Cat's Cradle is the 6th novel in the Cat Royal series by Julia Golding. It is a young adult, historical fiction book that continues to follow Cat on her adventures- travelling to Scotland to find her family, as Cat was abandoned as a baby on the doorstep of Drury Lane.
Cat returns to England with Billy from Jamaica on a slave ship and goes to visit Syd. Syd is ecstatic to see her and they decide that Cat should stay with the Fletchers as she currently has no home. Unexpectedly, Mr Sheridan (Cat's unofficial guardian) turns up looking rather troubled. He informs Cat that he has received a letter from Mrs. Moir, a Scottish lady who claims to know something about her family. However, Mr Sheridan and Cat are both wary as the woman asks for money and could be a fraud, but Cat is very interested and deep down she wants to meet this woman, as she is curious and eager to find her family, as she has never had one.
To celebrate Cat's return Cat, Syd and the gang go out for a party and some dancing. There, Cat feels uncomfortable as Syd is making his feelings increasingly obvious, but she only loves him like a brother, but then he later reassures her that it's her choice and 'he won't go all queer on her.'
Suddenly the good mood of the public turns nasty as the Londoners are disgruntled as some Irish workers arrive. A fight breaks out and as Cat is trying to escape the affray she encounters another girl, Bridget O' Riley, and the two escape together. Cat takes Bridget to Syd's place as it's late at night and Bridget, being Irish, doesn't know her way around.
Cat and Bridget are suddenly awoken in the morning by Bridget's rowdy brothers, who hit her and force her home. Cat is sorry to see her go but she visits her later, and stands up for herself against Bridget's brothers and takes Bridget out. Cat then decides to go to Scotland with Bridget, but as a worker at a Cotton Mill, so Mrs Moir wont know who she is, and she can study her undetected.
Upon arrival in Scotland, Cat is teased for having a different accent but she soon impresses everyone with her cheeky remarks and daring acts. She is frustrated at first because she doesn't find out anything about the Moir family, but Bridget convinces her that these things take time.
When the Moirs fall ill, Cat voluntarily helps the out, feeding the younger ones and handing out medicine. In this way, she meets Mrs Moir and learns the truth: Mrs Moir is not her Mother, but her Aunt. She is ashamed of her sister as Cat was born out of wedlock and makes Cat promise that she wont reveal who she is to her cousins (Mrs Moir's children.)
Cat is relieved to find out the truth but also slightly hurt that Mrs Moir doesn't love her. Soon after, Mrs Moir dies from her fever. At the funeral Cat resolves to find her brother, as Mrs Moir had also revealed that she had a younger brother, Rabbie, who had joined the bandits.
Cat isn't encouraged to go and look for her brother, but she stubbornly refuses to leave without meeting him. When they finally meet, Rabbie refuses to believe that Cat is his sister as that shames his Mother. When they are both locked up for theft and have a chance to talk, he warms towards her and calls her 'Sister.' When they are both called forward to be judged, all Cat's friend and acquaintances (Frank, the Duke of Avon, Syd, Nick etc) arrive and convince the judge to let Cat go, upon the fact that Rabbie must go with her. Rabbie isn't pleased at first as he travels with Cat and Frank, but he soon starts joking around and teasing Frank.
Curtain falls
Characters:
Cat Royal The protagonist of the series. An orphan abandoned on the doorstep, she was named Royal after the theatre. Cat is very strong willed and independent, and curious to find out about her family as she has never known her own origins. She has many friends, including the Duke of Avon who come to her aid.
Bridget O'Riley An Irish girl who has come to London with her mean brothers. She doesn't feel loved by them and follows Cat to Scotland. Bridget is very pretty and Cat wants her and Syd to be sweethearts.
Mrs Moir Cat's aunt. She sent a letter to Mr Sheridan which is how Cat heard of her. Before she died, Mrs Moir told Cat the truth about her flamboyant mother Jesse.
Rabbie Cat's younger brother. He initially denies Cat as being his kin but soon warmed to her, and accompanied her back to London.
Official Julia Golding website: