the headmistress so that she could sit down.

The children recovered more quickly than their head-mistress, and between pants she said to them, “You … must … get … to the … tower. …”

“Not without you,” said Theo, who hurried to the sink and filled a cup with water. “Here, ma’am, drink this.” She offered the older woman the glass.

Madam took a sip gratefully, then stood from the stool. “Come now,” she said, wiping her brow. “It’s not safe down here. Up the stairs with all of you!”

Ian pulled Theo protectively in front of him as the four trotted quickly out of the kitchen. He was both grateful and angry that she had risked her life to come to his aid in the cellar, but this clearly wasn’t the time to discuss it. He felt a horrid foreboding now that he had an idea of the beast’s brutal strength. His only remaining thought was of getting Theo and Madam Dimbleby to safety as quickly as possible.

The four hurried to the door of the west tower, which Ian reached past Theo to pull open. Looking up the staircase, he saw Searle sitting on one of the lower steps, wearing his usual scowl as loud chatter echoed from higher up the stairwell. “Why are you on the stairs?” Madam Dimbleby asked from over Ian’s shoulder.

“There’s not enough room,” said Searle with an annoyed pout. “It’s a madhouse up there.”

“Right,” said Madam Dimbleby, biting her lower lip. “Come then, children. If there isn’t enough room, we shall go to the east tower. Searle, either come with us or move up these stairs as far as you can.”

“The east tower? I’ll not go up there, no, ma’am!” the boy said with a shudder. “I’d almost rather face that beast than go up there again.” Searle had once gone up to the east tower by himself on a dare. The door had mysteriously slammed behind him, and he’d been unable to open it for several panicky minutes.

“It’ll be all right,” Ian whispered to Theo, who was again shivering with fear. “I was just up there and it wasn’t so bad.”

Madam Dimbleby gave a nod to Searle and said, “Very well, but lock this door behind you before you go up, and the one at the top of the stairs too.”

“Ma’am,” Searle protested, “I told you there wasn’t enough room! We’d all be smashed in if I had to shut the top door.”

“You will do as I say!” roared Madam Dimbleby. Ian had never, ever seen her so angry.

Searle turned pale, and all talking on the stairway stopped. From above they heard Madam Scargill call down, “Maggie? Is everything all right?”

“Gertrude,” said Madam Dimbleby, still glaring at Searle, “the beast is strong enough to gain access to the keep. You must get everyone inside the tower room and lock both doors!”

There was a pause before Madam Scargill said, “You’re coming up, aren’t you?”

“There isn’t enough room and there isn’t enough time to argue over it. I’m taking Ian, Carl, and Theo up to the east tower. We should be safe enough there.” Madam Dimbleby didn’t wait for her cousin to respond. She simply slammed the door in Searle’s face, and after hearing him obediently throw the latch, she ushered the children through the parlor and toward the staircase.

The foursome hurried along, but Carl paused at the front door and looked at the chair he’d left just under the spy hole. “What about watching out for the earl?” he asked.

Ian noticed the boy’s large frightened eyes and knew that none of them wanted to stay on the main floor. Madam Dimbleby wiped her brow again and looked about. “It’s too dangerous for any of you to stay here. Carl, go along with Ian and Theo. I’ll stay at the door until the earl returns.”

“Why don’t we all go up to the tower?” suggested Ian, knowing that it wasn’t safe for Madam at the front door either. “We’ll have a good view of the grounds from up there, ma’am, and we’ll be able to see when the earl shoots the beast.”

Madam Dimbleby hesitated, looking from Ian to the door. “Please, ma’am,” Theo said. “I’d feel better in that tower room if you were with us.”

“Right,” said Madam Dimbleby, giving Theo a tiny smile. “Let me just check the bolt on the door one last time and we’ll head upstairs.”

Ian, Carl, and Theo waited at the foot of the steps while Madam Dimbleby walked over to the front door and