Ophelia Grimm stood up and asked that the girls pull their crackers. On a count of three, they’d all do it together – the degree of difficulty made harder by the fact that everyone was crossing their arms to pull two at once with the person either side of them. There were loud bangs and oohs and aahs followed by lots of bad dad jokes and donning of coloured paper hats.

  ‘You can turn the music on again, please, Mr Trout,’ the headmistress announced, but the man had abandoned his post. Miss Reedy hurried over to do it. This time, ‘Jingle Bells’ blasted momentarily until the woman got the volume under control.

  ‘I think Mrs Smith has outdone herself tonight,’ Britt said. ‘This is superb.’

  The others agreed, though Caprice was muttering about the baked potatoes being overcooked. She still hadn’t said a word to Millie. Alice-Miranda was disappointed. If the girl really wanted to be accepted, then she had to take responsibility for her behaviour and, so far, it didn’t seem that was ever going to happen.

  A little while later, when pudding was being served, Alice-Miranda noticed Adalynn, one of the new GAP girls from America, tap Miss Grimm on the shoulder. The woman hastily exited the room and returned minutes later looking pale. It was obvious something was awry. Miss Grimm hurried over to Mrs Howard and whispered in the woman’s ear.

  The housemistress shook her head. Whatever Miss Grimm had asked her, the woman was most definitely saying no. Miss Grimm headed for Mrs Clarkson, who sighed deeply and pursed her lips.

  Millie had also seen Miss Grimm leave and return looking rather too much like her namesake – grim.

  She nudged Alice-Miranda. ‘What do you think the matter is?’

  ‘It might be the weather. Perhaps there’s some flooding, although I spoke to Mummy earlier about the Kennington’s thing and she said that conditions are supposed to improve tonight,’ Alice-Miranda explained.

  ‘Did she know what the grocery issue was?’ Millie asked.

  ‘Mummy said it was nothing to worry about,’ Alice-Miranda replied. ‘Some of the trucks had been delayed by the weather and, given everyone’s been out shopping, that’s why things would have been a bit bare. We both agreed that Mrs Parker was likely to have exaggerated the situation a little bit.’

  ‘Of course, she would have. That woman loves a drama almost as much as Caprice does. I wonder if they’re related,’ Millie said.

  Miss Reedy walked to the podium and asked that any girls who were performing finish their meal and head backstage to get ready. Alice-Miranda stood up and Jacinta did too, garnering several pairs of raised eyebrows.

  ‘What are you doing?’ Sloane asked.

  ‘Can’t tell you – it’s a surprise,’ Jacinta replied with a grin.

  ‘At least you’ve got talent,’ Millie said. ‘Unlike me.’

  Caprice was walking past right at the time the girl said it, but much to everyone’s surprise she kept quiet.

  ‘What did you say to her earlier?’ Millie asked Alice-Miranda.

  ‘I promised I’d keep that between the two of us, but I’m hoping she’ll talk to you before we head home tomorrow,’ the girl replied. ‘I’d best get moving.’

  ‘Maybe you’re going to get an apology from Caprice for Christmas,’ Sloane said.

  ‘That would be a rare and unusual gift,’ Millie said. ‘And you know what? I’m in a very forgiving mood. I’d accept it in a heartbeat.’

  Next door, in one of the old classrooms, the girls who were set to perform were busy getting ready. Caprice was in the corner warming up her voice with runs and trills – while a couple of younger students who were doing a gymnastics routine were busy stretching and practising the splits. Alice-Miranda was tapping out beats and making sure that Jacinta knew exactly when she was supposed to start her part, while over in the corner Miss Grimm, Mrs Clarkson and Mrs Parker looked to be having a very serious conversation.

  Alice-Miranda noticed the threesome spent a lot of time glancing at Caprice, who was completely oblivious to their attentions.

  Probably just as well because she was first up to perform. Miss Wall was standing by the door with her clipboard, reminding the girls of the program order. The first five acts would stay in the room until their performance, then return to their seats immediately afterwards, while girls in the last five acts were allowed to watch until Miss Wall called them back again. The room was quite literally buzzing with excitement, though that could also have had something to do with one of the acts, which was an interpretive dance about honeybees with requisite sound effects.

  ‘Caprice, you’re up,’ Miss Wall called. ‘Good luck.’

  The girl flicked her long copper tresses and flounced towards the door.

  ‘When have I ever needed luck on stage?’ she replied.

  ‘I’d say you’re going to need some, Petunia, looking after that one for the next few days until her mother can get here,’ Myrtle Parker said to Mrs Clarkson, tsking loudly.

  Alice-Miranda frowned while Jacinta’s eyebrows flew up.

  Everyone in the room had just heard the woman – except Caprice, who had already exited.

  ‘Mrs Parker, honestly, you have all the tact of a bull in a china shop,’ Miss Grimm said, glaring.

  ‘I’m sorry, Ophelia, did I say that out loud?’ Myrtle said, a smirk on her lips. Though it was obvious that she wasn’t sorry at all.

  Caprice’s rendition of ‘O Holy Night’ brought many in the audience to tears and was followed by rapturous applause.

  ‘That was stunning, Caprice,’ Mr Trout called from his seat behind the piano. ‘Bravo!’ He wiped his eyes and gazed at the girl like a proud parent. The music teacher was renowned for his emotional responses, particularly where his star student, Caprice, was concerned.

  ‘I just got the shivers,’ Britt said. ‘Her voice is so beautiful.’ The other girls could only agree and even Millie had to concede that Caprice was talented beyond the realm of mere mortals.

  The girl took several more bows, then shushed the audience – a smile spreading across her lips. There was an obvious glint in her cobalt-blue eyes. ‘That was such a success, Mr Trout – why don’t I do another?’

  The man looked out at the audience, hesitating for a moment before exclaiming, ‘Oh, yes, let’s.’

  But Benitha Wall was having none of it. She strode onto the stage, her clipboard under one arm, and grabbed the microphone from the girl. This evening, the PE teacher and deputy head (alongside Miss Reedy who shared the role) had swapped her trademark navy tracksuit for a navy A-line skirt and cream jumper with a cowl neck. Her hair, which was rarely seen out of a ponytail, fell loosely around her shoulders. Despite her softer look, she was still a woman not to be trifled with.

  ‘Thank you, Caprice. That was a wonderful performance as always and if we have any time left at the end, perhaps you can lead the school in some carols. But you need to vacate the stage for our next act,’ the woman ordered, a steely look on her face.

  Caprice’s face went from picture-perfect to peeved in one fell swoop. She rolled her eyes. ‘Sorry, everyone, prepare to be disappointed from here on in.’

  Millie raised her eyebrows at Sloane who shrugged. ‘I don’t think you’re going to get that apology after all. Not when her head’s that big.’

  Miss Wall cleared her throat before plastering a big smile on her face. ‘Our second performers for this evening are Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones and Jacinta Headlington-Bear – try saying that quickly ten times.’ The audience chuckled as the curtain pulled back to reveal Alice-Miranda sitting at the drums and Jacinta standing off to the side in front of a microphone stand. She was holding a tambourine.

  Alice-Miranda began quietly before Jacinta’s voice rang out. ‘Come they told me, par rum pum pum pum . . .’ The pair’s version of ‘The Little Drummer Boy’ was gorgeous – at least until the last few bars when an unholy wail started up in the back corner of the room.

  ‘What?’ Caprice screeched. ‘I’m not staying here with Mrs Clarkson!’

  The whole hall fell silent save for a final flourish from Alice-Miranda. The boom-tish seemed a little blasé, all things considered.

  ‘Oh, goodness,’ Miss Grimm muttered from her seat near the stage. ‘Who told her?’

  But it seemed that honour had most likely gone to the girl’s mother as Caprice was holding her phone, staring at the screen and ranting about how much she hated the woman. Given the rest of the school population generally adhered to the rules about no phones in class or the dining room, it would have been odd if it had been anyone else who’d sent the message. Venetia Baldini’s timing was terrible.

  Caprice stormed to the front of the room and stood beside the headmistress.

  ‘What’s this?’ she waved the screen in front of the woman’s face.

  Ophelia Grimm stood up. Fortunately, she still towered over the girl and could be as intimidating as the next authority figure when she wanted to be.

  ‘This is not the time or place, Caprice,’ she hissed. ‘And I’ll take that, thank you.’

  The headmistress held out her hand. Caprice’s lips wrinkled and she shook her head.

  ‘I’m not giving you my phone. It’s holidays tomorrow and I have to take it with me,’ Caprice said.

  ‘Please tell me this isn’t happening,’ Millie mumbled, her head in her hands.

  Ophelia eyeballed Caprice. ‘Hand that over. We’ll discuss this after the concert. Your mother promised she wouldn’t contact you until later.’

  ‘I hate her!’ Caprice shouted. ‘And where is she, anyway? Has she gone to Italy without me? You know we’re going to Tuscany to –’

  ‘Stay in your villa that’s really more like a castle,’ a chorus of voices echoed through the dining room. It seemed everyone in the school had been told about Caprice’s upcoming adventure.

  ‘Oh, shut up, you lot!’ Caprice’s pretty face was the colour of a Santa suit.

  Aggie frowned at Caprice and waggled her finger at the girl.

  ‘Naughty!’ Aggie put her finger to her lips. She pointed at the stage where Alice-Miranda and Jacinta were waiting for this alternative show to finish before taking their bows.

  ‘Don’t tell me to shush, Aggie – you’re just a baby!’ Caprice snapped. She turned on her heel and stormed out the door with Miss Grimm hot on her heels. Thankfully, the stunned silence didn’t last.

  ‘Bravo!’ Reginald Parker called out and began to clap. He was soon joined by the rest of the audience, aside from his wife who had charged out after the headmistress, claiming she was off to see if there was anything she could do to help. Millie thought it was more likely she couldn’t bear not knowing exactly what was going on.

  ‘Well done, girls,’ Miss Reedy said. And for our next act we have . . .’

  Alice-Miranda and Jacinta joined the girls at their table.

  ‘That was amazing,’ Sloane said. ‘I thought you were going to wow us with one of your contortionist gymnastics routines, Jacinta. But now I know why you’ve been going to “visit your mother” every time Alice-Miranda had a drum lesson this past month.’

  The girls grinned.

  ‘But what are we going to do about that?’ Britt said, motioning her head towards the door where Caprice and Miss Grimm had disappeared.

  ‘We’re not doing anything,’ Millie said. She looked at Alice-Miranda. ‘Are we?’

  The girl bit her lip.

  Alice-Miranda couldn’t help feeling sorry for Caprice. Jacinta frowned and caught her eye – she was obviously troubled by the situation too. Surely there had to be a way of getting Caprice to her family tomorrow or maybe the girls would have no choice other than to take her with them to Highton Hall. Anything else would be too mean-spirited for words – especially at Christmas.

  ‘Please tell me you’re not serious,’ Millie said, wringing her hands together. After the concert, Alice-Miranda had called a meeting. Presently, she, Sloane, Millie, Jacinta, Chessie and Britt were gathered in Alice-Miranda and Millie’s room, seated on beds, desk chairs and, in Britt’s case, the floor, discussing Caprice’s predicament.

  ‘I agree with Alice-Miranda,’ Jacinta said. ‘I know – it’s not ideal, but I’ve been there before and it was horrible. Don’t you remember the bad old days when my mother and father used to go away on those glamorous trips and leave me here with Howie and, even worse, with Shaker before she retired? Fortunately, Mummy has proven that everyone can change but let’s not even talk about my father.’

  Millie sighed. ‘But we don’t know how long her mother’s going to be away for – it might only be a day or two. And why can’t Mr Radford come and get her?’

  ‘I think we should talk to Caprice,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘See what she’d like to do. And for the record, Millie, I know she wants to be better. I just don’t think she knows how to go about it.’

  ‘That would be fair,’ Britt said. ‘I mean, she may prefer to stay here with Mrs Clarkson rather than come with us – given she knows we’d all agreed not to invite her.’

  Millie was perched on the edge of Sloane’s bed. ‘Oh, she’ll want to come. Believe me. That girl has the worst FOMO ever.’

  ‘I’ll go and get her,’ Jacinta offered.

  The others nodded.

  Millie picked up a cushion from her bed and began fiddling with the tassel. ‘I can’t believe that Jacinta caved too.’

  ‘Why?’ Britt said. ‘Jacinta is lovely – she’s such a caring and considerate girl.’

  ‘Who used to be known as the school’s second-best tantrum thrower,’ Millie replied.

  Britt’s eyebrows jumped up. She couldn’t imagine it. ‘Really?’

  ‘That was a long time ago, Millie,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘Everyone can change. Jacinta’s living proof of that – and like she said a minute ago – look at her mother. Ambrosia’s a different person since she split up with Neville Headlington-Bear.’

  ‘I know,’ Millie said and folded her arms in front of her. ‘You’re right. I’m a horrible sceptic when it comes to Caprice.’

  ‘I suppose if things get tricky, I could always take Caprice home with me,’ Chessie offered. Her mother and stepfather lived not far across the fields from Alice-Miranda in a mansion called Bedford Manor. ‘Although I think Mummy has a pretty full house right up to the weekend.’

  Having inherited the country pile and a title to boot, Lord Tavistock had soon realised that there was no pile of cash to run the place. His creative new wife Jemima, Chessie’s mother, had opened the Manor as a high-end bed and breakfast. She’d been surprised by how much she enjoyed the hospitality business and soon found the place booked up for months.

  ‘I’m sure it won’t come to that,’ Alice-Miranda said.

  For a few minutes, a stony silence fell over the group. Each of the girls seemed to be lost in their own thoughts.

  There were footsteps in the hall and the room’s door slid open. Jacinta reappeared with Caprice in tow.

  ‘I thought you said you wanted to give me a present,’ Caprice said, arching her left eyebrow. ‘What’s all this?’

  Alice-Miranda slid off her bed and stood in front of the girl.

  ‘How are you feeling?’ she asked.

  ‘Why do you care?’ Caprice said. ‘You’re all going on holiday tomorrow and now I’m stuck here with Mrs Clarkson until Mummy finishes a job that was “too good to refuse”. Whatever.’

  ‘What about your father?’ Jacinta asked. She looked at Millie, whose face brightened in anticipation of the answer.

  ‘He and my brothers are already in Tuscany and Mummy says that he can’t leave them to come and get me because they have some deadline to meet – who knows what that’s about?’ Caprice said. ‘She says it’s only for a few days but I’m not sure that I believe her.’

  Jacinta looked at Britt, who glanced at Sloane, who peeked at Chessie, who turned to Alice-Miranda, who eyeballed Millie.

  ‘Fine,’ Millie said. ‘But if there’s one outburst, one mean word, one conceited comment, one –’

  ‘We get it.’ Jacinta cut her off.

  Caprice frowned. ‘What are you saying? Are you asking me to come to Alice-Miranda’s?’

  Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘You shouldn’t have to stay here on your own. It’s not right.’

  ‘Are you serious?’ Caprice’s eyes began to fill with tears. ‘Do you really mean it?’

  The girls all nodded. Even Millie, though it was grudging.

  ‘I promise to be good. I really do. And Millie, I’m sorry for being so mean all the time and I know you did most of the work on our project. I’m a horrible human being. I think there’s something wrong with me,’ Caprice said.

  ‘Well, duh.’ Millie grimaced. She quickly followed it up with a grin. ‘Apology accepted – I really don’t want to spend the rest of my life fighting with you either, Caprice. But you have to stop pushing my buttons and setting me up. I don’t like who I am around you, either.’

  Then Caprice did a most unexpected thing. She grabbed Millie and hugged her so tightly she had to wriggle from her embrace.

  ‘Sorry, it’s just you don’t know what this means to me.’ Caprice sniffled.

  Alice-Miranda passed her a tissue. ‘Caprice, we’re glad that you’re going to join us and I really appreciate that you’ve apologised to Millie, but you need to understand that everything Millie said before still stands. One sniff of trouble and I’ll ask Mummy to send you back to Mrs Clarkson. We’re going to have a wonderful pre-Christmas celebration and I can assure you there will be some terrific surprises, but we don’t want any drama. Is that understood?’ Alice-Miranda’s brown eyes gazed steadfastly into Caprice’s blue ones. ‘And no flirting with the boys either. Lucas is coming and Sep and Neville Nordstrom – you know he’s on exchange at Fayle this term like Britt.’

  Caprice nodded. ‘Wow – everyone was going except me, but I promise. No drama, no batting my eyelashes at the boys and if I’m mean at any time, I’m heading straight back to school.’

  Millie stared at the girl. ‘Seriously, who are you and what have you done with the real Caprice?’

  Caprice frowned and then realised it was a joke.