Marlford by Jacqueline Yallop

statues brushed free of lichen and grime. The animals sat proud of the grass, glaring at the intrusion.
    â€˜It’s the pet cemetery.’ Ellie hardly moved.
    Gadiel walked forward into the circle and bent to caress one of the dogs. ‘Really? That’s what it is? All this?’
    â€˜It was my mother’s. She was very fond of animals. She kept all kinds at the house – a sort of menagerie, really. When they died, she had these memorials commissioned. They’re all buried here, around and about.’
    â€˜But they’re fab. A bit weird, obviously – but really fine workmanship.’
    â€˜I believe one or two of them cost a great deal. They were the work of quite well-known sculptors.’ Ellie paused. ‘But most of the originals have been sold to museums – these are just concrete, just replicas.’
    Gadiel came back towards her. ‘Your mother must have loved her pets a lot. To do all this for them.’
    â€˜She did. She doted on them. That’s what I’ve been told. The dogs especially – she was never without a little dog. I suppose they were company for her. She was sad, I think. She came here when she was very young. It must have been very hard for her.’
    â€˜You never knew her, then?’
    â€˜No. She died when I was born. There were complications at the birth and she just… faded. But I’ve been told all about her. And I think about her all the time. So it’s as if I knew her, I suppose.’
    There was only the slightest of pauses, and when Gadiel spoke again his tone was bright.
    â€˜Last night, when I found all this – well, it was dark and I was lost – I’d been walking for ages, thinkingabout things – and I thought I’d slipped into some kind of enchanted wood.’ He laughed uneasily. He did not tell her how long he had stared at the animals, paler then in the half-light of dawn, more distant, more celestial. ‘It was scary.’
    Ellie laughed, too. ‘I’m sure you could have fought them off if they’d turned savage.’
    â€˜What, a herd of magical stone animals? How strong do you think I am?’
    It made her glance at him, his broadness. She frowned and looked away, fixing her gaze on the false angels. ‘It’s nice that you’ve shown me.’
    â€˜But you knew it was here, anyway.’
    â€˜Yes, of course. But, even so. I don’t come here on my own.’
    â€˜I thought I’d discovered something amazing.’ He walked a few steps away.
    Ellie felt fixed to the spot. ‘Oh, but you have. It’s quite rare, these days, this kind of thing. My mother was old-fashioned; not many people of her age… well, it is quite amazing, in its way.’
    He looked at her. ‘But you don’t like it, do you?’
    She was quiet for a moment. ‘I’ve never liked it. I think it’s grotesque.’ She seemed forlorn. ‘But I’ve never told anybody that.’
    He wanted to hold her. Even if he could take her hand again, that would be something. But he did not dare.
    â€˜It gave me a shock, in the night, I can tell you,’ he said, too brightly again, making it too much a joke.
    â€˜Yes, I imagine it would,’ she replied.
    *
    They walked on, emerging from the dip of the rockery, awkward together. The morning felt oddly indefinite. Ellie did not know what to make of this boy alongside her; she found she was puzzled by the sway of his T-shirt, and his scent, like fresh vegetables.
    Gadiel spoke again as they made their way across open ground. ‘Look, Ellie – about us coming to the house, and the van, and Dan—’
    â€˜Oh, it doesn’t matter.’ She was quick to answer.
    â€˜You see, when we left you last night—’
    â€˜There’s no harm in the van staying at the stables for a day or two; no harm at all.’
    â€˜No – it’s not that.’ He fell silent