“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him yet this morning, or the boys. Maybe they’re still in the shower block.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Conleth is running behind schedule.” Draining the last of her coffee, Leonie pushed back her chair. “I’m heading past that way. I’ll check and see if he needs rescuing from your brother.”
Paige raised an eyebrow at the head counselor. “I thought you said you didn’t put the kids together to give Conleth a hard time.”
“I didn’t.” Leonie’s lips curved in a catlike smile. “That’s just a side benefit. I have faith in you, Paige. And Conleth. But don’t tell him I said that.”
Paige didn’t have much faith in herself, and less in her co-counselor. But it seemed her fears were misplaced. Leonie had barely left the dining hall when the door opened again. To Paige’s relief, Finley and Rufus entered, followed by Ignatius. Archie trailed after the other boys like a small, scruffy thundercloud. And behind him was…
No one.
Paige hurried over to intercept the four boys as they headed for the breakfast table. “Where’s Conleth?”
“He sent us on without him.” Finley yawned, revealing a startling array of sharp, triangular teeth. He covered his mouth. “Sorry. Anyway, he said he needed to stop by the office. He should be here in a minute.”
Paige took in the dark shadows under each pair of eyes. “You boys don’t look like you got much rest last night.”
Ignatius fixed her with a bloodshot, baleful glare.
“Your brother,” he informed her, “is ananimal.”
Her heart sank. “Archie, what did you do?”
Archie didn’t look up from forking waffles from the serving platter onto his plate. “Nothing.”
“Archie.” Getting no response, she turned to the other boys. “Does one of you want to tell me what happened?”
Finley rubbed at his eyes. “He wet the bed.”
Nancy bristled. “Hey, don’t make fun of him for that. It’s okay, Archie. Lots of people have trouble with that sometimes. You don’t need to feel ashamed.”
“Oh, he very much does.” Ignatius took a seat, throwing a pointed glare at Archie across the table. “He didn’t wethisbed.”
Archie smirked.
Paige shut her eyes for a moment. “Archie, please tell me you didn’t.”
“I shifted in my sleep. It’s notmyfault my bear got confused looking for the way to the woods and ended up scent-marking Conleth’s mattress.” Archie’s expression of wide-eyed innocence would have been a lot more convincing if he hadn’t added, under his breath, “I just wish I’d managed to gethim. It’s not fair that he can move so fast.”
Paige pinched the bridge of her nose. “You’re going to apologize to Conleth as soon as he arrives.”
“Ifhe arrives,” Ignatius muttered. “Personally, I think he’s gone straight to the office to hand in his resignation. And I wouldn’t blame him.”
Neither would Paige. As infuriating as Conleth was, she couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for him. If she was tired, he must be utterly exhausted.
Conleth picked that moment to breeze in, bright-eyed and beaming. “Good morning, campers!”
Ignatius groaned, slumping further in his chair. “It should be illegal for anyone to be that perky this early.”
Beth looked a little alarmed. “Uncle Conleth, have you been drinking coffee?”
“Not yet,” Conleth replied ominously. He glanced at Paige, and frowned. “Why do you look so tired?”
Paige stared at him. “Why do you…not?”
He shrugged off the question. “I don’t sleep much. Did someone mention coffee?”
“Please don’t give him coffee,” Ignatius begged.
