“I am a complete failure,” Jacinta wailed. “Mr. Lipp didn’t appreciate my improvisations of Happy turning cartwheels at all. He said that, as far as he knew, dwarfs weren’t renowned for their gymnastic abilities.”
“Don’t worry, Jacinta. I’m sure you did just fine,” Alice-Miranda comforted her friend. “And you auditioned for the role of the narrator as well, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” Jacinta pouted. “I couldn’t even tell what Miss Reedy and Mr. Lipp thought about that.”
“There’s always stage crew,” Millie added.
“Stage crew—for losers who couldn’t get a proper part in the play,” Jacinta moaned.
“No, that’s not true, Jacinta. The stage crew is very important. If there weren’t a stage crew, then the actors would have to slip in and out of character as they carried trees and buildings and magic mirrors and things on and off the stage. Just imagine—the Evil Queen finishes her lines and then has to pick up the mirror and struggle off with it—that would be terribly silly.” Alice-Miranda grinned.
“I suppose you’re right.” Jacinta managed a half-smile. “Hopefully I’ll get a part, but if I don’t, stage crew will have to do.”
“What about you, Millie, did your audition go well?” Alice-Miranda asked.
“I think so. I’m not sure which part I’d prefer, though. Doc’s pretty funny, but I love that the Magic Mirror gets to give it to the Queen,” Millie replied. “How do you think you did, Alice-Miranda?”
“Okay, I think,” she replied.
The girls were on their way to the front of the school to meet Charlotte and Lawrence, who had phoned to say they would be at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale in time for afternoon tea. Sloane was stalking about in the garden.
“Oh, hello, Sloane,” Alice-Miranda called when she spotted her lurking behind the rosebushes. “What are you doing over there?”
Sloane looked up. “I was just, um, waiting for my mother,” she replied. “She’s coming to visit.”
“That’s convenient,” Millie whispered to Jacinta. “More likely she told her that Lawrence was stopping by. She’d better not cause a scene.”
“Why don’t you come over here and wait with us?” Alice-Miranda asked.
Millie and Jacinta huffed.
Sloane walked over to the group.
“Did you enjoy your audition?” Alice-Miranda asked.
“I suppose so,” Sloane replied.
“What did you try out for?” Jacinta asked.
“The only role worth having, of course,” she scoffed.
Alice-Miranda felt a flurry of butterflies in her tummy. Sloane would be very disappointed when she missed out on the part of Snow White.
“So you tried out for Snow White, then?” Millie pressed.
“Good grief, no,” Sloane replied. “Who’d want to be that sappy little do-gooder? I’m going to be the Evil Queen. That’s the only part that’s any good in this pathetic little fairy tale.”
Alice-Miranda exhaled softly. Her butterflies flapped their wings and flew right away.
In the distance, the girls could hear the low rumble of a sports car engine. A shiny silver vehicle entered the driveway.
“They’re here!” Alice-Miranda ran down the steps of Winchesterfield Manor to greet her beloved aunt and soon-to-be uncle.
“Oh my gosh, it’s really him!” Sloane gasped.
“Of course it is,” Jacinta replied. “Did you think Alice-Miranda was making it up?”
“No,” Sloane spat. “I believed her.”
The car grumbled to a halt in one of the recently added visitor parking spaces. Only a matter of months ago, parents and other family members were strictly forbidden from visiting the school at any time other than to drop off and pick up their daughters at the beginning and end of term. But of course, that had all changed now, and Miss Grimm had come to see the importance of family dropping in whenever possible.
“Hello!” Alice-Miranda launched herself at her aunt Charlotte as soon as she was out of the car.
Charlotte scooped the little child into her arms and peppered her face with kisses—cheeks, forehead and, lastly, the tip of Alice-Miranda’s nose. It had been done that way for as long as either of them could remember. Alice-Miranda hugged her tightly.
“And how is my favorite niece?” Charlotte set the child down. Lawrence emerged from the rear of the car and snuck up behind Alice-Miranda, tickling her wildly before twirling her over his shoulder and depositing her back on the ground.
She squealed with delight. “I’m … very … well … thank … you,” Alice-Miranda gasped between giggles.
Millie chuckled and Jacinta almost fainted.
“Hello, Millie and Jacinta.” Charlotte ran up the steps and kissed both girls on the cheek. Lawrence followed, with Alice-Miranda holding tight to his left hand.
“And how are my favorite adopted nieces?” He leaned down and hugged Millie, then Jacinta. Jacinta’s legs turned to jelly.
“Great, thanks, Mr. Ridley,” Millie replied. Jacinta said nothing but stood looking rather goggle-eyed. A quick jab to the ribs from Millie seemed to bring her back around.
“Well, very, thank you.” Jacinta shook her head. “I mean, very well, thank you.”
Sloane had remained a few steps away from the group, taking it all in. She wished she really had phoned her mother to come and see this. In fact, she knew she’d be in huge trouble for not telling her. It was just that her mother had a way of making it all about her, and this was Sloane’s opportunity to meet a real live movie star without her mother being in the way.
“And who do we have here?” Lawrence turned his hypnotic smile to Sloane.
“Excuse me for being so rude.” Alice-Miranda grabbed Sloane and brought her closer to the group.
“This is Sloane Sykes. Sloane, this is my aunt Charlotte and soon-to-be uncle, Lawrence Ridley.”
“How do you do, Miss Sykes?” Lawrence bowed his head.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Sloane.” Charlotte nodded.
“Gosh, you’re gorgeous!” Sloane had clearly fallen for Lawrence’s charm. “I mean, it’s a pleasure to meet you too, Lawrence.”
Sloane ignored Charlotte altogether as she stood mesmerized by the movie star.
“You’re just in time for afternoon tea,” Alice-Miranda informed them. “Mrs. Smith was so excited when I told her that you were coming, I think she’s cooked enough to feed a small army.”
The group headed for the dining room. Sunday afternoons were often quiet, as girls were out and about, enjoying their weekend freedom. Yet this afternoon the room was packed, and even the teachers had turned up.
“Did you tell everyone they were coming?” Jacinta hissed at Sloane.
“No,” she replied innocently. “Why would I do that?”
Jacinta shook her head and Millie’s face crumpled into a frown. The appearance of Lawrence caused a near riot. Girls were shouting out, asking him to come and sit with them. It was only when Miss Grimm took to the microphone that things settled down.
“Girls, please be quiet.” Her ice-cold stare had the desired effect. “We have visitors for afternoon tea and yes, one of them is a wee bit famous and the other is an Old Girl of the school. However, that is no reason for the sort of behavior I have just witnessed. Mr. Ridley and Miss Highton-Smith are here as guests. Please do not pester them or ask for autographs. As your headmistress, I promise I will get an autograph which will suffice for all.” Ophelia smiled.
The hush that had fallen over the room was maintained as Miss Grimm invited Lawrence and Charlotte to find a seat. She then hurried over and produced what appeared to be a rolled-up poster for Lawrence’s latest movie, London Calling, and a thick black marker, which she handed to Lawrence. He signed the poster and, when Mr. Grump appeared with a camera, Lawrence posed for several photographs with the headmistress.
Miss Grimm chatted with Lawrence and Charlotte for what seemed like ages. Finally, Alice-Miranda interrupted them and asked if anyone would like tea.
“Oh, I am sorry, Alice-Miranda.” Ophelia blushed. “I know your aunt and uncle have come to see you. I’ll be off now.”
“You have to try some of this cake.” Millie pushed a piece of passion-fruit sponge toward Charlotte.
“So, how is Lucas?” Jacinta asked.
“Yes, how did he seem when you left him at school?” Alice-Miranda quizzed. “You know, we’re doing a play with Fayle, and the rehearsals and everything will be over in their new drama theater. We’ve all tried out, so hopefully we’ll be able to see Lucas a lot.”
“He was okay.” Lawrence nodded. “When I went to Fayle, it was a great school—never had any problems with bullies or the like. And his roommate is a really impressive young man.”
“What’s his name?” Sloane asked.
“Sep,” Charlotte replied.
Sloane almost choked on her tea.
“Sep, as in Septimus, as in my brother, Septimus Sykes?” she babbled. “My brother is sharing a room with your son?!”
“Oh, that’s great.” Lawrence smiled that smile. Half the girls in the room almost fainted.
“Isn’t that lovely?” Alice-Miranda grinned.
Jacinta wasn’t so sure. She hoped that Septimus Sykes wasn’t at all like his sister. Otherwise Lawrence’s recollections about bullies at Fayle might prove nothing more than a long-distant memory.