Frost Hollow Hall (27 page)

Eventually, my tears stopped. I folded up the letter and pushed it to the deepest part of my pocket. Eliza was right; it was too late. Things were different now.

It hurt, though. Deeply.

So Pa had seen me with Will on our way to go skating. Had I been excited that day?
Really?
I didn’t think so. I’d been miserable because Pa hadn’t yet come home. Will and his skates were just a distraction. Or they had been then.

Yet it was also the very start of things. I’d been heading towards the lake, towards Kit Barrington. An adventure
was
about to start. He was right about that. Perhaps Pa knew it before even I did.

There was one thing I did know. I’d not be chasing after him and Eliza. Though I’d miss them both every day for the rest of my life, I’d not leave my ma. Not for anything. That didn’t stop it hurting. Yet I knew what it was, this feeling. I was losing something dear to me, my own flesh and blood.

I was letting go.

I looked up to see Will limping towards me along the lane. Quickly, I wiped my face and hoped I wasn’t a complete state, though I knew he’d seen me looking worse.

‘I was just coming to call on you,’ he said.

I patted a place on the wall next to me. He eased himself down. Straight away he saw Kit’s ring in my hand.

‘What on earth you got there?’

I held it so he could see it properly. My hand was shaking hard. ‘This belonged to Kit Barrington,’ I said, and told him about Eliza and the letter in my pocket.

His eyes went wide in wonder. ‘So there really was a ring.’

‘You didn’t believe me, did you?’

‘Not quite. Not at first.’

I shrugged. ‘Well, I can hardly blame you for that.’

He sat quiet for a moment. I noticed how close we were sitting, how our hands were nearly touching. My stomach did a little somersault.

‘Reckon you’re done with this business now?’ said Will.

‘I think so.’

He took a deep breath.

‘Any chance I might get a look in, then?’

I stared at him. ‘What?
You?
’

‘Why not?’ he said, all easy. ‘Up to you of course, but let’s just say I’ve never come second best to a ghost before.’

Damn Will Potter!

I bit back the urge to be sharp. Because in a way, he was right, wasn’t he? The Kit I’d known hadn’t been real. He’d been a thought in my head, an idea of a person. And because of him, I’d got off my backside and done things I was proud of. Kit would always be dear to me.

Will seemed to sense my shift in mood. He said gently, ‘You did right by Kit Barrington. He’s a lucky chap.’

I gazed at the ring, then at Will. ‘That’s all done now.’

For here was Will Potter, sat so close I could almost feel the warmth coming off him. Goodness, he was lovely to look at. And he was real.

‘So what you going to do with it?’ said Will, meaning the ring.

‘I’ll give it back to her Ladyship. Its rightful place is with her now, not me. But that can wait ’til tomorrow. I can’t face Frost Hollow Hall today.’

‘If you like, I’ll come with you.’

‘Ta,’ I said. ‘I’d like that very much.’

Will got down off the wall and stood right in front of me. His eyes were the deepest brown.

‘I’ve got a dare for you, Tilly.’

My mouth must’ve fallen open in horror, since he said, ‘Now then. Be fair. It
is
my turn, after all.’

‘Go on then. What is it?’

He folded his arms across his chest. ‘You’ve to invite me in. Properly this time, for tea and everything.’

I tried to keep a straight face, um-ing and ahh-ing until he started to look quite vexed.

‘Oh all right then,’ I said finally. ‘On one condition.’

‘Now what?’

I jumped down off the wall and I held out my hand, hoping more than anything he’d take it.

He raised an eyebrow, then smiled the handsomest smile.

‘Very well,’ he said. ‘It’s a deal.’

And he took my hand in his.

It wasn’t just any old handhold, neither, for it made me flush. Our palms seemed to fit together perfectly. His fingers felt so warm, so sure, I felt certain I’d never let them go.

We walked back up the lane, dawdling a little just for the joy of it. As we reached our gate, I stopped to take in the clean front step and the curl of smoke coming from the chimney. Inside, I pictured Ma still hard at work. Or perhaps she’d seen us coming and had already put the tea on. Either way, my heart was full. This was my house, my home. I wondered if it was right to feel so happy.

‘Pinch me, would you? Just to check I’m not dreaming,’ I said.

Will pinched my arm.

‘Ouch! Not that hard!’ I laughed, pinching him back.

Really I was glad because I’d had enough of dreams. What I wanted was the here and now. To live my life with what I had, not what I hoped might be.

When we reached our front step, I held the door open wide.

‘Come on in,’ I said to Will.

He let go my hand just long enough to take off his cap. Then with his fingers in mine, he stepped inside. And as the sun streamed in through the windows, we took our tea together, Will Potter, Ma and me. It was very fine indeed. Better, in fact, than any dream.

Acknowledgements

This story started life as a scene on a frozen lake. With the help of some special people, that scene became Frost Hollow Hall.

Firstly, I’d like to thank The Arvon Foundation’s Totleigh Barton Centre for creating the spark, and to the Axe Valley Community College for being supportive ever since.

Thanks to all on the Bath Spa Writing For Young People MA. Course Director Julia Green is an inspiration. To my class – Sue, Carol, Bernie, Maria, Ros, Kirsten, Naomi – it was an honour. Special thanks to my wonderful tutor Steve Voake, who was there from the very start. Thanks also to my mentor Marcus Sedgwick.

Huge thanks to my brilliant agent Jodie Marsh for sending Tilly Higgins out into the world one snowy February afternoon, and to Jane Willis for journeys further afield.

To the team at Faber, thank you for making my dreams come true. To Susila Baybars for saying ‘yes’, and to Leah Thaxton for agreeing. Warmest, deepest thanks to my amazing editor Rebecca Lee, whose skill made this a better book. Thanks also to superstar copy-editor Eleanor Rees.

Heartfelt thanks to my early readers, Naomi Rich, Kirsten Harvey, Karl Watson, Becky Howat, Eliza Hall, Pam and Maurice Hall. It meant the world to share this book with you.

To my mum and dad for a lifetime of love. And to my husband Owen, who did everything else so I could write; my biggest thanks of all is to you.

About the Author

EMMA CARROLL
is a secondary-school English teacher. She has also worked as a news reporter, an avocado picker and the person who punches holes into Filofax paper. She recently graduated with distinction from Bath Spa University’s MA in Writing For Young People.
Frost Hollow Hall
is Emma’s debut novel. Told in the distinctive voice of Tilly Higgins, it was inspired by a winter’s day from Emma’s childhood. Currently, Emma is working on her second novel, set in a Victorian circus. Emma lives in the Somerset hills with her husband and two terriers.

Copyright

First published in 2013
by Faber and Faber Limited
Bloomsbury House,
74–77 Great Russell Street,
London
WC
1
B
3
DA

This ebook edition first published in 2013

All rights reserved

© Emma Carroll, 2013

The right of Emma Carroll to be identified as author
of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77
of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly

ISBN
978–0–571–29545–6