Olivia's Winter Wonderland (14 page)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Georgia ran up the steps of the Swan, whistling. It was very early, only just gone seven thirty a.m., but she had arranged to meet Aeysha to rehearse their dance for the panto and it was the only time that a studio would be free. She had a good feeling about today. It had been two days since the screen test, and it felt as if she had been keeping all her fingers and toes crossed ever since. She knew her mum had too, even though Lydia kept warning her not to get her hopes up too high. But she was certain she would hear something today.

“Please,” she thought, “please let it be me.” She so wanted to play Zelda. She had done right from the moment Miss Swan first mentioned the auditions. But of course she
hadn't really had the confidence to think that she really would. It seemed like an unreachable dream, as remote and unlikely as her mum winning the lottery, or being picked to be the first child in space or discovering that in fact she was a child wizard with special magical powers. But as time had passed and she had kept being called back she had began to dare to dream that she might actually get it. She felt like a long-distance runner with the winning line in sight, and to fall at this point would be too, too cruel. She didn't even want to think about it. She hurried towards the girls' cloakroom, and as she did she saw somebody peer down the stairs and call her name. It was Miss Swan. Her face was unreadable.

“Georgia dear, will you step into my office a moment.”

Georgia took a deep breath. This felt like her date with destiny. She walked swiftly up the stairs and into Miss Swan's cosy office. Her fingers and toes were tingling.

Alicia didn't mince her words. “There's no way to break this gently. I'm afraid it's bad news about Zelda, Georgia. You haven't got it. I'm sorry. I know it's very disappointing and
you're going to be very upset, but you did extremely well to get so far.”

Georgia felt numb. She had never felt about a role the way she felt about Zelda. She wanted to scream her frustration out loud. She tried to hold back the tears so that she would look professional, but a big fat one rolled down her cheek, leaving a salty trail.

“Aeysha?” she whispered.

“Still in the running,” said Alicia. “It's just her and another girl left.”

“Kate Carmichael,” said Georgia. “I bet she's a blonde,” she added fiercely.

Alicia looked momentarily surprised at the name, and then the expression of someone who has just discovered the missing piece of a jigsaw under the sofa flitted across her face. “Carmichael? You're sure she's called Kate Carmichael?”

“Yes,” said Georgia. “Do you know her?”

“I sincerely hope not,” murmured Alicia.

“I'm pleased for Aeysha. I hope she gets it,” said Georgia. “I really do.”

“That's very generous of you, Georgia, particularly in the circumstances. But I never expected anything less of you. You would have
been a lovely Zelda, but there will be other opportunities for you, and I'm going to offer you one now.”

“A job?” asked Georgia, and she suddenly perked up.

“Yes,” said Alicia, “but I'm afraid it's not a paid one, or as high profile as Zelda. And it's not completely certain yet. But I think you'll be pleased.”

“What is it?” asked Georgia.

“Jon would like you to play Cinderella in the Swan panto. Amber's not coming back and now Theo has agreed to be a tap-dancing Baron Hard-Up if we can find a theatre, we need to find a new Cinders from the school.”

“Me? You want me to play Cinderella!” said Georgia breathlessly, her eyes shining.

“Yes, Georgia. We're offering you the role. We had already decided even before I heard that you hadn't got Zelda. It's a really big opportunity for you. Provided of course we do go ahead. The Swan has never had a show that didn't go on. We're doing everything we can to make this happen.”

“Oh,” said Georgia, pink-cheeked. She suddenly thought of something.

“So who will play the prince?”

“Kasha Kasparian has kindly agreed to take the role. It will be quite a Swan reunion.”

“Me? Playing Cinders opposite Kasha?” Georgia blushed pink and her eyes shone. “Oh, thank you, Miss Swan. This is almost better than Zelda.”

“Just remember it's not certain yet. Unless we find a theatre in the next few days, nobody will be going to the ball.” Alicia's mobile rang. She glanced at it, and smiled at Georgia. “That will be Theo. Again. He's desperate to hear that we've found a theatre.”

Georgia grinned. “Not as desperate as me, Miss Swan.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Olivia and Tom jumped off the high-wire on the Campion's stage. Ella and Arthur clapped.

“Tea?” asked Ella.

“Yes, please,” replied Olivia and Tom. They put the flickering ghost-light back in its place centre stage and followed the two old people through to the kitchen at the back of the building.

“It's nice to see you again, Tom,” said Ella. “I thought we had frightened you away.”

Tom blushed and looked a little uncomfortable.

“So how are rehearsals for the pantomime going?” asked Arthur. “Ella and I are looking forward to seeing you do your pantomime horse routine.”

“Ah,” said Tom. “I'm not sure you are going to be able to.” His eyes were signalling frantically at Olivia. It was now or never. They couldn't expect to get a better opening.

“The thing is,” said Olivia, “we've had a setback. The roof of the Swan theatre fell in. It's going to take ages to repair and we don't have another venue. So unless we can find somewhere else to perform
Cinderella
we won't be able to do it. It's a pity after all the hard work that's gone into it.”

There was a tiny silence.

“That's a shame,” said Ella evenly.

“Of course, if we could just find somewhere else,” said Tom. “But it's hard…”

“We wondered,” said Olivia, “if it might be possible to use Campion's? It would be so perfect. The theatre is just sitting here, it seems such a shame not to use it, and we'd be so careful with everything.”

Ella looked at Olivia as if she had gone mad. “You mean put on public performances again at Campion's Palace of Varieties?” The old woman's eyes blazed. “Impossible! Over my dead body. How dare you! How dare you wheedle your way in here, trying to take over
my theatre, stirring up the ghosts?”

“But we didn't,” said Tom helplessly. “We found Campion's by accident and you invited us in.”

“Because when I saw you walking the high-wire, you reminded me of somebody,” said Ella.

“Of Lizzie and Davey?” asked Olivia very quietly.

Ella stared at her, white-faced and with blazing eyes. “What do you know about them?” She drew herself up and her eyes flashed dangerously. “You know nothing. Nothing at all. You've been poking around like spies, trying to find out my business. You've got your eyes on Campion's, haven't you? You're trying to get it from me like he did. You're spies for him, aren't you?”

“No,” said Olivia helplessly. “We don't want to take Campion's from you. We just want to use it for a few performances of
Cinderella
. For charity. Nothing more.”

“It's just a trick,” said Ella. “You're trying to trick me out of Campion's.”

“I'm sorry,” stuttered Olivia. “We should never have asked. I didn't realise how much it
would upset you, Ella.”

“Get out! Get out and never come back,” cried Ella, and she fell back against her chair, clutching her heart.

“Ella!” Olivia and Tom leapt to their feet, scared.

“She'll be fine,” said Arthur quietly. “She has these funny turns when she gets agitated. But it's best if you two go.”

Olivia and Tom hurried out into Hangman's Alley. The street was gilded with frost and glittered in the darkness.

“What was all that about?” asked Tom. “Did she just go completely mad?”

“I don't know,” said Olivia, shaking her head.

“Do you think she was having a heart attack?”

“No,” said Olivia. “I think that Ella's heart is already broken. I just wish we could mend it for her.”

Chapter Thirty

Katie was passing reception when she heard Mrs Gibbs call her name. The school secretary had a letter in her hand.

“This came for you,” she said, holding out a cream manila envelope with foreign stamps all over it. “It looks as if it's from South Africa. Do you know anyone in South Africa?”

Katie's heart began to thud. Her mouth was dry. There was only one person that it could possibly be from. Her father. Part of her desperately wanted to know what the letter said and part of her wanted it to spontaneously combust in Mrs Gibbs' hand so she would never have to read it.

“I expect it's from my cousins,” she said with a bright smile. She'd always been good
at lying but it still surprised her how easy she found it. She reached for the letter, half expecting it to burn her hand.

She stuffed the letter in her bag and made her way up to the little studio at the top of the school, which she knew would be empty. She put down her bag and looked at herself in the mirrored wall. The face that stared back at her was a pretty one with serious, anxious eyes. She laid her head against the glass and whispered, “Who are you? Katie Wilkes-Cox? Kate Carmichael? Katie Nobody? Katie Somebody? Katie Liar?”

Her phone rang. She let it go to voicemail. When her phone bleeped to tell her that a message had been left, she pressed a button to access it. She recognised the voice immediately. It was the director of the
Zelda
movie. She could hear the barely suppressed excitement in his voice.

“Kate, it's Doug here. Call me back as soon as you can. I need to talk to you. I've exciting news for you.”

Katie stared at the phone in her hand as if it was about to explode. Doug's message could only mean one thing. She had got it. She
had got Zelda! She should be screaming with happiness but she just felt empty, wrung out. All the skulking about to get the role, all the lies, all the pretence, made her feel tired rather than triumphant. It was as if jumping all the hurdles and overcoming all the obstacles had become the purpose rather than reaching the finishing line in a winning position. She didn't feel like a winner. She felt as if she was a loser. She had barely had time to get used to the new Katie Wilkes-Cox and already she had mislaid her.

She reached inside her bag and pulled out the letter. What could he want with her? Why would he get in touch after everything that had happened? She held the letter a little away from her as if it was an unexploded bomb as she ran her thumbnail under the flap of the envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper. She recognised the writing immediately. She took a deep breath and began to read the letter.

Dear Kitten,

I bet you'll be surprised to hear from me after everything that's happened. To be honest, I'm quite surprised to be writing this. It wasn't hard to find
out that you were back at the Swan. After everything you did for them, I guessed that's where you'd go. I hope they realise that my little girl is doing them a big favour. I wish I could understand your attachment to the place. It's a little two-bit stage school; it can't contain you, not somebody of your looks and talent. You're better than the Swan. Which is why I'm writing. I miss you, Kitten. I miss your spark, the way you make things happen. You and me, we're two peas in a pod. Together we could be a great team. There are opportunities here in South Africa. It's a go-getting place and you and me, we could go-get together. So here's the deal. You come join me and we'll embark on Project Kitten: turning Katie Wilkes-Cox into a global brand, a massive star. Don't think you'll have to live in poverty. I managed to get away with a couple of million. Had it squirrelled away in a Swiss bank account against hard times. Not a lot, I know, but together we can turn it into a billion. Think about it. The world's your oyster. Get in touch, Katie. Ring the number below and I'll get right back to you.

Dad

Katie stared at the letter. She couldn't believe
what he was saying. Her father lived in his own delusional bubble. Anger began to rise in her throat. He had money. Two million pounds! And he talked about it as if it was loose change, while she and her mum had been living for months in a way that made every extra two pounds seem like a lottery win. To think she had once admired him, and had aspired to be just like him: someone who lied and cheated to get wherever he wanted to be. She shuddered. She felt as if she had just had a very lucky escape.

Katie stood up, walked to the window and opened it wide, and then she hauled herself up on to the sill and crouched there, the skyline of London spread out in front of her. She tore the letter into tiny pieces and threw it into the wind, where it whirled like confetti and made Katie think of snow. When she had shredded the final piece, she jumped back off the sill. As she did so, her phone rang. It was Doug again. She pressed answer. The news he was giving her felt all the sweeter because she had already made her decision, made her choice.

After she had finished her brief call with Doug, she curled up on the floor like a baby.

After a few minutes, the door of the
rehearsal room swung slowly open. Miss Swan was standing there, leaning heavily on her stick. Katie sat up and looked at her questioningly.

“Mrs Gibbs seemed to think you might be heading in this direction. She told me she had given you a letter. From South Africa. From your father, I imagine,” said Alicia.

Katie nodded.

“I feared as much. Do you want to come down to my office and talk about it?”

Katie nodded and stood up.

“The letter?” asked Alicia, when they were settled in Alicia's office.

“He wanted me to join him in South Africa,” said Katie fiercely. “He said he could make me a star.”

“And are you going to?”

Katie shook her head vigorously. “I tore it up into a million pieces.”

“Probably the best thing for it,” said Alicia softly. “Although I expect the police might have wanted to take a look. He
is
a wanted man.”

“There was a mobile number. I memorised it,” said Katie.

Alicia smiled. “Clever girl.” She paused for a moment and then she said, “I've been
wanting to have a chat with you in any case. I thought you might be able to shed some light on the mysterious Kate Carmichael.”

Katie's eyes darkened in fear. “It's not what you think, Miss Swan…” she said urgently, but then tailed off. She gave a massive sigh. “Maybe it is … but it's not quite … I can explain.”

Alicia smiled a forgiving smile. “I don't doubt for a minute that you can, Katie.” There was a slight pause. “I think that when you first returned to the Swan I underestimated how difficult things were for you. Since your mother has been working on
Cinderella
, she's confided in me a bit and I've an inkling of how hard life was in those early weeks both at home and here at the Swan. I think I may have failed you, Katie, and pushed you towards taking some ill-considered decisions. Looking back, I think there may have been a couple of times when you tried to confess and I wasn't patient enough with you, or ready to listen because I was too taken up with unimportant things. I'm sorry.”

“I'm the one who should be sorry,” whispered Katie. “I've let everyone down. You, the Swan, my mum, myself.”

“We all make bad choices, Katie.”

“Yes,” said Katie, tears sliding down her face. “But I keep making them. I think I must just be a bad person.”

Alicia took her hand. “You know that's not true, my dear. When I asked you to leave the Swan almost a year ago it was as much because of your dad as it was because of you, and because of the example he set you. Your reaction to the letter proves that you've turned your back on walking all over people just to become a star. But there's something more. I had to ask you to leave the Swan last year because it was clear to me that you weren't really sorry for what you did to Olivia and Georgia; you were only sorry that you'd been found out. Something has changed in you, Katie, and it's a change immeasurably for the better.”

“So you're not going to ask me to leave the school?” whispered Katie.

“Not if, as I suspect, you are really sorry and you've made the right choice about Zelda. I assume I'm correct in thinking that you've got the role?”

“Yes,” said Katie. “I did get it. But I'm not going to do it. I've told them. I want to stay
here and learn everything I can and have proper friends and work so hard that I will become a great actress when I'm older. I want people to say that Katie Wilkes-Cox is a name to be proud of, not ashamed.”

“Well,” said Alicia, “in that case you'd better tell me about how you came to make your wrong decisions so that I can make some right ones.”