Best Kept Secret (The Clifton Chronicles 3)

Emma moved away and began chatting to a boy called Tommy about his erupting volcano. Most of his paper was covered in deep red flames. Emma thought that Freud would have wanted to adopt this child, as he daubed even more blobs of red paint on to the canvas.

She glanced across to see Sebastian chatting to Jessica while staring intently at her painting of Noah's Ark.

At least she seemed to be listening to him, even if she didn't look up. Sebastian left Jessica and gave Sandra's and Sophie's paintings one more look, then went and stood by the door.

A few minutes later, Matron suggested they all return to her office for a cup of tea.

After she had poured three cups and offered them each a Bath Oliver biscuit, she said, 'We will quite understand if you want to go away, give it some thought and perhaps return later, or visit one of our other homes, before you come to a final decision.'

Harry remained resolutely silent, as he waited to see if Sebastian would show his hand.

'I thought all three girls were quite delightful,' said Emma, 'and found it almost impossible to choose between them.'

'I agree,' said Harry. 'Perhaps we should do as you suggest, go away and discuss it between ourselves and then let you know how we feel.'

'But that would be a waste of time if we all want the same girl,' said Sebastian, with a precocious child's logic.

'Does that mean you've made up your mind?' asked his father, realizing that once Sebastian had revealed his choice, he and Emma could outvote him, although he accepted that might not be the best way for Jessica to begin her life at Barrington Hall.

'Before you decide,' said Matron, 'perhaps I should supply a little background information on each of the three children. Sandra has been by far the easiest to keep under control. Sophie is more gregarious but a bit of a scatterbrain.'

'And Jessica?' asked Harry.

'She's undoubtedly the most talented of the girls, but lives in a world of her own and doesn't make friends easily. I would have thought of the three, Sandra might well suit you.'

Harry watched as Sebastian's frown turned into a scowl. He switched tactics.

'Yes, I think I agree with you, Matron,' said Harry. 'My choice would be Sandra.'

'I'm torn,' said Emma. 'I liked Sophie, bubbly and fun.'

Emma and Harry stole a quick glance at each other. 'So now it's up to you, Seb. Will it be Sandra or Sophie?' asked Harry.

'Neither. I prefer Jessica,' he said, then jumped up and ran out of the room, leaving the door wide open.

Matron rose from behind her desk. She clearly would have had words with Sebastian if he'd been one of her charges.

'He hasn't quite got the hang of democracy yet,' said Harry, trying to make light of it. Matron headed for the door, looking unconvinced. Harry and Emma followed her down the corridor. When Matron entered the classroom, she couldn't believe her eyes; Jessica was unpinning her picture and handing it to Sebastian.

'What did you offer her in exchange?' Harry asked his son as Sebastian marched past him clutching on to Noah's Ark.

'I promised her that if she came to tea tomorrow afternoon, she could have her favourite food.'

'And what is her favourite food?' asked Emma.

'Hot crumpets covered in butter and raspberry jam.'

'Would that be all right, Matron?' asked Harry anxiously.

'Yes, but perhaps it would be better if all three of them came.'

'No thank you, Matron,' said Emma. 'Jessica will be just fine.'

'As you wish,' said Matron, unable to mask her surprise.

As they drove back to Barrington Hall, Harry asked Sebastian why he'd chosen Jessica.

'Sandra was quite pretty,' he said, 'and Sophie was lots of fun, but I'd have been bored with both of them by the end of the month.'

'And Jessica?' asked Emma.

'She reminded me of you, Mama.'

Sebastian was standing by the front door when Jessica came to tea.

She climbed the steps, clinging on to Matron with one hand and clutching one of her paintings in the other.

'Follow me,' declared Sebastian, but Jessica remained on the top step as if glued to the spot. She looked petrified, and wouldn't budge until Sebastian returned.

'This is for you,' she said, handing over her painting.

'Thank you,' said Sebastian, recognizing the picture he'd spotted on the wall in the corridor at Dr Barnardo's. 'Well, you'd better come in, because I can't eat all the crumpets on my own.'

Jessica stepped tentatively into the hall, and her mouth opened wide. Not because of the thought of crumpets, but at the sight of real oil paintings with frames hanging on every wall.

'Later,' promised Sebastian, 'otherwise the crumpets will get cold.'

As Jessica walked into the drawing room, Harry and Emma rose to greet her, but once again she couldn't take her eyes off the pictures. She eventually sat down on the sofa next to Sebastian, and transferred her longing gaze to a pile of sizzling hot crumpets. But she didn't make a move until Emma handed her a plate, followed by a crumpet, followed by a knife, followed by the butter, followed by a bowl of raspberry jam.

Matron scowled as Jessica was about to take her first bite.

'Thank you, Mrs Clifton,' Jessica blurted out. She devoured two more crumpets, each accompanied by a 'Thank you, Mrs Clifton'.

When she turned a fourth down with 'No thank you, Mrs Clifton', Emma wasn't sure if she would have liked another one, or Matron had instructed her not to eat more than three.

'Have you ever heard of Turner?' asked Sebastian, after Jessica had finished her second glass of Tizer. She bowed her head and didn't reply. Sebastian stood up, took her by the hand and led her out of the room. 'Turner's quite good actually,' he declared, 'but not as good as you.'

'I just can't believe it,' said Matron as the door closed behind them. 'I've never seen her so at ease.'

'But she's hardly uttered a word,' said Harry.

'Believe me, Mr Clifton, you've just witnessed Jessica's version of the Hallelujah Chorus.'

Emma laughed. 'She's quite delightful. If there's a chance of her becoming a member of our family, how do we go about it?'

'It's a long process, I'm afraid,' said Matron, 'and it doesn't always end satisfactorily. You could begin by having her here for the occasional visit and, if that goes well, you might consider what we call a weekend leave. After that, there's no turning back, because we mustn't set up false hopes.'

'We'll be guided by you, Matron,' said Harry, 'because we certainly want to give it a try.'

'Then I'll do everything I can,' she replied. By the time she'd drunk her third cup of tea and even managed a second crumpet, Harry and Emma had been left in no doubt what was expected of them.

'Where can Sebastian and Jessica have got to?' asked Emma, when Matron suggested that perhaps they should be on their way.

'I'll go and look for them,' Harry was saying, when the two children came bursting back into the room.

'Time for us to go home, young lady,' said Matron as she rose from her place. 'After all, we must be back in time for supper.'

Jessica refused to let go of Sebastian's hand. 'I don't want any more food,' she said.