by Anne Digby
STRAW HAT
First published by Granada Publishing 1985
This ebook edition first published by Straw Hat 2011
Copyright © Anne Digby, 1985, 1988, 2011
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved.
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the above publisher, Straw Hat
A Catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library
eISBN-13: 978-1-899587-23-0
A small figure was coming this way, very slowly indeed, limping painfully and clutching her side.
'Holly Thomas!' Rebecca gasped.
At the time it seemed such a good idea to help the shy First Year girl with the limp by taking her on their run. But as the summer term at Trebizon school passes, Rebecca, Sue and Tish find that their concern for Holly backfires in more ways than one.
Then a film crew arrives to make a documentary about the school, even filming Rebecca's longed - for tennis match with Joss Vining. But no one realizes who the glamorous Miss Angel really is until the crew has gone!
Suspense, drama and more . . . it's all here in the tenth Trebizon book.
CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright & Permissions
About this Book
Chapter One Back to School
Chapter Two A Little Jolt
Chapter Three Tish Makes a Suggestion
Chapter Four Perigee Tides
Chapter Five An Alarming Sight
Chapter Six Two Very Angry People
Chapter Seven Edging Forward
Chapter Eight The Mysterious Miss Angel
Chapter Nine Filming Continues
Chapter Ten The Big Match – and After
Chapter Eleven Shock at the Trebizon Bay Hotel
Chapter Twelve Action Committee
Chapter Thirteen The Final Clue
Chapter Fourteen A Famous Term
The Trebizon Series in Reading Order
More Anne Digby Titles
And Some Other Favourites...
Free Downloads, Facebook & Twitter
ONE
BACK TO SCHOOL
'Nearby back!' thought Rebecca Mason as the taxi took her along the top road that overlooked Trebizon Bay. She gazed across the palely glinting sea to the little island that lay just offshore. It was green and newly washed-looking after a heavy April shower. Mulberry Island! she thought idly, then smiled to herself. I'd love to row across there and explore the ruined cottage. We always say we'll do that in the summer term. I wonder if we will?
She snuggled back comfortably as the cab approached the imposing wrought iron gates of Trebizon School and slowed down to turn in.
I wonder what's going to happen this term?
Some very dramatic things were going to happen. They would never have happened if Sue Murdoch hadn't been introduced to Justin Thomas in the Easter holidays. Rebecca had been there when they met (because it was Robbie Anderson who had introduced them) but since then had never given it a second thought and had no inkling of what it was all going to lead to.
She was just wondering about the coming term in a very general way. And now, as the taxi crawled slowly through the acres of parkland in which the school was set and the main building – once an eighteenth-century manor house – came in sight, she became reflective.
One thing that was definitely going to happen was that her parents were coming to the school to meet the principal, though admittedly that wouldn't be until the end of term. They would be travelling along this very drive and gazing at that beautiful building in the distance, just as she was doing now. Coming down to stay, so they could talk about her future, with Miss Welbeck! Their most recent letter, written as usual on airmail paper, was in Rebecca's luggage somewhere.
We've been summonsed! it said. Miss Welbeck wants to see us at the end of the summer term, as soon as we get back from Saudi for our annual leave. She thinks it's high time we met her and had a proper talk about your future prospects, Becky. After all, we're only home once a year – and she says you'll be taking your mocks next January.
Apart from the mention of 'mocks', which sent a very slight tremor down Rebecca's spine, quickly banished, the prospect seemed quite pleasurable. It would be nice to have Mum and Dad come to the school for 'consultations'. That phrase 'future prospects' seemed to hold faint promise, somehow. Better make sure she did some work this term. Mustn't let tennis take over her life completely, even though everything to do with tennis seemed to be getting better and better at the moment . . . It was all rather heady and exciting, the tennis.
Her friends thought so, too! As the taxi arrived at Court House three of them rushed out to meet her –
'Congratulations, Rebecca!' exclaimed Sally Elphinstone.
'You got as far as the quarter-finals then?' said Margot Lawrence. 'Tish told us the news. Didn't you do well?'
'Clever Rebecca!' Mara Leonodis clapped her hands and laughed, brown eyes glowing. 'You did so well at Edgbaston and now you will be selected to go to Eastbourne in August, just you wait and see. Rebecca! You have four tennis rackets now – four. And they are all new!'
'I got them free!' laughed Rebecca. 'Here, can you lot help me carry all this stuff? I got them free as long as I don't play with any other make when I go to tournaments. That's easy because they're my favourite racket anyway!'
'I bet you and Joss Vining will be picked as first pair for the school tennis team this term!' said Elf enthusiastically. 'Two Fourth Years being the school's top tennis players, think of it!'
'And then you will go to Eastbourne,' repeated Mara rapturously. 'I shall ask Father to have me flown back to England in August to watch you! You and Joss together, both at Eastbourne.'
The British Junior Grasscourt Championships!
Rebecca laughed and shook her head so vigorously that her fair hair flew in front of her eyes.
'Hang on, Mara! Joss will be there I'm sure, but don't count on me making it. My ranking's not high enough – not at the moment, anyway!'
She paid the taxi driver and as the vehicle scrunched away over the gravelled forecourt, the four girls started to sort through the pile of luggage and share it out between them. Changing the subject, Rebecca said:
'Hey, how about Tish, then, scoring all those goals in Holland?'
Although she hadn't seen any sign of them yet, Tish Anderson and Sue Murdoch were Rebecca's two closest friends at Trebizon.
'She's taken some great photos –' began Margot.
'Rebeck!'
With a loud yell of delight a track–suited figure with short dark curly hair came bounding across the grass, grinning at her.
'Tish!' said Rebecca, with pleasure.
'I was out jogging when I saw your taxi go past!'
'Good. You're just in time to help me get all my stuff upstairs.'
All chattering at once, jostling together, loaded up with Rebecca's luggage, they made for the big front entrance porch of Court House. There were two suitcases, a sports bag, three carrier bags and the four tennis rackets.
'Why did you take all this stuff home?' laughed Tish. 'You could have left some of it at school.'
'Well Robbie took me up to Gran's in the car, didn't he?' said Rebecca. 'I forgot I'd be coming back by coach. It's been an awful journey – lucky the drivers are so nice.'
Suddenly there was a squeal of brakes behind them and a very luxurious-looking maroon saloon car drew up. A uniformed chauffeur got out and came round to op
en the rear passenger door. Out stepped Margaret Exton, a Fifth Year girl in Court House. Rebecca caught a glimpse of a man, still seated in the back passenger seat, who called out from the shadowy interior:
'Take me over to the main building now, Baxter, or I'll be late for my appointment. You can leave Margaret's luggage till later.'
'Very good, sir.'
The five friends stood watching as the car slid off again, with the man still on board.
'Freddie Exton!' whispered Rebecca. He was a famous business tycoon. Margaret Exton was being brought back to school in luxury, with the services of a chauffeur at her disposal. 'Lucky old Margaret!' she added.
The Fifth Year girl walked across the gravel and then pushed her way through the middle of them saying: 'What are you all gawping at, then?'
Rebecca thought she looked rather pale and later she found out that Margaret Exton wasn't so lucky after all.
While Rebecca unpacked upstairs, Mara showed them some of the lovely new dresses she had brought back with her from Athens. 'Oh, Mara, I don't know when you'll get to wear them all!' laughed Tish.
'The white one's beautiful!' gasped Rebecca. 'Is that for the Commem Ball?'
Mara nodded happily.
'And what will you wear, Rebecca? Will you wear something new, something Robbie has never seen you in before?'
'No such luck,' mumbled Rebecca. But she was looking forward to the Ball, every bit as much as Mara. It was one of the high spots of the summer term at Trebizon.
'I don't think I'll be going,' said Tish suddenly. 'I hope I'll have better things to do, that day,' she added, mysteriously.
'Oh –?' began Rebecca.
At that moment Elf appeared through the connecting door that led from the adjoining room, Margot just behind her. She was waving a small round cake tin above her head and smiling plumply.
'Found it!' she cried.
'It was in a bag with her games stuff,' added Margot.
'Yum, yum, yum,' said Rebecca, as Elf opened the tin and handed it round. 'I love home-made fudge.'
In a short while they'd all be getting tea, over in the school dining hall, but Rebecca didn't think she could last that long. She was starving. Long journeys always made her hungry.
'Mmmm. Delicious.'
The five of them sat around on the beds in the big room, sucking the succulent fudge and talking non-stop about all the things that had happened in the holidays. It was some minutes before Rebecca noticed something.
'Oh. Then she's back? I thought she must be on the late train –' she said. She'd suddenly seen the suitcase, sticking out from under the bed. She added: 'Where's Sue, Tish?'
'Over at the Hilary,' replied Tish. 'Helping Holly Thomas with her violin.'
'Is she really?' exclaimed Rebecca.
She smiled and raised her eyebrows slightly. Tish smiled back.
For, of course, they both knew the reason why.
TWO
A LITTLE JOLT
Sue Murdoch had met Justin Thomas at Tish's fifteenth birthday party. This had taken place towards the end of the holidays and of course Rebecca had been invited, too.
Tish had telephoned Rebecca at her grandmother's bungalow in Gloucestershire, from her own home in Hertfordshire.
'Rebeck, you have GOT to come – you'll have to stay the weekend.'
'How?' asked Rebecca anxiously. Her grandmother didn't drive.
'Robbie's worked it all out, it fits beautifully. He's going to be in Oxford on Saturday – one of the colleges is having an Open Day or something – and he says from where you live you can get a coach straight through to Oxford and there's one that arrives at Gloucester Green Bus Station at five –'
'Is there really?' said Rebecca, feeling a flutter of excitement. This was all news to her. 'And Robbie's got the car fixed again?'
'Worked at the farm over Easter, double pay, bought a reconditioned engine,' said Tish crisply. 'So he's going to pick you up from the Bus Station in Oxford on Saturday, okay? Go and ask your Gran!'
Old Mrs Mason agreed readily and before ringing off, Rebecca said:
'Tell Robbie I'll see him in Oxford, then! So he's starting to visit colleges already? Oh, Tish, wasn't it good news for him? Being picked for the Oxbridge group? He was hoping and praying he would be.'
'My brother must be quite brainy, after all,' said Tish briefly.
But when Robbie collected Rebecca on the Saturday, in the heart of the bustling city, and she asked eagerly: 'Where are all the colleges, Robbie? Can we have a quick look? Where's the one you've been to today?' – he just shook his head.
He bundled her off to where he'd parked the car – and then they drove away. He was wearing jacket and tie, Rebecca noticed, and his unruly dark curly hair had been plastered down with some kind of gel. Negotiating the busy streets with their traffic lights and junctions, he was pale and uncommunicative and seemed to be deep in thought.
But once they were clear of the city, he visibly relaxed.
'Take a look behind you, Becky, Isn't it beautiful?'
Craning her head round, Rebecca caught a glimpse of shimmering spires and towers on the Oxford skyline, far behind them now.
'Oh, I wish there'd been time to see things!' said Rebecca in a disappointed voice. 'Have you chosen which college you want to try for yet?'
'Yes,' said Robbie.
'The one you've looked at today?'
'Yes.'
'Oh, Robbie, why wouldn't you let me have a peep at it?'
'Because I don't want to tempt fate,' he replied.
Rebecca contemplated that and after a while, she said:
'Is the competition going to be that bad, Robbie?'
'Horrendous,' he replied. 'There were hundreds there today. And they've got two more Open Days to come. Quite apart from the fact that a lot of people apply without even coming to an Open Day.'
'Well, at least you've got into the Oxbridge group at school,' said Rebecca, in a small voice. 'They think you're good enough to sit the entrance exam – and you'll be given tons of extra work for it, and special lessons.'
'So will all the others,' said Robbie. 'All over the country. Most of them, anyway.' He glanced at her and grinned. 'The entrance exam isn't till November, but I've seen some of the back papers. Phew! Have I got to work!'
Although Robbie was in the Sixth Form at Garth College, a school very close to Trebizon, it dawned on Rebecca then that they probably wouldn't see much of each other during the coming term – not with her tennis and Robbie's Oxbridge work. Towards the end of the drive, Robbie referred to this obliquely.
'You know Justy Thomas has got into the Oxbridge group, too?' he said. 'Well, he's a bit depressed. So I've asked him over to Tish's party tonight. I thought it might cheer him up.'
'Depressed because he's got into the Oxbridge group?' asked Rebecca in surprise.
'No, not because of that!' Robbie said. 'Hasn't Tish told you? Laura Wilkins has broken it off with him. Says he takes life much too seriously and is becoming a workaholic! Mike Brown wrote to her in the holidays and asked if he could take her to your Commem Ball this year, and that clinched it.'
'Mike did?' exclaimed Rebecca. Mike was in the Fourth Year at Garth and a lot of fun; he was one of a crowd they sometimes met up with. 'So he likes Laura? The dark horse!' She thought about it for a moment, then said: 'Oh dear, I hope Sue won't be put out. Mike's always been her reliable stand-by.'
Robbie appeared not to have heard that, because he said: 'So I'm booking you up for the Commem right now, Rebecca. Okay?'
'Consider me booked!' said Rebecca. And she laughed happily.
Later, at Tish's party, Rebecca decided that Robbie must have taken in her comment about Sue after all, because he made a special point of introducing Justin Thomas to her. They knew each other by sight only and were, in fact, sitting in adjacent armchairs and taking no notice of one another, each wrapped in their own thoughts and listening to some of the tapes. Justin was brooding heavily about Laura and Sue w
as, indeed, slightly put out to have heard the news about Mike Brown – even though there had never been anything romantic between them. Apart from anything else it had meant Tish not inviting him to the party, even though he lived fairly near. 'I can't now that Robbie's asked Justin Thomas, Sue,' she'd explained. 'Justy's the emotional type – he might decide to clock him one.'
But after Robbie had introduced them, Sue and Justin both seemed to cheer up and were talking together for quite a long time.
'He's really nice, isn't he?' Sue said casually to Tish and Rebecca later, as the three of them washed up some of the cups and glasses. 'We both like the same composers!'
'What were you talking about all that time?' asked Tish, curious.
Sue pushed her spectacles up her nose; they had slipped a little.
'We talked a bit about Holly,' she said. 'He doesn't think she's settled in at Trebizon all that well. You know she's got a slight limp – she was run over by a car when she was nine – well, Sarah Butters and one or two others tease her about it.'
'I've heard them,' said Tish. 'The little horrors call her Holly Hobble. I've told them to shut up.'
'Well, the doctors say she should do gym and running and everything quite normally, and that would actually improve the leg, but in fact she does as little as possible because she's scared of being laughed at.'
'Oh, what a shame,' said Rebecca. 'Poor Holly.' She mused about it. The little First Year girl was small for her age and very unprepossessing to look at. Her brother was handsome, in a sensitive, poetic kind of way – and her big sister, Della, last year's Senior Prefect at Trebizon, had been stunning to look at, as well as good as everything! 'And she's got Justin and Della to live up to.'
'That makes it worse, I'm sure,' agreed Sue.
'Well, I'm a bit surprised at Sarah Butters,' said Tish, quite unsentimentally. 'But Holly's got to learn to stand up for herself – just laugh right back in their faces. You get that sort of thing in the First Year.'
'Well, I've said I'll keep an eye on Holly for him, anyway!' Sue confessed. 'He's going to ring me up sometimes and I'll keep him posted!
