‘My favourite part of the whole night was definitely Mr Plumpton and Miss Reedy doing that ancient Michael Jackson dance,’ Jacinta giggled. ‘They must have practised for ages.’

‘You mean “Thriller”,’ Millie said.

‘I suppose so. Mrs Howard said that she saw them rehearsing in the gym,’ Sloane said.

‘It was pretty cute,’ said Millie.

‘It was totally embarrassing,’ Sloane said with a grimace. ‘But it was worth it to see the look on Mrs Parker’s face. She was so annoyed about them stealing her limelight.’

‘I think they’re gorgeous and I can’t wait until they get married,’ Alice-Miranda piped up.

‘Married!’ Jacinta exclaimed. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Well, it’s obvious that they’re madly in love,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘Perhaps they just need cupid to help things along.’

‘Oh no, what are you thinking now?’ Millie groaned.

‘Your mother seemed to be in good spirits,’ Sloane commented to Jacinta.

Jacinta pulled a face. ‘Of course she was. Did you see all the attention she was getting from old Hairy Lipp? But at least she didn’t abandon me completely – we actually had quite a good talk in the end,’ Jacinta admitted.

‘Remember when Mr Lipp had a crush on Miss Reedy when we were doing the play with the Fayle boys?’ Millie said. ‘And that suit he was wearing last night. He must go to the same designer as Mrs Parker.’

‘Jacinta and Lucas looked pretty cosy,’ Sloane teased.

‘He’s so handsome,’ Jacinta sighed. ‘He’d better marry me – or else.’

‘Or else what?’ Sloane asked.

‘I don’t know. Isn’t that just what you say?’ Jacinta shrugged.

‘What about Aunty Gee? She was dancing up a storm with Professor Pluss and then even Charlie had a spin around the floor with her,’ Millie said.

‘She’s adorable – and very forgiving. I couldn’t believe what Bonaparte did to her this afternoon. He’s so naughty,’ said Alice-Miranda, blushing at the memory.

Jacinta, Sloane and Millie began to giggle. When Millie had told them all about Bony the windy pony, the three of them had wound up rolling around on the floor holding their sides.

‘Oh no you don’t,’ came Mrs Howard’s voice behind the girls. She was patrolling the halls of Grimthorpe House and having a very difficult time convincing any of her charges to hurry and get ready for bed. ‘Come along, girls, its way past your bedtime and you have to be up early again tomorrow. I for one am dead on my feet.’

‘But it was really funny, Howie,’ Millie said, stifling a giggle. ‘You wait until I tell you tomorrow. I guarantee your sides will split.’

‘All right, you can tell me tomorrow. I need a good laugh after the two days I’ve had.’

‘Goodnight Howie,’ said Millie with a yawn as she pushed open her bedroom door.

‘Goodnight Mrs Howard.’ Alice-Miranda gave her a wave.

Sloane and Jacinta did the same and the girls disappeared into their bedrooms.

Alice-Miranda wondered what was going on out there in the world around her. She was thinking about Fern and Billy and Alf but her eyes were so heavy she could barely keep them open. She climbed into bed and said goodnight to Millie. For the first time in a long time, every girl in the house was sound asleep before the last light was out.