Puggleton Park #1, page 4
But then Lady Diggleton did something Penelope did not expect: She led her onto the dance floor as the band began to play a waltz. Lady Diggleton did the steps, and Penelope soon got the idea, staying by her side perfectly, until they were dancing as though they’d been doing it all their lives!
Everyone, it seemed, stopped to look at them and Penelope, emboldened, did a little spin, which led to much clapping and laughter.
The waltz was just ending when Mr. Weeby was suddenly upon them. “My lady!” he said. “I have incredible news!”
“You often do, Mr. Weeby,” said Lady Diggleton.
“The pug’s dancing has caught the eye of the Queen, who requests an audience!”
“The Queen?” Lady Diggleton asked, amazed.
“The very same. She’s waiting for you both!”
* * *
Can it be? Penelope thought nervously. I am to meet the Queen? This is my chance to impress Lady Diggleton once and for all—or I could ruin everything.
Penelope tried to calm herself as Lady Diggleton led her to a red carpet that stretched along a gallery. The Queen, as everyone knew, was fond of dogs, especially her own, a King Charles spaniel named Duchess. Both the Queen and her dog cast their regal gazes upon Penelope and Lady Diggleton as they approached, and they were most intimidating. “Steady yourself, Penelope,” Lady Diggleton whispered to the little pug. “Although I must admit, my heart is racing so.”
A footman announced them at top volume. “May I present Lady Diggleton and Penelope the pug!”
The time for Penelope to impress the Queen had arrived when she heard a familiar sound.
It was a chuckling, almost. More like a chittering, perhaps? It was, Penelope realized in horror, a sound she knew very well—the sound of Dreadful Squirrel!
From the corner of her eye, Penelope caught sight of him sitting in a window, munching on a tart he’d obviously stolen off one of the many, many carts. Penelope felt her temper begin to rise, and her heart began to race. Oh, but she wanted to chase that squirrel! She could just feel her legs, twitching and about ready to spring…
But suddenly she did something she never thought possible: She took a deep breath and ignored Dreadful Squirrel completely! Instead, she held her head up high and sat before the Queen.
“Oh my, what a charming pug,” the Queen said, leaning down and offering her hand.
In return, Penelope offered a single paw to shake, and the entire gallery erupted in joyous applause.
The Queen shook Penelope’s paw, then turned to Lady Diggleton. “I commend you, Lady Diggleton, on your pug, and I proclaim her the top dog of this season’s Begood Ball!”
* * *
The rest of the evening passed in a blur. Gentlemen and ladies lined up to meet Penelope, who was placed upon a chair so she could offer a paw to each in turn. Mr. Weeby stood by her side, of course, handing out his calling card and talking about the Weeby Way to anyone who would listen. Lady Diggleton, meanwhile, was smiling so hard her face began to hurt. She had not had so much fun in ever so long.
And so it was that a decision was made with Lady Diggleton’s healing heart. Penelope would stay with her for good, for she knew with complete certainty that she and the little pug belonged to one another.
“I must tell you, Penelope,” Lady Diggleton said to the pug’s upturned face, “that you have made my life full again…”
Oh, this is it! Penelope thought, about to burst with joy.
“I would be most honored if you would stay with me for—”
“Lady Diggleton!”
Both dog and Lady turned, and there she was: Lady Picklebottom.
“I have just been met by a friend who says she knows Penelope’s rightful owner!” she exclaimed.
“I beg your pardon?” Lady Diggleton said, sure she must have heard wrong. “What did you say?”
“I don’t blame you for needing me to say it twice, for this is the news you have been awaiting for ever so long. Lady Foxwise has just informed me that she knows Penelope’s former Lady!”
“But that can’t be so,” Lady Diggleton said.
“I assure you it is!” Lady Picklebottom said. “Lady Foxwise has just left the ball, for she is older and her knees ached so, but we are invited to her home tomorrow, and there the mystery of whom Penelope belongs to will be solved once and for all!”
Chapter Fourteen
The following morning, Lady Diggleton was heartbroken. Losing this pug will bring me such sorrow, she thought as she pushed away her morning tea, but the pug belongs to another. So I must show courage. I cannot be faint of heart.
Penelope, meanwhile, was much the same. I shall be devastated to lose Lady Diggleton, she thought. And I must admit, now that so much time has passed, I remember very little of my former Lady. Yet I must be brave…
Thus, Penelope and Lady Diggleton rode in silence to Lady Foxwise’s house, each looking forlornly out the carriage window. They did not want the ride to end, for that meant they would be deprived of the other’s company. Yet the carriage came to a jolting halt before Lady Foxwise’s door. The time to say goodbye was near, and both were in anguish because of it.
“Welcome, Lady Diggleton!” said Lady Picklebottom, who was standing on the front steps and grinning ear to ear. “Isn’t this the most exciting day? Soon you shall be relieved of this responsibility, although may I say you have borne it well, and Penelope will be returned to the Lady she must surely miss.”
Neither dog nor lady could reply as they were shown into Lady Foxwise’s sitting room. It is said that hers is one of the finest in London, but neither Penelope nor Lady Diggleton noticed a thing about it.
“I see our party has gathered!” boomed Lady Foxwise as she strode into the room, her neck strung with heavy pearls. “And to solve a mystery, no less. Could anything be more delightful? I certainly think not! But why so glum, my dear?” she asked, turning to Lady Diggleton. “Perhaps the excitement has exhausted you. But do not fret, for I am about to reveal all.”
Lady Foxwise held up a letter. “I was given this many months ago,” she said, “and I’ve kept it ever since, wondering what became of the dog in question. Now it is time for you to do the honors.”
Penelope watched as Lady Foxwise handed Lady Diggleton the letter.
I must accept whatever comes, Penelope reminded herself, for although I am just a little pug, I can still be as brave as the largest of hounds.
Fearing she would cry, Lady Diggleton did not delay. She opened the letter, and began to read aloud…
To whoever has found my dearest pug,
I am writing this letter in the hopes that someone has found my darling Penelope. I lost her in Puggleton Park when she raced off to catch the most dreadful squirrel I have ever had the displeasure to meet. Since then, I have searched high and low, and I have called her name many times, even in my dreams. Yet I could not find her. Now I must leave London, for I am going to live in the country with my sister, who has suddenly found herself in need of my assistance.
It is with great sadness that I must report that my lovely sister is allergic to dogs, and I shall not be able to have Penelope with me at her farm even if she is found. Therefore, it is my dearest wish that, if you have found my pug, you will decide to keep her. Penelope is the most wonderful dog I have ever known, you see, and I promise that her presence will bring you nothing but the greatest joy in all the world.
Most sincerely,
Lady Applestone
“What?” said Lady Picklebottom, reaching for the letter. “There must be some mistake!” She turned to Lady Diggleton. “Surely Lady Applestone’s mind could be changed,” she said. “I shall seek her sister’s farm out at once and remind her how much she loves her precious pug.”
“But Lady Applestone is not asking for Penelope to be returned,” said Lady Foxwise, “because her sister’s health will not allow it.”
“Someone else, then,” said Lady Picklebottom. “Surely a different farm will take her…”
Lady Foxwise laughed. “My dear Lady Picklebottom! I’m afraid you are very much off the mark! Can’t you see that Lady Diggleton and the pug are overjoyed by this news? To try to keep them apart would hurt the friend you claim to care so much about.”
At this, Lady Picklebottom looked at Lady Diggleton, who was crying with joy, and at Penelope, whose tail was wagging as fast as it could. At the sight, Lady Picklebottom found herself unable to speak, perhaps for the first time in her life.
“Come to me, my darling!” Lady Diggleton said, getting down upon the floor.
So Penelope, forgetting all about the Weeby Way of Sit and Stay, ran to her new Lady, leaped into her lap, and covered her face with kisses.
“I don’t understand,” said Lady Picklebottom, “why you are so happy.”
Turning to see Lady Picklebottom’s confusion, Lady Diggleton took pity on her. “Thank you, my friend, for your kind assistance in solving the mystery of Penelope’s original owner,” she said. “You have done me a wonderful kindness. For now that I know about Lady Applestone and her sister, I can rest easy that Penelope and I will stay together for good.” She paused, looking down at her pug. “May I also announce to you, Penelope, that I shall never again insist that you do the Weeby Way of Sit and Stay. Nor shall I keep you off my lap at tea, or dinner, or any other place. We shall snuggle, dance, and frolic all we want, and there is nothing anyone in London can say or do about it!”
“But—” said Lady Picklebottom.
“A happy ending has been found,” said Lady Foxwise. “And I do believe we have heard quite enough from you, Lady Picklebottom. So let’s have tea, my dear.”
* * *
After a most lovely tea, during which Penelope remained on Lady Diggleton’s lap, they said their farewells. Outside, Lady Diggleton put Penelope on her leash and said, “Thank you, Lady Foxwise, for giving me the letter. I do hope you will let us visit you again soon.”
“I will insist upon it!” said Lady Foxwise.
“Then it is time to bring my sweet pug to our forever home,” said Lady Diggleton, “for I am her forever Lady.”
As they ran up the street, passersby turned to stare. But Penelope and Lady Diggleton did not care a bit. Happiness was what they were after now—and the chance to always be themselves.
As they neared Lady Diggleton’s house, they heard someone calling behind them, “Stop! You must stop!”
They turned to see who it was. It was Lady Picklebottom!
“Wait!” she called. “Please wait for me!”
Penelope and Lady Diggleton were both surprised to see her running so. In fact, Lady Diggleton could not think of a time that Lady Picklebottom had ever moved so fast.
Lady Picklebottom caught up to them and tried to catch her breath. “It is true that I have always believed that animals belong on a farm,” she said, panting hard. “And, as you know, I am not often wrong. But perhaps I was on this one occasion. Which is why I have bought Penelope the perfect gift.”
What on earth could it be? wondered Penelope, for she simply could not believe that Lady Picklebottom would get her something she would desire.
Lady Picklebottom handed Lady Diggleton a bag from the pet emporium, and Penelope watched as her Lady opened the bag, then laughed. “I do believe you are right this time, my friend,” she said, “that this is the perfect gift. But now we must see if Penelope agrees.”
Nodding, Lady Picklebottom leaned down and gently placed a toy at Penelope’s feet.
To the pug’s great surprise, it was the best gift she could possibly imagine! It was not a ball, or a stick. It was her very own toy squirrel, you see, with a raggedy tail, and the most terrible buckteeth she had ever seen.
And it was absolutely, wonderfully dreadful.
About the Contributors
Deanna Kizis is a journalist, screenwriter, and author. Her first children’s book, Please Don’t Read This Book!, is out now. Deanna has a daughter who loves pets. That means they have a dog, a cat, two fish, and a bearded dragon. If you ever want to come help, let them know–these pets won’t feed themselves! Find out more at www.deannakizis.com.
Hannah Peck is an author and illustrator based in East London. Storytelling is central to her work, whether drawing from folklore and fairy tales or building detailed worlds in her children’s books. Hannah’s clients include Penguin, Faber, Bloomsbury, Audible, and more.
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Deanna Kizis, Puggleton Park #1
