Night School: Legacy

‘Because he’ll want to protect you,’ Sylvain said. ‘It is the right thing to do.’


‘I can protect myself,’ she said.

His reply was chilling and instant. ‘Not from Nathaniel you can’t. Not from Gabe.’

‘I have to go, Sylvain.’ She leaned towards him intently. ‘I have to.’

Their eyes locked – his clear blue eyes sparkled in the lamplight.

‘What are you asking me, Allie?’ His voice was low.

‘Will you go with me?’ She held her breath.

For a long moment he studied her face. Then he sighed. ‘I think this is a very bad idea,’ he said. ‘But I won’t let you go alone.’





EIGHTEEN





Now all she had to do was get through Friday. That morning, she explained away her disappearance the night before with an imaginary illness. Nobody doubted her. Rachel plied her with herbal tea while Carter checked her forehead for signs of fever and asked if she’d seen the nurse.

Her whole day was one lie after another. And it was easy.

I’m a natural, she thought bitterly on her way to the dining hall for dinner. It must be in my blood.

She glanced at her watch. Five minutes to seven.

Five hours until she’d talk to Christopher again for the first time in nearly two years. Five hours until she’d learn the truth.

Nervousness sped her heart rate, and she took calming breaths before walking into the busy dining room. Sliding into her normal seat next to Carter, she smiled at the group already assembled at their usual table.

Rachel mouthed, You OK? at her from her seat next to Lucas. Allie nodded and smiled to show she was fine. Carter draped his arm loosely across her shoulders and pressed his lips lightly to her temple.

Guilt stabbed like a needle prick, and she smiled broadly to push it back.

I’m going to do something, Carter, she thought, watching him chat with Lucas. I hope you’ll forgive me. And, horribly, I don’t think you will.

Zoe had taken to sitting with them lately and she was chatting earnestly to Jo about a complex chemistry problem she was working on with her tutor. Jo looked baffled but was nodding politely.

On the next table, Sylvain sat next to Nicole with a group of international students. They appeared to be deep in conversation but, as if he sensed her gaze, he looked up. When their eyes met, she could feel the connection their secrets had made between them.

‘So.’ Jo interrupted her thoughts by tapping her spoon against a glass until everyone at the table was looking at her and laughing. ‘I’ve decided it’s time.’

‘Time?’ Rachel said doubtfully.

‘Uh-oh,’ Lucas muttered. ‘I think I know what’s coming.’

‘Time for what?’ Zoe asked, cocking her head to one side.

‘Time to start talking about the ball.’

The chorus of derision was instantaneous.

‘I knew it,’ Lucas said, dropping his head back against the top of his chair.

‘It’s a month away, Jo,’ Carter pointed out. ‘And all we have to do is get dressed.’

‘Don’t be absurd, Carter.’ Jo dismissed him with a wave. ‘It’s much more than that.’

‘Isn’t it just like the summer ball?’ Allie asked.

‘No, it’s totally different,’ Zoe said before Jo could reply. ‘Everyone comes to the winter ball.’

‘She’s right,’ Jo said. ‘Alumni come back, the entire board of directors usually comes. And I’ve heard a juicy rumour about this year.’

‘Oh God,’ Carter murmured, sipping from a glass of water.

‘Just say it,’ Lucas said. ‘You know you won’t rest until you’ve said it.’

‘Go on then, Jo.’ Rachel sat forward eagerly. ‘Spread the goss.’

‘Apparently,’ Jo leaned forward and lowered her voice, ‘lots of international politicos are coming this year. As in presidents. Prime ministers. Chancellors.’

As soon as Jo said the word ‘chancellors’, Allie felt her blood temperature drop.

She cleared her throat. ‘Any names?’

‘Totally.’ Jo looked delighted. ‘Henry Abingdon, Joseph Swinton and Lucinda Meldrum were the names I heard.’

Carter and Rachel, who both knew about Lucinda, were careful not to meet Allie’s eye. She sat stunned, staring at Jo.

Lucinda is coming here? For the ball?

The grandmother she’d never met – who never even travelled across London to meet her – would be at Cimmeria. They’d be in the same room.

The others were now all talking at once in excited tones.

‘President Abingdon!’ Zoe sounded breathless. ‘I wanted him to be my other dad.’

Under the table, Carter took Allie’s hand and squeezed it gently. When nobody was paying attention, he leaned over and whispered into her ear, ‘Did you know she was coming?’

She shook her head.

Before he could respond, the doors at the end of the dining hall swung open and the staff streamed in carrying heaping trays of food. The students gave their customary cheer, but this time Allie couldn’t even fake a smile.

Everything was too messed up.