“That her name is a fruit?”
“No! She told me that you told her to tell me that Lady Covington had invited me to tea. Is that true, Mr. Luders?”
This was the moment of truth. Josh nodded.
Elaine released him. “I knew it,” she seethed. “Let me guess — Bridges put you up to it, didn’t she? She thought I’d never know it was her if she hid behind you. I’m right, aren’t I?”
It was a miracle — Elaine had it wrong! She thought Kit had set the whole thing up!
Josh considered his options. He was still miffed by the way Elaine had initially insulted him. And he was beginning to doubt that she was actually human. He said, “Look, let me just —”
“I was never so mortified in my life,” Elaine said, interrupting him. “It was awful. That horrid cowgirl has no idea what she’s done. I’m a prefect! What if the headmistress puts this in my permanent school records?” Josh was shocked by how genuinely overwrought she was. Her eyes gleamed with unshed tears.
Okay, he definitely needed to apologize, but how? Elaine’s idea of bodily harm was surely painful, if not permanent. Then he had an idea. “Oh, dear,” he said in his most sympathetic tone. “I had no idea it was a lie, Elaine, truly. I thought I was simply passing along a message. Even so, my deep sense of personal integrity forbids me from disclosing or confirming the identity of the heartless individual who told me what I now realize was a cruel fib, but . . .” He paused for effect. “I’ll tell you what I can do. How about some of our most popular makeup items, free of charge?” He sorted through some shelves and deposited several expensive items on the counter. “I mean, of course, free of charge to you. I’ll make sure that the perpetrator of this crime pays for them.”
Elaine blinked and looked at the items, speechless.
“But even this isn’t enough to make up for your pain and suffering, is it?” Josh went on. “Let me add this!” He hurried into the back room and returned with a stylish sweater. “Just got it in. New for the season!”
Elaine’s mouth dropped open, but she still said nothing.
Josh sweetened the pot a little more, just to be sure. “And one last treat.” He set a box of fine chocolate next to the makeup and sweater. “This stuff melts in your mouth like velvet.” He watched as Elaine considered the freebies. “I know this can’t possibly undo what has been done, but might you accept it as their apology and let it go? I mean, you are the forgiving type, aren’t you? No good can come from revenge — you know that . . . right?”
Elaine fingered the soft wool of the sweater, then let her hand drop. “I’d rather update her wardrobe with a hoof pick,” she stated in a terrifyingly calm voice. “Have you seen her recently?”
“Nope.”
Taking a step back, Elaine said, “You’ll never let her fool you again, I trust?”
“Never. You have my word.”
Elaine nodded. “Very well.” She lingered, still fixing him with her most evil stare, then snatched up the package of moisturizer. “That’s for your involvement, Luders.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Elaine disappeared around the corner, and Josh slouched in relief. He had apologized, in his own way, and she had accepted. More or less. And she was gone.
The next morning, Elaine gathered all the girls of Rose Cottage in the student lounge for a meeting. Kit figured something special was going on, because Elaine had put a guard girl on door duty. Every time Rose Cottage girls arrived, the guard opened the door, let them in, and then securely closed it behind them as if she were keeping out hordes of unwashed peasants.
Elaine began by handing out printed schedules to everyone — printed, bound, and laminated schedules, which made Kit roll her eyes. Doesn’t Elaine have enough to do? she thought as she accepted a schedule and sat on the couch next to Anya. I’m surprised she didn’t use ancient Egyptian papyrus and dip the edges in gold.
Elaine began to speak. “Today on the Rose Cottage agenda: preparing for our Guy Fawkes bonfire, to take place on November fifth.”
“Who’s Guy Fawkes?” Kit asked. “Oooh, I love bonfires!”
At the same time, Anya asked, “What’s a Guy Fawkes? And what’s a bonfire?”
They looked at each other and giggled.
Elaine was not amused. She passed out another printed, bound, and laminated paper: “The Complete History of Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night by Elaine Whiltshire.” The front page included an illustration of men wearing funny hats. “In 1605,” she declared, “Guy Fawkes was part of a conspiracy to blow up the king, but he failed, and a bonfire was lit to celebrate. We continue this tradition each year.”
“Probably, I’m guessing, without the blowing stuff up part?” Kit asked.
Elaine ignored her. “Each house will build their own straw Guy. The best design, to be chosen by Lady Covington, will be tossed onto the bonfire.”
“Wait,” said a confused Anya. “So you win the contest, but the thing you made gets destroyed?”
“It’s an honor,” Elaine said. “Our house wins ten points.”
It sounded like fun to Kit. “Can we roast hot dogs, make s’mores, and tell scary stories?” She was kind of pleased to watch Elaine get annoyed. Kit was still miffed at having had a cup of Popsicle sticks thrown at her because a certain prefect had the self-control of a poked badger.
“There will be no hot dogs and whatever that other thing is,” Elaine replied. “We will build a traditional Guy dressed in period clothing, just the way Lady Covington likes it. That is how Rose Cottage always wins.”
“Always?” Anya asked.
“Always,” Elaine confirmed.
“But what if we try something different this year?” suggested Kit. “We could try —”
“I have two more minutes for this meeting and no time for interruptions. Do you know why?”
Kit couldn’t help poking the badger again. “Because they’re coming to take you away somewhere quiet and soothing?” Next to her, Anya snickered. Several other girls made little spluttering noises as they tried to suppress their own laughter.
Elaine lost it. “Because I am being forced to spend my precious time training you to ride a horse, something the rest of us had to master to even get here!” she yelled at Kit.
“Wow,” Kit said, impressed by Elaine’s blunt honesty. “Thanks.” She wasn’t pleased to have that particular bit of news revealed to everyone, but it would have happened sooner or later. Her pride could take the blow. She wasn’t so sure about Elaine’s pride, though.
Elaine addressed the group again. “Come prepared to work next time, girls. We meet again before curfew.”
With the meeting adjourned, everyone began gathering up their things. Kit watched Elaine hand an envelope to a girl named Pinkus, instructing her, “Be sure this gets to Will Palmerston before lunch.”
Kit whispered to Anya, “I think that if Elaine had her choice, I’d be starring as Guy Fawkes in this year’s celebration.”
“It’ll be okay,” Anya assured her.
Then Elaine’s voice barked from out in the corridor, “Bridges!”
Kit decided the wisest thing would be to answer her master’s call. It was going to be a long day. . . .
Meanwhile, in Juniper Cottage, Nav and Will were scrambling to get ready for class. Josh was in their room with them.
“We can’t let Elaine win again,” Will told his friends. “She’ll be insufferable.”
“I say we have our Guy built,” said Nav. “Professionally.” Yes, he had learned a lesson during the Big Ben fiasco, but the Guy Fawkes contest was more important than a class assignment. This was about house pride. This was about winning against Elaine Whiltshire. It was a top priority.
Will snorted at Nav’s idea. “Built? By who? Ye Olde Guy Shoppe?”
“We don’t need a professional, okay?” Josh said. “We just need a plan.”
In his own defense, Nav stated, “I offered one, but I was ridiculed.”
“Ridiculed?” said Will
, putting on his tie. “That was nothing.”
Josh stepped between the two. “Slow your roll, gentlemen. We’re on the same team, right?”
“Fine,” Will said. “I’m on the team.”
Still feeling a bit stung, Nav said, “I’ll be the captain.”
“Dudes!” Again Josh stepped between them. “Who’s got an idea?”
“I have a thought,” Will said, slipping on his jacket. “But you guys would have to be ready for some next-level prankage.”
Nav stared at Will, ready to do whatever it took, while Josh grinned. They were in.
Kit stood out in the practice ring with Elaine hovering over her shoulder and TK looking bored. She was dressed for riding, helmet and all, though so far, she hadn’t managed to even get a saddle pad on TK. Kit wished she was back in the student lounge making Guy Fawkes jokes.
“No excuses,” Elaine was telling her.
“I’m not making an excuse,” Kit said. “It’s totally a real thing.” Referring to TK, she said, “He’s giving me evil eyes. Oh, and now he’s giving you the side evil eye, which means he’s about five point six seconds away from doing his famous drop and dash.”
Elaine looked across the field to the main building of The Covington Academy, sure that Lady Covington was standing at her office window watching them. With binoculars. And probably a notepad, too. “At this pace, we’ll be in uni before you get a saddle on him.”
“Okay, relax. I’ll try again.” Kit approached TK with the saddle pad.
He stayed still.
Kit placed the saddle pad on his back.
TK reached around, grabbed it with his teeth, and whipped it off.
Kit couldn’t stop from laughing. He was just so cute when he did that!
“It’s not cute,” Elaine told her. “We’re being watched. Look, my reputation as your tutor is at stake here.”
Kit turned to the horse. “TK,” she said, making sure that her voice sounded nice and mocking, “Elaine’s reputation is at stake, so you need to get it together.”
TK snorted and made a long whuffling sound as he bobbed his head.
Kit turned to Elaine. “He says he’s already one of the coolest horses in the stable, and he doesn’t need your street cred to elevate his rock-star status.”
At that, Elaine grabbed the saddle pad off the ground where TK had dropped it and proceeded to place it on his back. She’d barely straightened up before TK took off to the opposite side of the practice ring.
“I told you,” said Kit. “Evil eyes!”
Without a word, Elaine dropped the pad over Kit’s head and stomped away.
Kit stood there stupidly. She fully understood why Lady Covington had forced her into such a situation, but it wasn’t working, and it wasn’t going to work. Elaine didn’t understand her and definitely didn’t understand just how paralyzing her fear was. She felt like she’d been cast in some bizarre comedy routine destined for bad reviews.
She stood there with the saddle pad over her head, wondering what to do. “Is there anybody out there? TK?” She could hear the gelding’s footsteps behind her. “Hello? Anybody?” Now the pad shifted on her head, no doubt TK’s doing. His hot breath hit her in the face as he yanked the pad off. “Oh, so now you want to participate?”
She decided to try one more time. Gently she placed the saddle pad on TK’s back. “There. Doesn’t that feel nice? All cozy and warm, and it’ll land you on every fashion blog.”
TK yanked it off.
Kit sighed. It was easy to giggle at his antics when Elaine was there, but now that she was alone with TK, it was hard not to think of him being gone. For good.
What was she going to do?
Elaine left the practice ring and went straight to the main building to find a certain someone. She caught him between classes, walking down the hallway. Just the sight of him always made her stomach flip, but she was good at hiding her feelings. She caught up with him, projecting a happy attitude. “Hey, Will, did you get my —?”
“No,” he said, handing back the invitation that Pinkus had delivered to him earlier. “I can’t go with you to the bonfire.” He didn’t even stop walking.
“But we’re a thing,” Elaine said, matching her pace to his.
“No, we’re not a thing.”
“Yes, we are.”
“We’re not a thing.”
Elaine’s happy attitude turned sour. “We made it official before summer,” she said, trying not to sound desperate.
Will stopped walking and faced her. “Elaine, yes, there was the end of the year dance thing, okay, but . . .” He shrugged. “It was a moment.”
“But we’ve been in contact all summer.”
“You’ve been in contact,” Will clarified gently.
To Elaine’s way of thinking, this was not a rejection. People simply did not reject her. She prided herself on being an accomplished student, and there was no doubt in her mind that she was destined for greatness. These thoughts bolstered her confidence, allowing her to stand tall and tell him, “No harm, no foul. I’m sooo busy with bonfire night to organize, and I’m tutoring that new girl, so I really barely have a minute.”
“Yeah,” Will said. “You must be jammed.”
“Right. Completely. So, you see, as much as I’d like to, I just don’t have the time to invest in a relationship right now.”
“Sure. Whatever you say.”
Elaine formed her lips into what she presumed was a pleasing smile. “I’m glad we got this sorted.” She’d started to leave when Will spoke again.
“Bit of advice? Have TK follow you and Thunder on a lead. One horse will always follow another, you know?”
That was actually an excellent idea, one Elaine should have thought of herself, but all she did was nod. “Thank you for your input, but I’ve got it well in hand.” She turned her back on Will and, wrapping her pride around her bruised ego, made a hasty exit.
She headed to the student lounge, where she found the Rose Cottage girls at work on sections of their Guy. “All right, girls, we need to step it up!” she urged them. “We will beat Juniper Cottage if it’s the last thing we do. Patel,” she said to Anya, “you’re on wardrobe. Pinkus” — she pointed at her — “you’re on straw. You —” She tried to think, but her rattled mind refused to cooperate. “I don’t know your name, but secure a hat. Bridges, trot four lengths and end in a reverse.”
Anya and the others gave Elaine a wary look. “Elaine? Kit’s not here,” Anya said.
Elaine didn’t register her words at first. Her mind was racing so fast with so many things that had so many details, and her heart still hurt even though she refused to acknowledge it, and —
“May I make a suggestion?” Sally said brightly. She’d been standing in the doorway for only a brief moment, but it had been long enough for her to see and identify the problem. “Perhaps Anya could take over construction of the Guy.”
Elaine laughed at the preposterous idea until she realized that Sally wasn’t joking. “Wait. You can’t possibly be serious.”
“You’re swimming in responsibility,” Sally told her, not unkindly. “Everyone can use a hand once in a while, even you, Elaine.”
“But I always supervise the Guy. That’s how we always win.”
Anya spoke up excitedly. “I promise to check in with you. Hourly, if I have to.”
“But . . . but . . . I’ve got a plan!” Elaine held up the paper on which she’d drawn exactly how the Guy was to be built and dressed.
“Exactly,” Sally said. “You’ve already planned it, and Anya will follow that plan to a T.”
“Thank you, Miss Warrington!” Anya said. “The girls and I won’t let you down!” And to Elaine she added, “We won’t let you down either, Elaine. I promise.”
Elaine didn’t know what to do. She was so used to being the calm, commanding center of a whirl of activity, but now she’d been caught up in the whirl itself. And with all the girls watching, she couldn’t exactly argue a
bout it.
“That’s settled, then,” Sally said, pleased. “Back to work, girls.”
Elaine watched her go, fuming. She thrust her Guy plans at Anya. “Everyone is to do exactly as Patel says,” she instructed the girls, making sure they all knew who was really in charge. “Am I clear?” She waited until each girl nodded.
After Elaine left, Anya whispered, “I think we can make a few teeny, tiny changes to the plan, right? Just a few cosmetic things.”
The other girls grinned.
Violet Cottage, where the First-Form girls lived, was under guard that afternoon. It wasn’t an official guard — just Nav Andrada — but he was keeping a sneaky watch while Josh and Will conducted a top-secret mission involving unauthorized infiltration and acquisition.
He’d been there for only a few minutes, strolling back and forth and trying to look innocent when Josh and Will burst out of the cottage’s quaint green door holding a Guy Fawkes dummy that sported a riding helmet and jacket. “Nicely done, gents,” Nav said. They had their first Guy in hand. Now they just needed to steal the rest of them!
When Anya burst out the same door with something bright pink in her hands, Will and Nav blocked sight of their stolen Guy while Josh moved to intercept her.
“What are you doing here?” Anya and Josh asked each other at the same time.
Both of them answered at the same time, too: “Just hoping to run into that girl I like” (Josh) and “Just borrowing a blouse” (Anya).
“Which one?” said Anya.
“Which blouse?”
“No, which girl?”
Josh racked his brain for a name, saw the cottage sign by the door, and blurted out, “Violet! Her name is, uh, Violet.”
“Oh.” Anya thought for a moment. “I don’t think we’ve met.” She indicated over Josh’s shoulder at Nav and Will holding the stolen Guy, which looked like a live person from her perspective. “What’s with him?”
“Ummmm —”
Nav rushed forward with, “Oh, that’s, uh, that’s Nigel. He’s, uh, considering Covington for his education. His dad’s in Parliament! Though I’m not sure that’s even relevant. . . .”
Kit Meets Covington Page 13