Alice-Miranda on Vacation (14 page)

Jacinta had turned and was walking backward, taking in the view of Highton Hall, when rather abruptly she was on her back, legs in the air, kicking like a stranded tortoise.

“Ow, why don’t you watch where you’re going!” a voice growled.

Jacinta rolled over to face her attacker.

“Me!” She scrambled to her feet. “Why are you lying there in the grass in the first place? Of course I didn’t see you.” And then she realized who she was talking to. “You! I see your manners haven’t improved in the past few days.” Jacinta narrowed her eyes.

“And you’re still the same stuck-up spoilt rich brat too. Good to know some things don’t change,” he spat back at her.

“What are you doing here anyway?” Jacinta looked around and realized that from this position the boy was completely hidden but had a very clear view of the fir tree. “Are you spying on them?” she demanded.

“Why would I do that? I couldn’t care less about them. I was just minding my own business,” he retorted.

“And what exactly
is
your business, Lucassss?” Jacinta hissed his name.

“That’s none of
your
business either,” he replied.

“Really! Well, I’m sure Alice-Miranda and Jasper will have something to say about that—and your Aunt Lily too.” Her shoulders rose and she exhaled loudly.

Lucas said nothing. He stood up and met her gaze, but this time Jacinta noticed something different in his eyes. Something she had seen before, in her own reflection.

“Go ahead and tell on me, then. It won’t make any difference. I’m sure that they’re sending me away next week. I’m way too much trouble,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Where are you going?” Jacinta asked, softening just a little.

“Back to boarding school, I suppose. Where my mother left me. Lily’s been to see them and patch things up. Probably asked your little friend’s father and mother to make a donation or something so the school would ‘overlook my issues.’ ”

“What issues?” Jacinta asked.

Lucas kicked at the ground. “Let’s just say that I picked a fight with the wrong kid.”

“What do you mean?” Jacinta wasn’t about to give up any time soon. “What did you do?”

“I punched him in the nose.”

“What for?” Jacinta continued.

“Lots of things. The guy’s a twit. He started picking on this other little kid from the minute he arrived. Told him he had to do everything he said and if he didn’t, well, the kid copped it.”

Jacinta raised her eyebrows. “How?”

“Honey in his bedsheets and mashed cockroaches in his toothbrush, for starters,” Lucas replied.

“That’s terrible!” Jacinta exclaimed. “Did anyone tell the teachers?”

“They tried, but no one would listen. This kid has everyone fooled.”

“It sounds like the bully at our school. She was asked to leave last term because the headmistress finally realized she was a horror. They’re probably related.” Jacinta smiled. “So it’s true, then, that you were expelled?”

“Yeah, that’s why I’m here, having so much fun,” Lucas said with a sneer.

“You know, it’s not true what you said before about Hugh and Cecelia,” Jacinta began. “I know they wouldn’t pay off a school like that. They’re not that sort of people.”

“Yeah, right. Rich people are all the same in my books. Only want you around if you’re perfect and
well behaved and have good manners and stuff. Or else they can pay to get rid of you.”

“That’s certainly not true. I’m not perfect and sometimes I have the worst manners ever. In fact, I’m known as my school’s second-best tantrum thrower.”

“You. Are you kidding me? What have you ever done?” Lucas stared.

“Well, let’s just see. I hated school so much last year that I stole the school flag and hung it from my bedroom window, and I ordered a huge box of licorice which I ate every night after five p.m. I thought they’d have to send me home for sure. It’s one of our school rules, you know.”

“What? Not stealing flags?” Lucas scoffed.

“No, not eating licorice after five p.m.,” Jacinta retorted.

“And did they?” Lucas asked.

“Did they what?”

“Send you home, of course,” he demanded.

“No. They didn’t. They rang my parents and asked them to come and get me but Mummy was too busy with her friends and Daddy was away on business. So instead I had detention for a month.”

“But weren’t your parents angry?” Lucas pulled at a long stem of grass.

“Yes, of course they were. Mummy was furious because she had to take a very long phone call from Miss Reedy and it interrupted her manicure.”

“My mother wasn’t very happy about what happened with me either.”

“What about your father?” Jacinta asked. “Where’s he?”

“I don’t even know who he is. And I don’t want to talk about it. It’s none of your business,” Lucas snapped. “Anyway, is that all you’ve done?”

“Well, no. I cried like a baby every night for a month. Homesickness is punishable by expulsion, you know.”

“Really?” Lucas looked moderately impressed. “Have you got any food in there?” He pointed at the backpack.

“Four bruised apples and four pieces of now very squashed hummingbird cake,” Jacinta replied.

“Can I have some?” Lucas whispered, while studying the ground. “Please?”

Jacinta stared at him. “What did you say?”

“Doesn’t matter—you’re not going to give it to me anyway.” He turned and began to walk away.

“Hey, come back here,” Jacinta demanded. “If you want some cake, that is.”

Lucas stopped. He turned and saw Jacinta sit on the ground and open the backpack.

She rummaged around in the bag. “Well, do you want some or not?”

Lucas walked back toward her and sat down.

“Here.” She handed him a piece of cake. “I might as well have some too.” Jacinta began to unwrap a second piece. “So, tell me what happened after you punched the bully in the nose?” she asked.

By the time Jacinta licked the last crumbs of cake from her fingers the two of them realized that they might just have quite a lot more in common than they could ever have imagined.

“O
h, hello, what a lovely surprise,” said Alice-Miranda as she turned around to see Lucas entering the cubby through the droopy branch door.

“What do
you
want?” Jasper rolled his eyes and backed away.

“Ugh. I’m out of here.” Lucas turned to go.

“Oh no you don’t.” Jacinta put her hands on his shoulders and turned him back around. “He’s with me,” she said, and gave him a little shove forward into the cubby.

Alice-Miranda raced over to hug her friend. “I’m so glad you’re better. You’ve been missing all the fun.”
She looked at the unlikely pair. “Is everything all right?”

“Yes, everything’s fine. I told Lucas that he could come and play with us, if he wanted to,” Jacinta said firmly.

“Of course. Lucas, you’re most welcome to join us—isn’t he, Jasper?” Alice-Miranda said meaningfully. Jasper reluctantly nodded. “I’ve been hoping to get to know you better, Lucas. It seems silly that we shouldn’t be friends when we all live in the same place—don’t you agree?”

Lucas managed a nod followed by a tight half smile.

“Well, this is our cubby. Isn’t it amazing? We made it last year and we found all the furniture in the barn behind Rose Cottage. Mr. Greening helped bring it down here in the trailer. I think it’s the most gorgeous secret hideaway—just perfect for adventures. You know, I think there could even be some magic down here under this old tree,” Alice-Miranda mused.

Lucas moved away from the doorway toward the beaten accordion perched on the sideboard. “Does that work?” he asked, pointing at the shabby relic.

“Well, it’s certainly seen better days, but I think it should still play a tune,” Alice-Miranda replied. “Try it—if you want to, of course.”

Lucas picked up the accordion and gave it a squeeze. A gush of air raced out and the most awful sound followed. The children all looked at each other—and laughed.

“I think you should play us a concert,” Jacinta said, clapping her hands.

Even Jasper couldn’t help but smile.

“Yes, Lucas—a concert, please,” Alice-Miranda urged.

Lucas squeezed again and pressed the keys—this time the accordion sounded like a cross between a strangled cat and a windy cow. The children fell about giggling—Lucas too.

That afternoon they had the most wonderful time. Alice-Miranda had all but forgotten about the things that were troubling her. Jasper tried hard not to talk to his cousin but after a while he thawed a little. Lucas, it seemed, could be quite charming when he wasn’t being horrid.

U
p at the Hall there was a flurry of activity. During the week the house had been cleaned from top to bottom, and that afternoon there were vans and trucks delivering all manner of things from flowers and fruit to helium balloons.

“I do wish you would let me cook for the party, ma’am,” Mrs. Oliver tutted as she motioned for another box of groceries to be taken to the pantry.

“Oh, Dolly, nonsense, this party is for family—and if you were cooking all day and night you wouldn’t be able to enjoy it,” Cecelia reprimanded.

“But Mrs. Smith is here to help me now—she arrived from the school this morning. You should have
seen us there—we were a grand team. I’m sure we could have things ready in no time,” Mrs. Oliver protested.

“I know you could. But really, at so many of our parties you don’t have a second to join us—and it
is
Charlotte’s birthday, and she’d be very cross with me if you were down here slaving over hot ovens. Besides, Mummy has sent over some lovely dresses for you and Shilly and Mrs. Smith to choose from—and there are matching jewels too. You know she’d be terribly offended if you were to don an apron over the top of a Valentino!”

Mrs. Oliver smiled. “Thank you, ma’am. I’m sure it will be a wonderful evening—but just don’t look at me when the beef is overcooked,” she scoffed, and strode to the door to take charge of yet another delivery.

Cecelia smothered a smile. “Are the children back yet?” she asked. “It’s getting late and I don’t want Jacinta catching another chill. I’m so glad she’s feeling better—I was rather thinking she was about to have another awful holiday.”

Cecelia walked out onto the porch just in time to see Alice-Miranda and Jacinta striding arm in arm across the lawn. Their timing couldn’t have been more perfect. A battered Land Rover lurched up the
driveway and clattered to a halt outside the front steps.

“Hello, darlings,” Cecelia called. “You’re just in time.”

The driver of the Land Rover got out carefully and retrieved a walking stick from the center console. Before he reached the passenger door a very small child with red hair and glasses leapt out onto the gravel and raced toward the girls.

“Millie!” Alice-Miranda squealed, and ran toward her friend. “What are you doing here? I thought you were spending the holidays at home.” The children hugged tightly.

Millicent Jane McLoughlin-McTavish-McNoughton-McGill was Alice-Miranda’s best friend and roommate at school. Although Millie was three years older than Alice-Miranda, the two girls had quickly discovered they had much in common, and indeed it was hard for Millie to believe that Alice-Miranda was still only just over seven.

Cecelia walked down and greeted Millie’s grandfather. “Hello, Ambrose.” She leaned forward and gave the old man pecks on both cheeks. “Thank you so much for bringing her over. I knew Alice-Miranda and Jacinta would be thrilled. I’ve had to work hard not to let the cat out of the bag several times.”

“It’s my pleasure, Cecelia dear. It’s lovely to see you,” Ambrose McLaughlin-McTavish replied. “She arrived yesterday and it’s been such a treat to have her with me. You know, I haven’t enjoyed ice cream for breakfast in years but Millicent convinced me that it was what we both needed this morning, so we strolled down to the village and sat in the tearooms and that’s just what we ordered. I think Mrs. Finch was rather disapproving, but by golly it made me feel young again—and anyone who can do that for a man of my advanced years is a wonder.”

Cecelia had arranged with Millie’s parents for her to stay for the rest of the holidays. As it turned out, Millie’s grandfather lived only a couple of miles away and had been a friend of Cecelia’s father long ago.