Sophie Cleverly - The Lights Under the Lake

Ivy nodded slowly. “We’ll just have to wait and see, I suppose.”

I looked back at the sheet – it was full already, and people were already trying to fit their names into the blank space round the side in the hopes that someone might drop out. Other notices had been knocked off the board and were scattered on the parquet floor of the entrance hall. I didn’t think anything like this had ever happened at Rookwood before, at least not in recent years.

I clenched my fists, determined not to let our stepmother stop me.

“We’re going,” I said confidently. “And that’s that.”

“You’re not going,” Edith’s voice sneered down the telephone, “and that’s that.”

We were sitting in Mrs Knight’s office, just me and Ivy, and we’d been allowed to make a call. Apparently our dear stepmother had received the letter already, and wasn’t impressed. “But why?” I whined. I knew I sounded childish, but I truly didn’t understand. If it had been her precious boys, she would’ve said yes without a thought.

“Because it’s a waste of my money, Scarlet,” she snapped.

You mean Father’s money , I thought, but I held my tongue for once. We stood no chance if I was rude to her. Even if she especially deserved it.

“I’m not paying for you to go off gallivanting about the countryside when you should be learning,” she continued. “Your father expects you to be getting a proper education, and we pay enough for it as it is.”

I glared up at the motivational posters on the walls. Ivy was twiddling her thumbs in the chair beside me. “It’ll be completely educational. Mrs Knight said we’re going to learn about nature.”

I could almost see Edith smirk. “Oh yes, I’m sure looking at trees will be invaluable for your future. Will it help you to get a husband or pay your way in the world?”

I must have pulled a hideous face in response, because Ivy started silently laughing. What could I say to that? My mind raced. “But what if—”

“I said NO, Scarlet. You’re staying at Rookwood. Where you belong.”

There was a click as the line cut off.

“Well, at least I’m far away from YOU, you hideous old bat!” I screeched into the receiver, slamming it down.

Ivy looked horrified. “Scarlet, you didn’t …”

I turned to her. “She hung up,” I explained.

“Oh, thank goodness,” she said.

I frowned at the telephone, as if it were responsible for all our problems. This was quite the setback.

“Are you sure you want to go on this trip?” Ivy asked, suddenly.

Was she mad? “Of course! We’ve wanted to get away from Rookwood this whole time, haven’t we?”

I half expected my twin to bring up the fact that it was at least preferable to being locked in an asylum, as I had been when Miss Fox had convinced everyone I was crazy. But she didn’t say that, and there was a faraway look in her eyes. “I’ve just got a bad feeling about this,” she said hazily. Then she blinked and came back to reality. “Maybe it’s more trouble than it’s worth. Edith is never going to agree to it.”

“I bet she would if we bribed her,” I growled. We were almost certain that our stepmother had accepted a bribe from Miss Fox to keep quiet about the asylum incident.

“Perhaps we should just give up,” Ivy replied, and she looked strangely hopeful.

“Give up? Since when do we just give up ?” I said. “No. We’ll think of something.”

Friday’s assembly brought letters. I shuffled in my seat as Mrs Knight called out the names, and each person went up to collect their post as others filed out of the hall.

Ariadne’s name was called, and she came rushing back looking like an excited puppy. “Daddy’s given me permission!” she said, flapping the letter at us. “I can go on the trip!” I think she noticed our downcast faces, because she slowly stopped flapping the paper. “Ah,” she said. “You didn’t get a letter, did you?”

Ivy shook her head. “Our stepmother is determined to stop us from going.”

“Well, rats,” said Ariadne. “I’m not sure if I want to go on my own.”

I looked around at the other girls in our year. Nadia appeared to be celebrating, so I supposed her parents had agreed to let her go. Penny was slumped in her seat looking dejected. I almost felt sorry for her, but … no, I wasn’t quite there yet. Not after all her bullying.

“You might avoid being stuck with Penny, at least. It looks like her parents haven’t given their permission,” I said.

We stood up to head for the first lesson, but someone was in the way, blocking our exit from the row.

“You’re going on the trip, then, are you, Flitworth?” It was Elsie Sparks, the prissy prefect, flanked by two others whose names I didn’t know. Their shiny prefect badges glinted on their lapels.

“Yes, I am,” Ariadne said, clutching her letter to her dress.

“Hmm,” Elsie smirked at her friends. “Another one we’ve got to keep an eye on. They’re trouble this lot.” Her eyes flicked over to me and Ivy. “But I didn’t see a letter for you two, did I? Are you leaving her to come all alone?”

“Actually—” Ivy started, but I interrupted her.

“Actually we will be going. Just as soon as we get the permission slip. It probably got lost in the post.”

“Ha!” snorted Elsie. “I’m sure it did.”

One of the other prefects beside her peered at me down her nose. She was very tall, with unreasonably long legs and perfectly curled short brown hair. Her satchel was neatly labelled CASSANDRA CLARKSON, so I presumed that was her name, unless she’d pinched the bag from someone else. “I know you two,” she said, in a voice that sounded like it was giving us an exam. “You’re the twins who got rid of the headmaster, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” I said. “What’s your point?”

“Hmmph,” she sniffed. “I liked him. He chose me as a prefect, after all.”

Mr Bartholomew, the old head, had tried to bring back the prefect system when he took over the school back from Miss Fox. His choices were utterly terrible, but the teachers wouldn’t be picking new prefects until next year.

Ivy gaped at Cassandra, while I just stared daggers at her. She was mad if she actually liked the old man. “He murdered a student!” Ivy pointed out.

“Well, perhaps she should have behaved,” the tall girl said with a wry smile.

Elsie smacked her on the arm. “You’re such a card, Cassie!”

Cassandra giggled, as if she’d been terribly funny. I wanted to give her a smack myself, but it would have been a lot harder, and probably round the face area.

“Right,” I said. “Will you lot get out of our way so we can get to class?” I wasn’t particularly in a rush to learn, but I was fed up with being taunted.

The other prefect, who had dark hair and a horse-riding rosette pinned to her uniform, spread her arms out wide. “Is that any way to talk to your betters?”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake,” I said. I wasn’t about to let them walk all over us. I pushed the horsey girl out of the way and stomped into the aisle. Ivy and Ariadne darted behind me.

“Watch it, Grey,” Elsie hissed, as her friend dusted herself off in mock horror. “We’ll be keeping an eye on your little friend on the trip, and you wouldn’t want her to get into trouble, would you?” She glanced pointedly at Ariadne, who gulped.

At that moment, Mrs Knight headed across the quickly emptying hall towards us. “Problem, girls?” she asked.

“Oh, none at all, Miss,” said Elsie, pulling out her cheerful sucking-up-to-teachers voice. “We were simply telling these little ones how excited we are about the trip. It’s going to be so wonderful!”