"A theatre group… at Cackles!" The incredulity in Constance's voice was there for all to hear and Amelia was fairly certain that the whole school had heard. She began to question the head on approach that she had decided upon. She had promised Imogen that she'd deal with the situation and now she was beginning to regret her decision. Lunchtime had seemed the right time to mention the theatre group but judging by the way that Constance's eyes had just widened in horror she was seriously rethinking her approach. She watched as her deputy placed two fingers on the flyer she was holding and plucked it from her grasp. She held it as though it might infect her with something nasty and cast her eyes over the brightly printed page, her eyes clearly indicating the distain she felt.
"Are you serious Headmistress?"
"Never more so Constance. I think it's just the tonic the school needs in these dark gloomy months."
"But a bunch of actors?" Constance spat out the word actors as though the term offended her.
"And what's so wrong with that?"
"But they're all…and…and they…" Constance pulled a face and tried to find the right words to sum up her deep seated loathing of the acting profession and all those who were involved in it.
"Honestly Constance I think you're being a little unfair."
"Do you. Do you indeed?" Constance turned the flyer towards Miss Cackle. "They advertise themselves as 'fun' and 'interactive'. Do you really want our students interacting with a bunch of unwashed, uneducated travelling riff raff?"
"Who says that they are uneducated?"
"Their literature, such as it is, indicates that they travel around the countryside in a beaten up old panel van, that most probably runs on some petrol guzzling, carbon-monoxide belching, engine. I happen to think that that speaks volumes for their level of intelligence or rather the complete lack of any sign of commonsense or ecological friendliness on their part."
Miss Cackle shook her head.
"They are a travelling theatre group Constance. It would be a little hard to call oneself that if one were permanently based in Newcastle Under Lyme." She folded her arms and stared down her deputy. "Anyway I've made the decision. Imogen has contacted them and they will be here at the end of the week."
"Really!" Constance was indignant. "Why did you bother asking my opinion if you had already decided what was to happen?"
"I wanted to gauge what your reaction was going to be. I was hoping that you would be a little more reasonable about it."
"You think I'm being unreasonable"
"Yes Constance. Yes I think that I do." Amelia declared, secretly pleased with herself for standing up for her beliefs.
"Fine. Well when the whole tragic event comes its sorry and inevitably disastrous conclusion I will be here to remind you that I told you so."
Saying that Constance transported herself out of the room leaving Amelia wishing that it wasn't such a long walk to Cosie's tearoom as she was sorely in need of some cheesecake… for medicinal purposes only obviously.
The morning air was clear but cold and Imogen shivered despite the heavy coat that she was wearing. She stamped her feet and tried to keep some sense of feeling in them.
She stood at the entrance to the school and kept a look out for any signs of Haldane Harrington and his white van. She had volunteered to be the one to greet him and Miss Cackle had seemed quite pleased with her seeming enthusiasm. What she hadn't revealed was the truth of the matter was that she wanted to meet Haldane first to get a chance to explain about Constance Hardbroom. Earlier in the week, she'd been the one to journey into town to use the phone to call him and arrange the visit. He'd been aware that Cackles was a school for witches and, unlike most potential visitors, had actually seemed thrilled by the prospect of working in a draughty castle that was missing more than a few windows and whose idea of central heating was a big fireplace in the great hall. She had to confess that he'd sounded quite charming on the phone and she was looking forward to having some other non-witches in the school to talk to. It wasn't as though she had anything against the spell-casting members of the teaching staff but conversations about what could or could not be done with certain varieties of weeds and herbs did begin to get wearing after a while. There were times where she longed to have a normal conversation with someone of her own age; where she could discuss something other than the sad and seemingly irreversible decline in the standards of potion making. Whilst it was true that there were other non-witches in the building they were not without their own specialist subjects. A conversation ostensibly about climate change with Mrs Tapioca would inevitably end up revolving around how best to stop pasta from going soggy before it reached the dining hall. Mr Blossom was no better. Imogen recalled with a measure of fear the first time she'd been forced to listen to his 'wonders of MDF' speech. She'd learnt from that experience though and was now fairly adept at making her excuses and leaving the room before he pushed up his sleeves and really got going.
Upstairs in Enid's room, Mildred leaned out of the window, wanting to be the first to get a glimpse of their visitors. Enid's room was the one that gave them the best view of the courtyard. Miss Cackle had made the announcement about Haldane and his travelling players the previous day in assembly and the disgusted expression on Miss Hardbroom's face had made the whole school sit up and take notice. Over the years, the pupils had learnt that whenever that particular expression was visible something interesting was going to happen. It was the most reliable indicator of important events in the whole school and judging by the extensive use of the sneer the previous day; this was something that was very definitely worth taking note of.
"Can you see anything?" Maud wanted to know. Mildred could sense her hovering at her shoulder, eager to get a chance to see what was going on.
"Nothing's happened yet." She reported back. "Miss Drill seems to have been nominated as the welcoming committee though."
"Can one person be a committee?" Enid wanted to know.
"In special circumstances I think it's allowed." Mildred assured her as she turned her attention back to the courtyard.
She was beginning to lose interest in her self-appointed watching brief when she heard the sound of a back-firing engine. Moments later a beaten up old white van appeared on the crest of the hill.
"They're here." She hissed excitedly at the others. She felt the others jostle for position behind her and tried to make space for them to get a better view.
Imogen heard the commotion at the window and glanced up to see the second years crowding around, fighting to get a view of what was going on. She thought about telling them to get back to their studies but found that she didn't have the heart to do it. She had to confess that had she been in their position she'd have done exactly the same.
She turned back to the van as she heard the engine rattle and die. The drivers' door opened and a tall distinguished looking man stepped out. Imogen found that all thoughts of Serge disappeared from her mind as she took in the handsome stranger. He smiled at her and she almost swore that his green eyes twinkled as he did so.
"Haldane Harrington." He announced, bowing before her with a flourish, his long dark hair falling over his shoulders.
"Imogen Drill." Imogen held out a hand and felt that she really wasn't making the same kind of impact.
Haldane straightened up and accepted the outstretched hand. He took it gently within his own and brought it up to his lips, his eyes staring directly at Imogen.
"Charmed." He told her smoothly.
"Thank you for coming." Imogen had seen some of the guest wizards at the school extend the same courtesy to the majority of the teaching staff at Cackles. There were always two exceptions to the hand-kissing routine. She was one of them because she wasn't a witch and that seemed to exclude her from the Wizard's radar. The other exception was of course Constance Hardbroom. Imogen doubted that any wizard had the courage to attempt to kiss her hand. They'd more than likely find themselves hopping around on the ground, croaking, if ever they tried something that familiar.
Imogen had always noticed the way that Davina would get flustered by the hand-kiss and had wondered just what it was about it that sent her over the edge. As her own heartbeat quickened she believed that she was starting to understand. She tried to snap herself out of her reverie as she realised that Haldane was saying something to her.
"…to your school." He finished and Imogen just smiled at him.
"It's a pleasure to have you here." She told him, hoping that she'd guessed correctly what he had been saying.
"Is there somewhere you'd like me to put the van?"
"I think it will be fine where it is for the moment." She looked up at the window where she could see Mildred and Maud trying to spy on what was going on. "Perhaps I could get a couple of the girls to show your colleagues to their rooms whilst we go and see Miss Cackle."
"That's a splendid idea." Haldane told her.
Imogen looked up at the window.
"Don't pretend that you didn't hear that girls. Who wants to come on down here and help out?"
She smiled as she heard the girls fight to get to the door first. "They're a little excited by your visit. "She told Haldane unnecessarily.
"Really?"
"Of course. It's not every day that they get to meet new people… New non-witch people."
"I take it that you think that it's important they blend in?"
"Sure." Imogen gestured towards the main building. "You'll meet people in there who don't believe that witches should mix with non-witches, they'd much rather remain removed from society in some kind of splendid isolation."
"Are you going to give me a head's up as to who these 'people are before I say something I shouldn't?"
"Of course, although I think you'll be able to work it out for yourself pretty quickly."
He smiled at her comment and she found her herself smiling in return. She'd only met the man for a few moments but already she was warming to him. He had a very pleasant, relaxed manner, which she was sure meant that he was going to annoy the life out of Constance Hardbroom.
Ruby was the first out of the building. She ignored the shouts from Maud as she pushed her friend out of the way to guarantee her first placing.
"Girls, girls."
Ruby reluctantly slowed her pace as she heard Miss Drill's tone. She recognised the sound of disproval when she heard it.
"Sorry Maud." She apologised
"It's ok." Maud assured her as the pair silently agreed to arrive before Haldane together.
"Pleased to meet you." Haldane bowed before the pair and they both blushed profusely in return. "I'd like to thank you girls for taking the time out of your day to show my colleagues around."
Ruby and Maud simply smiled at Haldane in return.
"We're here to help as well." Enid pointed out as she led Mildred and Jadu out to the courtyard.
"Then my thanks are to you as well." Haldane nodded in her direction and shot them what he hoped was a winning smile.
"Thank you girls." Miss Drill motioned them to one side away from Haldane.
"I want you to escort Mr Harrington's team to the rooms that have been set aside in the East Tower. I don't want any stories coming back to me of any strange happenings." She looked at the girls in turn. "I don't want tales of objects moving mysteriously or of other ghostly goings on. They are our guests they are not to be used to practice your magic pranks on."
"Miss Drill!" Mildred was genuinely hurt by the implication. "We would never use our magic in that way."
"And what happened last parents evening?"
"That was different." Enid protested. "That was my younger brother and he had it coming."
"Be that as it may I want your word that there won't be any magic around our guests." She glared at Enid. "Provoked or otherwise."
"What if they ask to see something?" Maud asked. "Surely it would be rude not to show them then."
"When I say no magic, I mean no magic. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes Miss Drill." The girls agreed reluctantly.
"Thank you girls. I'll make sure that Miss Cackle sets aside some time for you to show off your skills to our guests properly. I know that they'll be very keen to see them."
Imogen turned back to face Haldane and swore that he had just been giving the same talk to his team. She had to confess that they were an unlikely looking bunch of people. She'd never really had that much to do with the acting profession but she'd always imagined actors to look a little more… well… actorlike.
Haldane smiled at her again and motioned his four colleagues forward.
"What are you girls doing out here?"
Imogen watched as Haldane glanced around, trying to understand where the voice was coming from. She wondered if the expression of puzzlement Haldane wore was how she had looked during her first term at Cackles. Imogen counted to three and, as if on cue, Constance appeared out of thin air.
"I asked the girls to help out Miss Hardbroom." Imogen explained as patiently as she could.
"You…but…" Haldane stammered as he tried to make sense out of what he was seeing.
Constance raised an eyebrow and turned to Imogen.
"Is there something wrong with him?"
There was smothered laughter from Mildred and her friends as they watched Haldane trying to come to terms with what was going on. A glare from Miss Hardbroom however silenced them.
Haldane felt his mouth open and close and knew that there was little chance of him making any sense. It had to be some kind of trick, some illusion. There was no way that a person could do something like that. He shook his head and resolved to push the impossibility from his head for the present moment.
"Let me introduce you to our deputy Headmistress." Imogen stepped in to save Haldane from any further embarrassment.
Haldane tried to recover his composure and bowed deeply from the waist as he was introduced to Constance Hardbroom. Imogen had warned him that there would be obstacles to overcome and he had the feeling that this was perhaps going to be the biggest. Just from a look, he guessed that she was likely to be the most difficult member of staff to get on side and he wanted to be seen to be making an effort.
"Charmed to make your acquaintance." He told her smoothly as he straightened up. He saw the way that she backed off slightly as if disturbed by his presence and so he decided against offering out the hand of friendship. He had the feeling that she didn't feel the need for superfluous friendships. He fleetingly wondered if she felt the need for friendships at all.
"I'm sure that our stay here will be a harmonious one." He told her with a smile on his face.
"Hmm." Was the only response he received and the tone suggested that she believed no such thing.
"I'll show you to the area we've set aside for dressing rooms." Imogen cut into the conversation before Constance did anything to upset their guests. She was well aware that her colleague wasn't likely to hold back on her views concerning the players' presence at the academy.
"Thank you." Haldane smiled at her and allowed the teacher to lead him away.
Constance watched them go and didn't bother to hide her expression of distain.
"Aren't they just wonderful?" She heard Maud proclaim, more than a little hero worship already obvious in her voice.
"No Maud Moonshine I do not think that they are wonderful. On the contrary, I predict that they will bring us nothing but trouble. You would be well advised to keep your distance from them and keep your mind firmly focussed on the work that I will be setting you."
"Yes Miss Hardbroom." Maud replied dutifully, her eyes still fixed on the departing figure of Haldane Harrington.
