Alice-Miranda arrived back at school an hour before dinner and went straight to Miss Reedy’s office in Caledonia Manor. She was anxious to talk about the concert. If Mrs Abboud was happy for the girls to hold a fundraiser, then with any luck the teachers wouldn’t stand in the way. Given that Miss Crowley had offered to help them organise it all, they wouldn’t be adding to everyone’s workload. Just as she reached up to knock, the door opened and Miss Wall walked out, almost barrelling into the child.

‘Oh, sorry, I didn’t expect anyone to be standing there,’ the teacher said. It seemed she had traded her school-issue PE kit for three-quarter navy leggings and a loose white singlet over the top of a collarless royal-blue T-shirt. Alice-Miranda noticed the woman’s face was shiny and red, and surmised that she must have just come from the sports field to see Miss Reedy.

‘Hello Miss Wall, you’re looking lovely today,’ Alice-Miranda replied. She thought the effort the woman had put into improving her attire since becoming deputy headmistress was admirable. The tiny child peered around the woman’s imposing form. ‘I wanted to talk to Miss Reedy about the concert for the Abbouds. Actually, while I have you, what are your thoughts?’ It occurred to the girl that, if she could get some of the staff onside, then perhaps it would be easier to convince Miss Reedy and Miss Grimm that it was a good idea.

‘Hmm, I’d rather not say until I know how the headmistress feels about it,’ Benitha replied with pursed lips.

‘That’s unfortunate because she’s not keen at all,’ Alice-Miranda said. In truth, she was surprised Miss Wall would take such a diplomatic stance since the woman had always been one to speak her mind, whether her view was popular or not. ‘She thinks it’s too much work and too big a distraction, but I believe it would be great for our leadership skills,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘And you of all teachers would know how important that is after the Future Leaders Opportunity Program in Scotland.’

‘I’ll think about it, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up if I was you,’ the teacher said, and hurried away.

Alice-Miranda stood in the hallway, gazing at Miss Reedy’s door. She reached up to knock again but was distracted by footsteps on the timber floor. It was Mr Plumpton, waving his hand as he hurried towards her.

‘Livinia’s raced off to an appointment in Downsfordvale,’ the man puffed. ‘Why don’t you leave her a message?’

Alice-Miranda wondered why Miss Wall had been in the woman’s office and hadn’t mentioned anything about Miss Reedy not being there.

‘Is everything all right?’ Mr Plumpton asked.

The child nodded, then noticed a splodge of green goop on the teacher’s forehead. ‘Thank you, Mr Plumpton, that’s a great idea. Um, you might want to take a look in the mirror,’ the child added, pointing at his brow.

She fished out a clean handkerchief from her pocket and offered it to him.

Josiah touched his forehead, then examined the tip of his finger. ‘Dear me. Slime mishap in the lab last period. Thanks for telling me. I wouldn’t want to go to dinner looking like an alien,’ the man said with a chuckle. He dabbed at the spot and promised to return the girl’s handkerchief the next morning. ‘Oh, and between you and me, I think the concert is a wonderful idea,’ he said. ‘Livinia does too, but she’s had a difficult time of things lately and has been a bit out of sorts. I know she’s doing her best to convince Miss Grimm.’ Josiah had been concerned to overhear Miss Wall and Miss Tweedle whispering about his wife earlier in the day. When he’d confronted the pair, they denied everything, but he could have sworn he’d heard Livinia’s name.

Alice-Miranda smiled. ‘Don’t worry, Mr Plumpton, I wasn’t planning to give up. Quite the contrary.’

‘I’m glad to hear it,’ the man replied with a wink.

Further along the corridor, hidden behind a potted palm, a figure dashed away and out of sight, a great big grin plastered across their face.

Inside the office, Alice-Miranda quickly located a pen and notepad. She scribbled a message and was about to leave when she saw something she shouldn’t have. It couldn’t be helped, though, as it was sitting right there on top of everything. It was a note from Miss Grimm clearly telling Miss Reedy that the girls weren’t to do any press and it was dated yesterday.

Alice-Miranda bit her lip. Why would Miss Reedy go against Miss Grimm’s instructions and claim that her note had said otherwise? The girl folded her own message and wrote Miss Reedy’s name on the back, then left it on the desk. She exited the office, almost bumping headlong into Miss Crowley. The corridor was busier than the high street this afternoon.

The woman smiled cheerfully. ‘Hello Alice-Miranda. I was wanting to have a word with Miss Reedy. Is she free?’

Tabitha Crowley looked lovely today with her hair pulled up in a high bun, encircled by a length of pink velvet ribbon. She wore a stylish suit in the same shade that saw cigar pants and a cropped jacket paired with a lime-coloured silk blouse and matching heels.

‘She’s not in at the moment,’ the child replied. ‘But she’s certainly in hot demand. Mr Plumpton said that I should leave her a note. I’m very glad to have run into you. I saw Mrs Abboud in the village and she’s given us her blessing for the fundraiser. Mr Plumpton said he thought it was a good idea too, so all we have to do is bring Miss Grimm around.’

‘That’s fantastic news!’ the woman said, her hazel eyes sparkling.

‘We could gather the girls who want to help with the organising and have a meeting now if you’re free,’ Alice-Miranda said.

Tabitha had been thinking exactly the same thing. She’d already finished her marking for the day and lessons were set for the next week. All she had left to prepare was some music for the singing group, but that could wait until tomorrow.

‘If you don’t mind walking down to Caledonia Stables, we could make a start before dinner,’ the girl suggested.

Tabitha grinned. It felt good to be part of something again. At her last school, perhaps because she’d only been on a contract and knew it wasn’t likely to last forever, she’d always been a bit of a square peg, but here the girls and staff were so welcoming. Well, almost all of them. Miss Reedy wasn’t her closest ally, but her husband was kindly, and Tabitha was sure that, if she won him over, his wife would follow suit. Tabitha was thrilled that she was able to teach the way she wanted to, and now there was an exciting project that she could sink her teeth into – two, if she included taking over the Winchester-Fayle Singers.

‘You know, Miss Crowley, you remind me of someone,’ Alice-Miranda said, tilting her head to one side, ‘but I can’t put my finger on who it is. I’m sure it will come to me soon.’

‘They say all of us have a twin somewhere out there in the world,’ the woman replied.

‘A doppelganger.’ Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘I have one and I owe her a letter. Her name’s Britt Fox and we were at a leadership camp together in Scotland for the Queen’s Colours Program a little while ago. She lives in Norway. From the time we met, everyone said that not only did we look alike, our mannerisms were similar too. But Britt’s a much more adventurous dresser than I am. She’s helping me expand my fashion choices and take greater risks.’

‘I’d love to meet her one day. She sounds fabulous,’ Tabitha said, smiling at the delightful thought of two Alice-Mirandas. ‘Now, let’s make a start on this concert, shall we? I’ve got a few ideas, but I imagine you girls will have loads more.’

The pair walked out of Caledonia Manor and wandered down the drive. As they passed a guard of stone lions, Tabitha spotted Caprice Radford ahead of them and shuddered. Two of that child, on the other hand, was definitely two too many.