“Oh, I was just about to pop up and remind you about taking a jacket, Jacinta. It’s warm outside now, but once the sun dips it gets chilly. Good girl. I’ve drawn you a map—it’s a bit scratchy but you should be able to find your way. And just in case you get lost, take the spare phone. I’ve programmed the house number into the speed dial, so just give a ring and one of us will be down to find you.”
Jacinta spent a few minutes going over the map with Mrs. Oliver, who then handed her a small backpack with some apples and four pieces of hummingbird cake—just in case anyone was hungry.
She set off across the driveway, through the walled garden and into the long meadow. She practically bounced—happy to be outside again on what was a most sparkling day. She could see the giant fir tree along the creek line where she expected to find her friends.
Jacinta had turned and was walking backward, taking in the view of Highton Hall, when rather abruptly she was on her back, legs in the air, kicking like a stranded tortoise.
“Ow, why don’t you watch where you’re going!” a voice growled.
Jacinta rolled over to face her attacker.
“Me!” She scrambled to her feet. “Why are you lying there in the grass in the first place? Of course I didn’t see you.” And then she realized who she was talking to. “You! I see your manners haven’t improved in the past few days.” Jacinta narrowed her eyes.
“And you’re still the same stuck-up spoilt rich brat too. Good to know some things don’t change,” he spat back at her.
“What are you doing here anyway?” Jacinta looked around and realized that from this position the boy was completely hidden but had a very clear view of the fir tree. “Are you spying on them?” she demanded.
“Why would I do that? I couldn’t care less about them. I was just minding my own business,” he retorted.
“And what exactly is your business, Lucassss?” Jacinta hissed his name.
“That’s none of your business either,” he replied.
“Really! Well, I’m sure Alice-Miranda and Jasper will have something to say about that—and your Aunt Lily too.” Her shoulders rose and she exhaled loudly.
Lucas said nothing. He stood up and met her gaze, but this time Jacinta noticed something different in his eyes. Something she had seen before, in her own reflection.
“Go ahead and tell on me, then. It won’t make any difference. I’m sure that they’re sending me away next week. I’m way too much trouble,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Where are you going?” Jacinta asked, softening just a little.
“Back to boarding school, I suppose. Where my mother left me. Lily’s been to see them and patch things up. Probably asked your little friend’s father and mother to make a donation or something so the school would ‘overlook my issues.’ ”
“What issues?” Jacinta asked.
Lucas kicked at the ground. “Let’s just say that I picked a fight with the wrong kid.”
“What do you mean?” Jacinta wasn’t about to give up any time soon. “What did you do?”
“I punched him in the nose.”
“What for?” Jacinta continued.
“Lots of things. The guy’s a twit. He started picking on this other little kid from the minute he arrived. Told him he had to do everything he said and if he didn’t, well, the kid copped it.”
Jacinta raised her eyebrows. “How?”
“Honey in his bedsheets and mashed cockroaches in his toothbrush, for starters,” Lucas replied.
“That’s terrible!” Jacinta exclaimed. “Did anyone tell the teachers?”
“They tried, but no one would listen. This kid has everyone fooled.”
“It sounds like the bully at our school. She was asked to leave last term because the headmistress finally realized she was a horror. They’re probably related.” Jacinta smiled. “So it’s true, then, that you were expelled?”
“Yeah, that’s why I’m here, having so much fun,” Lucas said with a sneer.
“You know, it’s not true what you said before about Hugh and Cecelia,” Jacinta began. “I know they wouldn’t pay off a school like that. They’re not that sort of people.”
“Yeah, right. Rich people are all the same in my books. Only want you around if you’re perfect and well behaved and have good manners and stuff. Or else they can pay to get rid of you.”
“That’s certainly not true. I’m not perfect and sometimes I have the worst manners ever. In fact, I’m known as my school’s second-best tantrum thrower.”
“You. Are you kidding me? What have you ever done?” Lucas stared.
“Well, let’s just see. I hated school so much last year that I stole the school flag and hung it from my bedroom window, and I ordered a huge box of licorice which I ate every night after five p.m. I thought they’d have to send me home for sure. It’s one of our school rules, you know.”
“What? Not stealing flags?” Lucas scoffed.
“No, not eating licorice after five p.m.,” Jacinta retorted.
“And did they?” Lucas asked.
“Did they what?”
“Send you home, of course,” he demanded.
“No. They didn’t. They rang my parents and asked them to come and get me but Mummy was too busy with her friends and Daddy was away on business. So instead I had detention for a month.”
“But weren’t your parents angry?” Lucas pulled at a long stem of grass.
“Yes, of course they were. Mummy was furious because she had to take a very long phone call from Miss Reedy and it interrupted her manicure.”
“My mother wasn’t very happy about what happened with me either.”
“What about your father?” Jacinta asked. “Where’s he?”
“I don’t even know who he is. And I don’t want to talk about it. It’s none of your business,” Lucas snapped. “Anyway, is that all you’ve done?”
“Well, no. I cried like a baby every night for a month. Homesickness is punishable by expulsion, you know.”
“Really?” Lucas looked moderately impressed. “Have you got any food in there?” He pointed at the backpack.
“Four bruised apples and four pieces of now very squashed hummingbird cake,” Jacinta replied.
“Can I have some?” Lucas whispered, while studying the ground. “Please?”
Jacinta stared at him. “What did you say?”
“Doesn’t matter—you’re not going to give it to me anyway.” He turned and began to walk away.
“Hey, come back here,” Jacinta demanded. “If you want some cake, that is.”
Lucas stopped. He turned and saw Jacinta sit on the ground and open the backpack.
She rummaged around in the bag. “Well, do you want some or not?”
Lucas walked back toward her and sat down.
“Here.” She handed him a piece of cake. “I might as well have some too.” Jacinta began to unwrap a second piece. “So, tell me what happened after you punched the bully in the nose?” she asked.
By the time Jacinta licked the last crumbs of cake from her fingers the two of them realized that they might just have quite a lot more in common than they could ever have imagined.
“Oh, hello, what a lovely surprise,” said Alice-Miranda as she turned around to see Lucas entering the cubby through the droopy branch door.
“What do you want?” Jasper rolled his eyes and backed away.
“Ugh. I’m out of here.” Lucas turned to go.
“Oh no you don’t.” Jacinta put her hands on his shoulders and turned him back around. “He’s with me,” she said, and gave him a little shove forward into the cubby.
Alice-Miranda raced over to hug her friend. “I’m so glad you’re better. You’ve been missing all the fun.” She looked at the unlikely pair. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes, everything’s fine. I told Lucas that he could come and play with us, if he wanted to,” Jacinta said firmly.
“Of course. Lucas, you’re most welcome
to join us—isn’t he, Jasper?” Alice-Miranda said meaningfully. Jasper reluctantly nodded. “I’ve been hoping to get to know you better, Lucas. It seems silly that we shouldn’t be friends when we all live in the same place—don’t you agree?”
Lucas managed a nod followed by a tight half smile.
“Well, this is our cubby. Isn’t it amazing? We made it last year and we found all the furniture in the barn behind Rose Cottage. Mr. Greening helped bring it down here in the trailer. I think it’s the most gorgeous secret hideaway—just perfect for adventures. You know, I think there could even be some magic down here under this old tree,” Alice-Miranda mused.
Lucas moved away from the doorway toward the beaten accordion perched on the sideboard. “Does that work?” he asked, pointing at the shabby relic.
“Well, it’s certainly seen better days, but I think it should still play a tune,” Alice-Miranda replied. “Try it—if you want to, of course.”
Lucas picked up the accordion and gave it a squeeze. A gush of air raced out and the most awful sound followed. The children all looked at each other—and laughed.
“I think you should play us a concert,” Jacinta said, clapping her hands.
Even Jasper couldn’t help but smile.
“Yes, Lucas—a concert, please,” Alice-Miranda urged.
Lucas squeezed again and pressed the keys—this time the accordion sounded like a cross between a strangled cat and a windy cow. The children fell about giggling—Lucas too.
That afternoon they had the most wonderful time. Alice-Miranda had all but forgotten about the things that were troubling her. Jasper tried hard not to talk to his cousin but after a while he thawed a little. Lucas, it seemed, could be quite charming when he wasn’t being horrid.
Up at the Hall there was a flurry of activity. During the week the house had been cleaned from top to bottom, and that afternoon there were vans and trucks delivering all manner of things from flowers and fruit to helium balloons.
“I do wish you would let me cook for the party, ma’am,” Mrs. Oliver tutted as she motioned for another box of groceries to be taken to the pantry.
“Oh, Dolly, nonsense, this party is for family—and if you were cooking all day and night you wouldn’t be able to enjoy it,” Cecelia reprimanded.
“But Mrs. Smith is here to help me now—she arrived from the school this morning. You should have seen us there—we were a grand team. I’m sure we could have things ready in no time,” Mrs. Oliver protested.
“I know you could. But really, at so many of our parties you don’t have a second to join us—and it is Charlotte’s birthday, and she’d be very cross with me if you were down here slaving over hot ovens. Besides, Mummy has sent over some lovely dresses for you and Shilly and Mrs. Smith to choose from—and there are matching jewels too. You know she’d be terribly offended if you were to don an apron over the top of a Valentino!”
Mrs. Oliver smiled. “Thank you, ma’am. I’m sure it will be a wonderful evening—but just don’t look at me when the beef is overcooked,” she scoffed, and strode to the door to take charge of yet another delivery.
Cecelia smothered a smile. “Are the children back yet?” she asked. “It’s getting late and I don’t want Jacinta catching another chill. I’m so glad she’s feeling better—I was rather thinking she was about to have another awful holiday.”
Cecelia walked out onto the porch just in time to see Alice-Miranda and Jacinta striding arm in arm across the lawn. Their timing couldn’t have been more perfect. A battered Land Rover lurched up the driveway and clattered to a halt outside the front steps.
“Hello, darlings,” Cecelia called. “You’re just in time.”
The driver of the Land Rover got out carefully and retrieved a walking stick from the center console. Before he reached the passenger door a very small child with red hair and glasses leapt out onto the gravel and raced toward the girls.
“Millie!” Alice-Miranda squealed, and ran toward her friend. “What are you doing here? I thought you were spending the holidays at home.” The children hugged tightly.
Millicent Jane McLoughlin-McTavish-McNoughton-McGill was Alice-Miranda’s best friend and roommate at school. Although Millie was three years older than Alice-Miranda, the two girls had quickly discovered they had much in common, and indeed it was hard for Millie to believe that Alice-Miranda was still only just over seven.
Cecelia walked down and greeted Millie’s grandfather. “Hello, Ambrose.” She leaned forward and gave the old man pecks on both cheeks. “Thank you so much for bringing her over. I knew Alice-Miranda and Jacinta would be thrilled. I’ve had to work hard not to let the cat out of the bag several times.”
“It’s my pleasure, Cecelia dear. It’s lovely to see you,” Ambrose McLaughlin-McTavish replied. “She arrived yesterday and it’s been such a treat to have her with me. You know, I haven’t enjoyed ice cream for breakfast in years but Millicent convinced me that it was what we both needed this morning, so we strolled down to the village and sat in the tearooms and that’s just what we ordered. I think Mrs. Finch was rather disapproving, but by golly it made me feel young again—and anyone who can do that for a man of my advanced years is a wonder.”
Cecelia had arranged with Millie’s parents for her to stay for the rest of the holidays. As it turned out, Millie’s grandfather lived only a couple of miles away and had been a friend of Cecelia’s father long ago.
“Have you time for tea?” Cecelia asked.
“Is Dolly in?” Ambrose smiled.
Cecelia grinned back at him. “She’s been looking forward to seeing you all day.” Ambrose offered Cecelia his arm and together they walked inside. “Come on, girls,” she called over her shoulder. “Why don’t you take Millie up and get her settled.”
The children were laughing and chattering like monkeys.
“Mummy, this is the best surprise,” Alice-Miranda called to her mother. “Thank you.”
And with that the girls raced through the kitchen door and flew up the back stairs. Mrs. Shillingsworth was in the hallway balancing a skyscraping pile of towels.
“Girls,” she called. “I’ve had to do some reshuffling with your sleeping arrangements. We have a house full of people for the weekend, so, Jacinta, I’m afraid I’ve reclaimed your room for some of the grown-ups. But Mr. Greening’s been busy in your room, Alice-Miranda. I imagine you’ll all approve.”
“I’m sure it will be wonderful, Shilly,” Alice-Miranda agreed. “This is Millie,” she said, gesturing to her friend.
Mrs. Shillingsworth nodded and said hello.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Millie beamed.
“Come on, everyone.” Alice-Miranda skipped down the hallway to her bedroom. She pushed open the door. “It looks just like school,” she laughed.
The room now had three beds. Alice-Miranda’s own enormous four-poster stood in the middle of the floor as always, but there were now two single beds jutting out from the opposite wall under the windows.
“This is the best holiday ever!” Alice-Miranda collapsed backward onto her bed.
Jacinta and Millie each claimed one of the single beds.
“So.” Millie rolled onto her stomach and propped herself up on her elbows. “What have you been doing this week?”
“We’ve got heaps to tell you,” Jacinta began, her eyes widening.
“Yes, it’s certainly been an interesting time,” Alice-Miranda agreed. “Not quite what I had expected, but that’s part of the fun, I suppose.”
“So what do you think Mr. Ridley was doing out in the garden in the middle of the night?” Millie rolled onto her back and stared at the swirl-patterned plaster ceiling in Alice-Miranda’s room. Jacinta had just finished telling her about the gorgeous Mr. Ridley and his curious midnight meeting.
“I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation,” Alice-Miranda replied.
“Come on, you’ve got to be kidding,” Jacinta rebuked her. “And what about that black car and t
he noises you heard when you were visiting Granny Bert and the fact that Daisy looked upset when we saw her at the start of the week? There’s something strange going on around here. Even I know that, and I’ve spent most of the week sick in bed. And then there’s Lucas.”
“Well, I think he’s changed a lot. He was lovely this afternoon. Even Jasper seemed to be coming around to him,” Alice-Miranda replied.
“He told me some things when I fell over him in the field,” said Jacinta, who was lying flat on her bed with her legs pointed up at right angles, flexing her feet back and forth.
“What do you mean, fell over him?” Millie wrinkled her nose.
“Oh, that’s not important.” Jacinta waved her hand dismissively. “I asked him where his mother was and he said that she had gone away for work and that’s why he’d been sent to boarding school. It’s true what Poppy said—he was expelled, but he said it was for sticking up for some poor kid who couldn’t defend himself. It sounds like his mother goes away a lot. Come to think of it, I know how he feels. My mother’s never around, is she?” There was a sharpness in Jacinta’s voice. “When I asked about his father he got really snappy. He said he doesn’t even know who he is. That’s pretty sad, don’t you think?”
Alice-Miranda silently admitted to herself that there were more than a few things still bothering her. But until she could talk to Mr. Ridley and Lily she didn’t want to let her imagination run away with itself. There had to be a perfectly sensible explanation for everything—she just couldn’t work out what it was yet. And as for Granny’s friend with the black car, Daisy said that everything was just fine. Granny was getting rather old these days, after all. She probably just mistook the plans for something else and popped them in the crisper. She’d just as likely put them away again before Alice-Miranda had returned the other day. Alice-Miranda made a mental note to check the oven the next time she was at Rose Cottage.
There was a loud knock on the door and her mother entered.
“Hello, girls, I do hope your sleeping arrangements are up to scratch.” Cecelia stood in the middle of the room surveying the new layout. “It looks rather fun to me. Do you want to come downstairs? Your grandfather is heading off soon, Millie—although I must say he and Mrs. Oliver have been enjoying a lovely chat over their tea and scones.”
Alice-Miranda on Vacation Page 10
