costumes home schooling and a village trapped in time Charlotte pushed a strand of long golden brown hair back into the loose bun at the nape of her neck and frowned as she looked up from what she was doing to see who had come through the front doors Grace gave her a quick wave as she picked up Coco raced past the reception area doorway and scooted along the wide hall and up the castle's stone staircase 3
GRACE'S SECRETS Grace Charlotte yelled after her Where have you been Grace stopped and took a deep breath but she could feel her chest tightening Who gave you the lilies She reached for the asthma puffer in her jacket pocket Charlotte followed Grace's gaze to the huge bunch of lilies on the hall table Ah sorry about that Dr Guda dropped them off I asked one of the cleaners to take them to the coachhouse for the McLeans but she obviously hasn't got around to it yet I'll take them down in a sec She focused her attention back on Grace Well she said in a sharp voice why are you late this time You know I'm quickly beginning to regret our agreement about you being home schooled here Honestly you're running wild always late and not Grace froze Not what she said in a small voice She turned to face her mother but she couldn't raise her eyes further than the waistline of her deep blue Victorian day dress It was Grace's favourite because it matched her mother's blue eyes and its fabric shimmered and sparkled 4
CHAPTER ONE as she moved Her mother said that it was shot with gold and the phrase always made Grace laugh Not keeping your end of the bargain Charlotte's lips closed into a tight thin line I'm doing everything I agreed to before we changed countries Mum Grace finally lifted her eyes to meet her mother's I promised to stay on top of my school work from my tutor and my chores and you promised that I would never have to go back to a real school again My homework's always done on time Okay I'm a bit late sometimes to greet the guests and stuff but I hav en’t missed anything yet in the whole three months we've been here have I Charlotte lifted her dress and petticoats and leapt up the stairs closing the gap between them You need to be ready and down here at least half an hour before the first batch of carriages arrive to help me We've talked about this Grace And where's the mobile phone I gave you Do you even have it with you I've rung you twice in the last fifteen minutes 5
