Alice-Miranda Takes the Lead Read online

  ‘Yes, Mummy.’ Sloane smiled at her mother like a piranha in a goldfish bowl.

  September Sykes wore skyscraping gold heels and a metallic blue dress so tight and short she must have been vacuum-packed into it. Her waist-length platinum hair bounced in loose curls and her make-up appeared to have been applied with the aid of a cake decorator’s spatula.

  Sloane Sykes, in a crisp new uniform, was shorter, thinner and wore only slightly less make-up which, on an eleven-year-old, was more than a little disturbing.

  ‘And what’s your surname, Millie?’ September smiled, revealing a set of dazzlingly white teeth.

  ‘McLoughlin-McTavish-McNoughton-McGill,’ Millie replied.

  ‘Oooh, that sounds important,’ September cooed.

  ‘No, not at all,’ Millie frowned.

  Mrs Howard appeared in the doorway, with Mrs Derby, the headmistress’s secretary, in tow.

  ‘Millicent and Jacinta, what are you doing back here? You know you’re not allowed to return to the house after breakfast,’ Mrs Howard chided.

  ‘Sorry, Howie,’ Millie apologised. ‘I forgot my pencil case.’

  ‘And it was just as well we came back, seeing as you’ve left these two in here alone going through my things,’ Jacinta snarled.

  ‘Jacinta Headlington-Bear, mind your manners. That’s no way to treat your new room mate.’ Mrs Howard spun around to face Sloane and her mother, and then turned back to the girls.

  ‘But it’s true,’ Millie nodded.

  Mrs Howard’s eyes widened in disbelief. ‘You two can apologise, please. NOW!’

  Millie and Jacinta scowled. With heads bent towards the floor they both muttered a half-hearted ‘sorry’.

  ‘That’s not like you at all, Millicent. You, on the other hand, Jacinta – well, I hope we’re not heading back to the bad old days,’ Mrs Howard tutted. ‘I’m sure the girls will make it up to you, Sloane.’

  ‘Don’t fuss, Mrs Howard,’ September grinned. ‘Jacinta and Sloane are bound to become best friends. Or rather, BFFs – isn’t that what you girls call them these days?’

  Jacinta rolled her eyes.

  ‘Yes, well, her manners had better improve by this afternoon. Now, off you go, you two. Lessons are about to start and you don’t want to be late on your first day. Mrs Derby will bring Sloane over in a little while, once she’s had a chance to get properly settled.’ Mrs Howard’s forehead wrinkled like pintucking on a blouse and she gave Millie and Jacinta one of her best ever death stares.

  The girls marched off. Not a word was spoken until they reached the safety of the veranda.

  ‘What was that?’ Jacinta demanded. ‘Who is that woman? And that girl – I’ve never seen anyone her age with make-up like that!’

  ‘Don’t worry, Jacinta.’ Millie put her hand on her friend’s shoulder. ‘I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes when Miss Grimm and Miss Reedy spot her. She’ll be wiping that mascara off in no time.’

  ‘But she’s awful, and I don’t see why I have to be in the same room as her.’ A fat tear wobbled in the corner of Jacinta’s eye.

  ‘It’s all right,’ Millie replied. ‘She’s probably just nervous about being at boarding school.’

  Millie couldn’t believe their bad luck. Alethea Goldsworthy had left big shoes to fill when it came to being the school bully. But if the few moments that Millie had spent with her were anything to go by, Sloane Sykes, it seemed, had very big feet.

  The whole school was seated in the Great Hall for the first assembly of the term. Millie and Jacinta sped into their seats a moment before the staff processional began, with Miss Grimm at the head of the line. She glided down the aisle, a gratified smile on her face as she led the other teachers behind her.

  Mr Trout’s organ accompaniment of the school song rose and fell with the fervour of a crashing symphony. But his improvised flourishes at the end of each verse seemed to cause Miss Grimm’s mouth to twitch and her grin to disappear.

  Ophelia reached the microphone. ‘Thank you, Mr Trout, for your rather, mmm, how to put it, extravagant recital. Perhaps you’d like to talk to me about that later?’ She looked up at him in the organ gallery, arched her left eyebrow, then turned back to face the students. ‘Good morning, everyone.’

  ‘Good morning, Miss Grimm,’ the students chorused.

  ‘I’d like to welcome you all back for a new term and a very exciting one at that. There are some birthday announcements from Miss Reedy and then I’ll tell you about a wonderful project we’ll be working on over the coming weeks.’

  Ophelia Grimm sat down and Miss Reedy read the names of girls who’d had birthdays over the term break. They were invited to come up on stage and receive a garland of flowers hand-picked from the garden, which was placed ceremoniously on each head by Miss Grimm. This was followed by a rousing rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’. Ashima and Susannah were joined on stage by the sports teacher, Miss Wall. Her buttercup-yellow wreath clashed horribly with her cerise-and-blue velvet tracksuit, but she seemed to enjoy the attention all the same. The birthday wreaths had been a long-held school tradition until Miss Grimm had banned the practice along with flowers in general. But things were different now at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale and happily both the flowers and wreaths were back.

  With the celebrations over, Miss Grimm again took to the microphone. ‘Girls, Miss Reedy has been very busy over the break. She’s met with Mr Harold Lipp, the head of English at Fayle School for Boys on the other side of the village. We’ve decided that it would be timely for us to join forces for a drama production. I do hope you’ll take up this opportunity and I particularly look forward to the splendid play we’ll all be able to enjoy towards the end of term. Miss Reedy has the details about auditions and the like and will also explain exactly what you’ll be performing.’

  A ripple of excitement reverberated around the hall. ‘That’s so exciting … my mummy told me they used to do plays with the Fayle boys when she was here … I hope I get a part … what fun … I wonder what play it is?’

  Alice-Miranda leaned forward and tapped Jacinta’s shoulder. ‘You know, I think Lawrence is trying to get Lucas a place at Fayle at the moment.’

  Jacinta swivelled her head and smiled at her friend. ‘Well, we have to get parts in that play – then we’ll be able to see him more than just at the weekends. If he gets to come, of course.’

  Lucas Nixon had caused quite a fuss when Alice-Miranda and Jacinta first encountered him. Sent to live with his Aunt Lily and Uncle Heinrich, who managed the farm at Alice-Miranda’s home, Highton Hall, he seemed to spend most of his time lashing out at everyone around him. But a lot of things had changed very quickly over the holidays: Lucas’s absent father turned out to be none other than the famous movie star Lawrence Ridley, who became engaged to Alice-Miranda’s beloved Aunt Charlotte. Jacinta and Lucas couldn’t stand one another to begin with but, after a couple of weeks, they realised they had much more in common than they could ever have imagined. Jacinta thought it would be wonderful to see him again.

  Miss Reedy stood up and walked to the microphone. ‘Girls, the play we’ll be performing is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. There are plenty of roles and I’m looking forward to seeing lots of girls try out. Of course, girls can try for boys’ roles and vice versa. It should be loads of fun.’

  Miss Reedy announced that there would be more details about the play up on the noticeboard before the end of the week. Just as she was explaining that if girls were interested in auditioning for parts, they needed to pick up copies of the script from her office that afternoon, a small commotion erupted at the back of the hall. ‘Ohhhh, did you hear that darling? A play! How wonderful.’

  From her position in the rear seats, Alice-Miranda turned to see what was going on. A tall woman with long blonde curls was pointing at the stage and talking rather loudly to a young girl standing beside her who looked remarkably similar.

  ‘Excuse me, can I help you?’ Miss Reedy glanced up from her notes and peered
over the top of the spectacles perched on the end of her nose.

  ‘Look, Sloane, look at the headmistress and the teachers up there. Oh, they’re so cute – like in Harry Potter or something,’ the woman giggled. The child ignored her, instead splaying the fingers of her left hand and admiring her scarlet nail polish.

  With her perfect view of the hall, Miss Grimm had also become aware of the new arrivals. Endeavouring to make them feel welcome, Ophelia decided to introduce the pair to the whole school.

  ‘It’s all right, Miss Reedy.’ Miss Grimm motioned for the English teacher to take her seat, then moved towards the microphone. ‘Girls and staff, you may have noticed we have some guests. Not guests, in fact, but new members of the Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale family. Please welcome Mrs Sykes and her daughter Sloane.’

  One hundred pairs of eyes swivelled from Miss Grimm back to the newcomers.

  ‘Hello everyone. Call me September – Mrs Sykes sounds so old and, well, I’m not old, am I? This is my daughter, Sloane. She’s lovely, isn’t she?’ September wrapped her arm around the girl’s shoulder. ‘We can’t wait to meet you all, can we, Sloane? And Sloane’s very clever and a fantastic actress. I just heard you saying something about doing a play? Sloane’s had acting lessons since she was two and she’s the best dancer ever. So, of course, she should be top of the list for the lead role.’

  Sloane looked up and smirked.

  ‘Yuck, she’s even more revolting than I first thought.’ Millie buried her head in her hands.

  ‘Yes and she’s my room mate,’ Jacinta whispered.

  ‘No, not Sloane,’ Millie replied. ‘I meant her mother.’

  ‘Oh,’ Jacinta grimaced.

  Miss Grimm’s welcome was losing its gloss as September continued to babble.

  ‘Would you like to take your seat, Sloane?’ Miss Grimm pointed towards the front of the hall, near the older students. ‘And please see me after the assembly as we’ll need to have a chat about your … face.’

  ‘What about my face?’ Sloane asked, to no one in particular.

  ‘Make-up,’ Ashima whispered as Sloane took her seat. ‘We’re not allowed.’

  Sloane rolled her eyes. ‘Pathetic.’

  ‘And Mrs Sykes, if you’d like to stay for the remainder of the assembly you’re welcome to sit in the row there just next to you.’

  September tottered towards the pew, caught her foot on an uneven flagstone and almost fell into Alice-Miranda’s lap.

  Alice-Miranda caught hold of Mrs Sykes’s arm.

  ‘Ow!’ September grimaced. ‘That hurt.’

  ‘I am sorry. I was just trying to help.’

  ‘Well, don’t bother next time.’ September Sykes glared at Alice-Miranda, then smoothed her dress and sat bolt upright in her seat. How she could breathe was anyone’s guess.

  Alice-Miranda turned towards her and smiled. ‘Hello, my name’s Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones,’ she whispered and held out her tiny hand. ‘And I’m very pleased to meet you.’

  September Sykes’s ears pricked up. ‘Did you say Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones?’

  ‘Yes,’ Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘Do you know my mummy and daddy?’

  ‘Well, sort of, but I’d looove to get to know them better,’ September simpered, her pearl-white smile widening. She took Alice-Miranda’s dainty hand in hers. ‘It’s very nice to meet you too.’

  September Sykes could not believe her luck. Today was turning out even better than she had hoped.

  The arrival of Sloane and September Sykes caused quite a stir among the girls and staff. At the conclusion of the assembly, Mrs Sykes seemed very eager to speak with Sloane’s teachers and joined the staff as they left the hall. As she bumped in beside Mr Plumpton, his red nose took on an even brighter glow, particularly when Mrs Sykes linked her arm through his. Miss Reedy glowered and bit her lip. She wasn’t used to such ostentatious displays.

  September Sykes didn’t notice Miss Reedy’s glares. She was too busy loudly describing her glorious modelling career and explaining that Sloane’s father regularly appeared on television, although in what capacity she didn’t reveal. Mr Plumpton coughed awkwardly as September leaned in and whispered that, thanks to her step-mother-in-law making provisions for the children’s education, Sloane and her older brother Septimus were finally exactly where they belonged, at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies and Fayle School for Boys.

  With a flutter of her lashes, September released Mr Plumpton’s arm and trotted after Miss Grimm ‘for a little chat’. She was convinced that this was only the start of much bigger things for the Sykes family. In her mind, they’d struggled quite long enough and it was about time she had everything she wanted, including that oversized Prada handbag she’d seen on Ambrosia Headlington-Bear’s arm in a magazine photograph. Now that she and her children were mixing in the right circles, she was sure life was about to become a whole lot more interesting.

  As for the students of Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale, the girls had hurried off to their first lessons aflame with curiosity about the new girl and her remarkable mother. Amid much chatter and speculation, they seemed to have quite a deal of trouble concentrating on their morning classes.

  At half past ten, Alice-Miranda was on her way to meet Millie in the dining room for morning tea when she saw Sloane standing on her own near the entrance to the library.

  ‘Are you lost?’ Alice-Miranda smiled. ‘You’re Sloane, aren’t you? My name’s Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones and I’m very pleased to meet you.’ She offered her tiny hand.

  Sloane looked down at her and glared. ‘No, I’m not lost. I’m just waiting for, what’s her name, Dinka or something.’

  ‘Oh, you mean Danika. She’s the Head Prefect. I suppose Miss Grimm has asked her to show you around. Are you having a good day?’ Alice-Miranda continued, ‘I just love school. And wait until you see what Mrs Smith has made for our morning tea.’

  Sloane stared at Alice-Miranda as if she had been promised a roast pork dinner but was served pickled pigs’ trotters instead.

  Finally she spoke. ‘Are you always like this?’

  ‘Like what?’ Alice-Miranda’s eyes widened.

  ‘So … happy and bouncy and enthusiastic.’ Sloane’s monotone voice could barely hide her distaste.

  ‘Oh, yes. I can’t imagine a reason not to be happy and bouncy and enthusiastic. Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale is simply the most splendid school ever and our teachers are lovely and so clever and Miss Grimm, well, she’s the best headmistress in the whole world.’

  Sloane slowly shook her head. ‘Good grief!’ she muttered under her breath. ‘And my mother expects me to be friends with someone like you.’

  ‘Oh, yes, I’m sure we’ll be friends too.’ Alice-Miranda smiled.

  ‘You can go now.’ Sloane flicked her hand. ‘I’m fine and you don’t want to be late for your tea.’

  ‘Oh, all right, I think Danika’s coming now anyway.’ Alice-Miranda looked over Sloane’s left shoulder. ‘See you in a minute.’

  The younger girl waved, and then skipped off in the direction of the dining room. As soon as Alice-Miranda’s back was turned, the older girl’s tongue shot out like a lizard’s. Unlike her mother, Sloane Sykes was not the least bit impressed by her new surroundings or the people who inhabited them.

  ‘Yum, is that strawberry sponge?’ Alice-Miranda licked her lips as she slid into her seat beside Millie in the dining room.

  ‘Sure is.’ Millie pushed a plate of the sticky confection towards her friend.

  ‘I’ve just had a lovely chat with Sloane,’ Alice-Miranda announced.

  ‘I can’t imagine how,’ Jacinta glowered. ‘You didn’t see what she and her mother were doing when we went back to the house before.’

  ‘What were they doing?’ Alice-Miranda quizzed.

  ‘Going through Jacinta’s things,’ said Millie. ‘And getting awfully wound up about Jacinta’s mother, for some strange reaso
n.’

  ‘Oh.’ Alice-Miranda rested her fork against the side of her plate. ‘Well, I’m sure they were just excited about being at school. It’s such a great adventure being a boarder.’

  Millie agreed. ‘That’s what I said, but I have to admit that I have a bad feeling about those two. I think Sloane’s trouble with a capital T and her mother is even worse.’

  Alice-Miranda frowned. ‘I’m sure they’ll be fine. Sometimes it just takes a little while to settle into somewhere new.’

  Jacinta and Millie smiled at their little friend and shook their heads. She could always be relied upon to think the best of everyone.

  The bell rang to signify the end of morning tea and Alice-Miranda, Millie and Jacinta took their dirty plates and cups to the sideboard.

  ‘Are you going to try out for the play?’ Alice-Miranda asked the girls.

  ‘Yes, of course,’ said Millie.

  Jacinta nodded. ‘I wonder if one of the dwarfs could be a gymnast? And what about you Alice-Miranda? Will you audition?’

  ‘I think so – I’m going to get a script from Miss Reedy after school. I can get copies for both of you as well.’

  The girls parted company, heading off to their various lessons. Alice-Miranda and Millie decided they would take a walk to the stables at lunchtime to see how Alice-Miranda’s pony, Bonaparte, was getting on. Jacinta tried not to wrinkle her nose and said she planned to do some gymnastics training instead.

  Alice-Miranda had been thrilled that her parents agreed to let Bony come back to school with her. After all, she had settled in so well and there was no doubt Bonaparte could do with being ridden more often. Hopefully his new surroundings would keep the little monster out of trouble. At least while he was at school he would stay out of Mr Greening’s prized vegetable patch at Highton Hall.

  There was only an hour of class time before lunch. Alice-Miranda had her favourite English class with Miss Reedy while Millie was at PE and Jacinta had Mathematics. Just after 1 pm, Alice-Miranda and Millie met at the dining room where they collected some sandwiches to take with them to the stables.