If Alice-Miranda thought last week was busy, the days leading up to the festival were nothing short of a blur. Thankfully, Mr Charles had mobilised a force of volunteers from the village to help get the grounds ready. Everyone was keen to pitch in and Myrtle Parker had insisted on supervising the delivery and placement of the portaloos and marquees, making sure they were installed according to the children’s masterplan. Alice-Miranda couldn’t have been more grateful, considering the infrastructure was delivered and set up on Friday during lessons.

Jacinta, meanwhile, had spent the week ignoring Lucas. She refused to take his calls and, when it came time for choir rehearsals, made sure to sit as far away from him as humanly possible. Sep had implored her to speak to the lad, but she was still upset with Lucas no matter how much she missed him. He had to understand that you shouldn’t go around spreading gossip that wasn’t true.

Saturday was chaotic, but the girls couldn’t make a proper start on things until after sport. Alice-Miranda had decreed that all committee members would meet on the oval at two o’clock, when they would get to work putting up signs, bunting and decorations, and sound-check the three stages.

While all this was going on, Ophelia Grimm was still recovering from the worst flu she’d ever known. The fevers had been blinding and, coupled with a hacking cough and headaches that felt like someone was poking her in the eye with a knitting needle, she was finally beginning to feel better – a week and a half after being struck down. She was glad that Aldous and Aggie had managed to stay healthy, but their absence was doing nothing to improve her spirits. Thankfully, the doctor said that she was no longer contagious and they could return home on Saturday evening. Ophelia was dozing between episodes of her favourite crime drama when she suddenly realised there was a lot of noise coming from the oval. With all the shouting and hammering and roaring of engines, it sounded as if a carnival had come to town.

‘Hello dear,’ Mrs Smith called, gently tapping on Ophelia’s bedroom door. A second later, she appeared with a pot of tea and plate of homemade shortbread on a tray. She put it down on the bedside table and walked over to open the curtains. ‘You need some air in here.’

‘What’s all that racket?’ Ophelia asked. She wondered what day it was.

‘The festival preparations,’ Mrs Smith answered with a smile. ‘It’s on tomorrow, and I must say that everything looks fantastic. Those girls have worked terribly hard and I think you’ll be very proud of them.’

Ophelia sighed. ‘I can’t imagine why I was so opposed to the idea in the first place.’

‘If I may be so bold, Miss Grimm,’ Mrs Smith began.

‘For goodness sake, Doreen, call me Ophelia. I’m not that woman any more.’ The headmistress rolled her eyes and sat up against her pillows.

‘All right. Well, Ophelia, I think perhaps you were that woman again for a moment there. I’d blame it on the hormones and the changes that having a child brings. I suspect you might have felt as if you were losing control because Miss Reedy was doing such a sterling job, so you asserted yourself. Yet you knew all along that our girls would be up to the task,’ Doreen said. ‘Anyway, drink your tea and focus on getting better. The staff and students need you and so does that husband and adorable little girl of yours. I’ve made dinner for them so Aldous doesn’t have to worry. There’s a fridge full of food, and I’ll make sure to have dinners sent from the dining room.

‘And just between you and me, I’m afraid that in the past few weeks Miss Reedy has undone all of her good work and completely lost the plot – not with the girls, as far as I can tell, but if she sends one more offensive note to a staff member, there will be an uprising with pitchforks and fiery torches. They’ll run her off the premises and Mr Plumpton along with her.’

Ophelia’s eyes widened. ‘Goodness, is it really that bad?’

‘Possibly worse,’ Doreen said. She turned and walked out of the room, leaving Ophelia alone with her thoughts.