The Secret of Moonacre - SECRECY

Chapter 19

I awoke fresh and ready for the day ahead. I had put on my uniform which was a grey pinafore, a black blazer, white stockings and black plimsols. I had hastily eaten my breakfast, which was surprisingly good for a London College, with Charlotte and a few of her friends called Isabel, Anna and Eliza who were all very kind. When our house mistress, Miss Heliotrope, came to check our rooms were tidy she sent Charlotte and I down to the hall where Jessie was waiting.

"Good morning Maria" he greeted.

"Morning Jessie. Where are we off to first?" I asked.

"We are going to arithmetic with Professer Silverday. He's an excellent tutor" Jessie said.

"Good. Let us go" I smiled at him and he led the way through various halls of busy bustly students.

Arithmetic was simple, I sat next to Jessie who was very helpful when it came to the basics of school e.g not talking when the the tutor is, putting my hand up to answer questions or ask them. Although, I was very shy and rarely spoke in my classes.

As the day went by I had also languages, where I excelled in French thanks to Miss Heliotrope and finally arts where I did a few sketches from memory. I had talked to Jessie through most of my classes and he was intrigued about the history of Moonacre for some reason. He informed me that he took history as an extra class as it fasinates him a lot. He told me that he would like to do a topic of Moonacre Valley when he has the time. I met a lot of Jessie's friends: Sam, Joseph, Ryan and Harry. They were a lot like Jessie, very casual and troublesome. During art, Sam had sneakily drawn funny facial features on to the sketch he had done of a girl next to him and Joseph kept getting told off for being slow. But they were all really nice and clever boys which was all that mattered. I was very happy with where I was.

* * * * * * * * * *

A few weeks passed and my knowledge kept getting better. I was head of the class in almost every of my subjects apart from art because I kept getting distracted drawing pictures of Moonacre or Periwinkle. I started to miss those things. I missed waking up to the sound of chirping birds and the breeze flying through the trees. I was homesick; badly. Jessie sometimes caught me feeling a little down and sent his buddies over to cheer me up which they never failed at. We also went on walks through the nearby park and played with a ball on nice evenings.

It was one late evening and I was sat in the dining hall by myself swirling a cup of water. Charlotte had gone out for the evening to dine with her foster family and Isabel, Anna and Eliza were taking their extra classes along with Jessie. The dining hall's main doors swung open and a band of rowdy boys entered. I laughed at their stupidity. Sam, Joseph, Ryan and Harry came to sit with me on the table squishing me in and making me squeal.

"Do you guys have to constantly squash me?" I moaned trying to wriggle away.

"It's fun" Harry said poking my ribs.

"What was the gloomy face for huh?" Sam said with his ginger hair flopping over his face.

I felt comfortable telling them anything. "I think I feel homesick"

"Aw Maria" Ryan cooed. "We have a weeks break coming up soon. Maybe you could go visit?"

I nodded "Possibly" But I was afraid of running into my traitor. The traitor.

"Hey, maybe Jessie could go with you?" Joseph said winking.

"Why would Jessie want to come with me?" I asked.

"It's obvious he has a thing for you Maria. The way he hangs around you all the time and links arms. He never does that with anyone else" Sam said.

"Don't be so silly. He's just being polite" I blushed.

"She's blushing..." Joseph said nudging Ryan next to him.

"No I am not!" I lied.

"I think Maria likes Jessie back..." Harry chirped.

"I heard my name" Jessie said strolling into the hall.

I quickly got my glass and poured the water over Harry to shut him up. "Hi Jessie"

He raised an eyebrow "Everything okay here?"

"Yeah yeah of course" Ryan said sniggering to the other boys.

"Good" Jessie sat next to me which made the other boys almost go red trying not to laugh.

"Maria wanted to know if you would go back to her magical valley with her over the weeks break" Harry exploded, water dripping from his hair.

I rolled my head and eyes back. "I wasn't really, they were..."

"I'd like to" Jessie said grinning at the boys.

Well that was going to make things awkward.

'Thanks' I mouthed to Harry sarcastically. "I'll be off to bed now, goodnight boys" I placed my glass infront of Harry as a warning, got up and left the hall.

Jessie jogged after me "Hey, do you want me to come to Moonacre with you? It'd be great for my project"

Oh of course the project! He thought of it like that and nothing else. "Yes that would be lovely Jessie. I would be more than happy for you to come" I was actually glad he was coming. It would give an excuse for Robin not to come near me.

"Great, thank you Maria" Jessie said beaming.

I laughed "It is not a problem. As long as it will benefit you I don't mind"

"I'm sure it will. Sorry I can't take you to your room, I have some things to do with the gang. I'll see you in the morning" and Jessie almost skipped off back to the dining hall.

"Good night Jessie" I said under my breath as it wasn't lady like to shout after someone. I laughed at how I was almost the same girl that I was in London. I laughed at how fun it would be for Jessie to see Moonacre. And I laughed because I thought I was falling for Jessie.

Robin's P.O.V

Word was out in the early morning that Maria was returning to Moonacre the next morning; with a boy. My stomach churned at the thought of her being with someone else other than me. She said she would never fall for a 'stuck up London boy'. I still loved her, even though she had left without saying goodbye and without a word. Although, I didn't blame her. I did something without telling her and without an explanation in which I felt guilty about. Sir Benjamin knew my side of the story and accepted it with a little encouragement from father. All was left was to get Maria alone and explain it to her if she won't be the stubborn little girl she was. I doubt she would want to stay in our room any longer so I moved her bed back into Loveday's old room and decorated the whole room with pink geraniums after she had grown to love them after being with Loveday for so long. I hoped she would be happy with that. As for this fellow she was bringing back after only being at that London college for a month, he would have to stay with me. But I was keeping my bed. He could stay on the floor for the first time in his life with one pillow and a rug for all I cared. I had managed to snap a break from Alex and his bandits as they were busy setting traps and didn't need my help.

Everything was set all ready for the arrivals and I wasn't sure whether to look forward to it or not.