Ondine (12 page)

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Ferrets are famous salad dodgers, and are unable to process sugars or even vegetable protein. Don't feed them raisins, as ferrets are also known to hoard their food. The sugar rush from a raisin bender can put them in a coma. Likewise with alcohol, but that's just common sense.

T
hey'd been talking for more than two hours, Shambles and Old Aunt Col, but Ondine had no idea what they were talking about. Every time she returned from the dining room with empty plates, she looked in on the private room behind the kitchen. There they were, Shambles jittering about on the table and Old Col nodding her head from time to time. They spoke in hushed tones, their backs to the doorway so Ondine couldn't even read their expressions.

The old lady and the ferret. What
could
they be talking about?

‘No slacking off, go take table twelve's dessert order,' Ma said. ‘Leave Hamish and Aunt Col alone. When they're ready to talk to you, they'll let you know.'

A spark raced up Ondine's spine. Her mother
had called him Hamish instead of Shambles. Would that mean her great-aunt had decided to release the enchantment so he could become human again? Yet again Ondine wondered whether Hamish might be as handsome as he sounded. Or at the very least, as handsome as Lord Vincent.

I shouldn't compare them, but I can't help it
.

It was impossible for Hamish to sit still. Being a human with ferret qualities (although by now perhaps it was the other way around) he did his best to listen quietly and ‘sit nice'
³⁸
as his mother used to say. It was a losing battle. The mixture of excitement and fear coursing through his body had him trembling from nose to tail-tip.

‘Ye understand how completely sorry I am,' he started, knowing it barely touched the sides of the cavernously bad feeling existing between them.

‘You offended me mightily, you know that,' Aunt
Col said, and from the look on her face – as wrinkly and ‘of a certain age' as it was – she'd kept hold of her pain for many, many years.

‘Aye, I know, and I am deeply sorry. And at first I was angry with ye for doin' it, but I've come to understand why ye did it. Ye've taught me a lesson, one I'll nawt likely forget,' Hamish said, taking a deep breath (for a ferret anyway) and trying to move the conversation forwards. ‘I didn't realise yer debutante ball was so important to ye. But I know I ruined it for ye, and I'm very sorry. If you change me back, I'll partner ye again and we'll get it right this time.'

They both sat there for a moment, as Hamish looked at Old Col, and she looked back at him. All the while Hamish's tiny heart whirred like a drum roll.

‘Eh, lass? Now that we're older and wiser, is there any chance ye can forgive me?'

The papery skin on Old Col's face made a concertina on her cheeks as she smiled. ‘You're half right. I'm certainly much older, and I do believe I am somewhat wiser. You did hurt me, Hamish, for many reasons – but you're right, it was a long time ago, and
holding a grudge is so terribly ageing.'

Hamish held his breath, waiting for the next bit.

‘I forgive you,' Old Col said, her eyes sparkling behind their stubby lashes.

In those few words, Hamish felt his spirits soar. Then just as quickly they crashed as he surveyed his furry body. ‘But, I'm still a ferret!'

‘So you are. Which means it's up to you now. Perhaps you like being a ferret because it means you are excused from life's obligations.'

‘So you're saying I'm still a ferret because . . . because I
like
it?'

The grin she gave him sent a heavy, sinking feeling into the pit of his stomach.

‘That must be it. Weasel your way out of that one!'

The minutes dragged like hours, until towards the end of the evening, Ondine finally heard Old Aunt Col summon her to sit beside them at their table. The wrinkles on her face and her gnarled, arthritic fingers may have given the woman an appearance of age, but her mind still cracked as fast as a whip.

‘Ondine, come here, child. Hamish has something he wishes to say to you,' Aunt Col said, motioning to the ferret, who sat near the edge of the table with his head bowed.

‘Aye, lass, I do. But before I go on, I want to tell ye how much I appreciate everything ye've done for me. Ye've taken me in and provided for me. I couldnae asked for more.'

Fear gripped Ondine's heart and gave a good squeeze. His words sounded so ominous. Her hands wobbled, so she clasped them together to hold them still.

‘Aunt Col has lifted the spell, but I think I've been a ferret so long I've forgotten what I used to be. She says it's up to me now, but I'm nawt sure I know how to be me again. Ye've shown me what it means to be part of a family, to work together and make a real go of it.'

Ondine pleaded with Aunt Col. ‘Change him back!'

‘I already have. He's responsible for his life now.'

‘But you turned him into a ferret in the first place,' Ondine protested.

‘That's true, but spells only work on willing
recipients. I did call him a weasel for being so horrible to me and ruining my big night, but he must have believed it to make the spell work.'

‘So why isn't he changing back then?'

A sad little voice piped up, ‘Because ah'm nawt worthy of ye.'

Ondine noted the drawl in his accent, proving just how deeply embarrassed he felt. ‘Don't be silly. Of course you're worthy. You're helping out around the pub and you prevented the Duke's assassination, for goodness' sake. They're pretty worthy things in my book.'

The little ferret gave a sigh and said, ‘Yeah, I guess so.'

But he didn't sound convinced.

A tear trickled down Ondine's cheek at the thought of Hamish living the rest of his life trapped in that little body.

‘Ach, dry yer eyes,'
³⁹
Shambles said, his accent
sounding even thicker with remorse. ‘Ah know ye were looken forward to me being human again, but ye'll have to wait a bit until I get mah heed right.'

Now who's the psychic one?

Later that night, when all was quiet, Shambles sneaked into Ondine's room. In automatic response to seeing the ferret near her bed, Ondine patted the pillow and made room for him.

‘Nay, lass, I just came to bid you goodnight. Now get yer sleep. I'm for the laundry.'

A heavy feeling tugged at Ondine's heart. As if she were missing him already. ‘You don't have to sleep down there, Shambles. Ma knows you're here anyway.'

‘All the more reason to stay in the laundry. It's nawt appropriate for me to be in yer room. I've taken advantage of yer . . .
hospitality
. . . enough.'

Ondine heard the emphasis on the word and chose to ignore it. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out because her mind had gone
blank.
⁴⁰
Possibly because all she could do was imagine how lonely she'd be without him snuggled in beside her. For a while Ondine sat there in her bed, while Shambles stood there in the middle of the floor, neither saying anything for what felt like the longest time.

Finally, Shambles sighed. ‘I think yer aunty's right. I have to behave like a man. I think mebbe if I go with her we might be able to find some spells that might help.'

He was
leaving
? How would that help anyone?

‘Sham– no, Hamish?' Ondine cleared her throat. ‘You're the only one here who doesn't treat me like a child. Please don't start now.'

‘Yer nawt a child, that's for sure.' The ferret shook his furry head. ‘You're the smartest one here. And that's why I have tae go. I'll only drag ye down if I remain.'

Nothing he said made any sense. ‘You'll at least stay for Margi's party tomorrow night, won't you?' Ondine tried to sound reasonable, while in her heart she felt very close to begging. Only she wouldn't beg, and she
wouldn't whine, because that would betray how mature she was trying to appear.

‘One last party, eh? Well, OK, if it means that much to ye.'

Ondine's shoulders sagged in relief. She hadn't realised how tense she'd become during the course of their conversation, but now she sighed out loud with the reprieve. Maybe she could convince Aunt Col and Shambles to stay with them? After all, they had room for plenty more under their roof.

Shambles made for the door, but stopped before he left.

‘Is there something else?' Ondine asked.

‘Yeah, there is. Yer ma told me about Lord Vincent. She said he was making puppy eyes at you in the dining room the other day.'

‘Thanks, Ma.' Ondine flushed.

Shambles shrugged. ‘Big families are short on privacy.'

‘What about Lord Vincent?' she asked, as a fresh wave of tingling spread across her wrist at the memory of his kiss.

‘You're a smart girl. I think you already know.'

‘And if I wasn't smart? If I was only a child. What would you tell me?'

‘I'd tell you to stay away from him, because he reminds me too much of me.'

With that, Shambles walked out of her room, leaving Ondine with a sinking, empty feeling inside.

That night, as Ondine slept, she tried to dream of Lord Vincent, but her subconscious wouldn't let her. Instead, Melody, her friend from Psychic Summercamp, appeared.
Pang!
Ondine had meant to keep in touch with her friend, but things had become so busy she hadn't found the time. In the dream, they were sitting in a field of flowers, at dusk on a balmy summer's evening. Fireflies danced around them. It was a lovely, calm scene, and Shambles appeared (eating a sausage, of course, because any time Ondine thought of Shambles it was associated with eating). It all felt so peaceful, Ondine wanted the dream to last for ages.

‘Mrs Howser wants to see you,' Melody said.

Her friend's words brought a change of scene.
It became dark and a cold draught played around her legs, yet a bright spotlight shone on her. Shambles stopped eating and cried out in pain, clutching his belly.

‘We're coming,' Melody said.

‘I'm dying,' Shambles said.

Ondine sprang awake, dripping with perspiration while her heart thundered behind her ribs, threatening to burst free.

‘I'm not psychic, it was just a dream,' she said to the empty room.

So why couldn't she convince herself?

Not sleeping properly made Ondine grumpy. When Melody and Mrs Howser arrived in the dining room late the next afternoon, her heart sank and she became even grumpier. Not because she didn't like them, but the fact that they were here in person meant perhaps the rest of last night's dream might come true as well. The bit that didn't end well for Shambles. Still, she hugged Melody hello.

‘Hey, Ondi, it's good to see you! Did you get my
message in your dream?' Melody beamed. ‘I've cracked astral projection at last. Mrs Howser's been so helpful. Is Shambles still here?'

‘Th-that was you?' Cold dread snaked through her system.

‘Yes! I'm still not sure how much came through. I used a new technique, but I
was
in your dream last night, wasn't I? I can tell because you've gone pale. Oh dear, I didn't go overboard, did I?' Melody blurted.

Ondine wanted to be sick.

‘Aren't you going to show us to a table?' Mrs Howser asked as she hitched a multitude of coloured shawls over her shoulders. High summer, but the woman acted like she had a chill. ‘You can tell us how you're getting along with Shambles. I've actually missed him.'

Remembering her manners just in time (and taking a deep breath so she could rein in her nausea), Ondine invited them to take a seat, then dashed to the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with a pot of steaming tea.

‘We're flat out, to tell the truth. We have a pretty full dining room tonight, and it's Margi's engagement party to Thomas after that. Hi, Thomas,' she added, as the topic of conversation walked in, bringing a decanter of wine to the patrons on a nearby table.

‘I know it's your sister's engagement party,' Mrs Howser said with a haughty tone. ‘Your mother invited us, in exchange for me graciously returning the remainder of your tuition fees. Even though I was under no obligation, due to you leaving in somewhat hurried circumstances.'

Gulp.

‘Hey, Ondi. Thanks for stringing up the fairy lights in the garden – they'll look great in the dark,' Thomas said.

Ondine felt eternally grateful for Thomas's interjection. She was really starting to like her future brother-in-law, and felt a little glow of extra love for her eldest sister. Margi had chosen well.

Melody piped up, ‘Fairy lights? But in the dream they were fireflies.'

Something staggered behind Ondine's ribs and her
throat turned to ash. Everything about her dream was coming true.