Midnight on Lundy by Victoria Eveleigh

Author:Victoria Eveleigh [Eveleigh, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jane Badger Books

12

As soon as Jenny stepped off the boat onto Bideford Quay, she felt like an alien in a chaotic, overpopulated foreign country. The only comfort was that the inhabitants spoke the same language, more or less.

In contrast, Mrs Hamilton seemed excited and very much at home. A trip to the mainland for a couple of days was a rare treat, and it was clear she intended to enjoy every minute of it.

“Let’s go to my hotel and get changed. Then we’ll have a spot of lunch and take a taxi to St Anne’s. How does that sound?”

Fine, except for the last bit, Jenny thought. “Fine,” she said, making a brave attempt at a smile.

Jenny felt chilled to her core. She sank gratefully into the huge hotel bath. Even tepid water made her skin sting, but as she thawed out she topped up the bath with more hot, clear water from the impressive brass mixer tap which gurgled and gushed. Soon the bath was full enough to overflow.

The water on Lundy was always peaty-brown and in short supply. This was luxury.

The hotel soap smelled like a summer garden. She washed her body and her hair, and then allowed herself several minutes of pure indulgence – not thinking, just feeling. She drifted about, soaking in warmth, blocking out all thoughts of what was to come …

Knock! Knock! “Jenny? Are you all right in there?” Mrs Hamilton’s voice made her jump.

She scrambled out of the bath, spilling water onto the bathmat and surrounding floor. “Yes, thanks! Coming!”

The bath towels were white, thick and soft. Jenny wrapped one round her, and tried to empty the bath. After several futile attempts at pulling out a shiny metal disc, which appeared to be the bath plug, she managed to make it pop up by pulling a lever below the tap. Fascinating! She did it several times, for fun.

“Jenny?”

“Just coming!”

“So is Christmas.”

Reluctantly, Jenny emerged from the steaming bathroom: bright red, squeaky clean and cocooned in a massive towel.

“How very apt!” Mrs Hamilton exclaimed, smiling. “You look like a chrysalis, ready to transform into a butterfly! I’ve hung your school uniform on the back of the door, and there’s a hairdryer over there on the dressing table. You get ready, while I have a quick bath.” She disappeared into the bathroom, and shut the door.

Jenny heard the gurgle and gush of the bath tap. Gingerly, she took down her uniform and put it on, piece by uncomfortable piece.

The starched white shirt felt crisply cold against her warm body. The long navy blue woollen socks were itchy and too big. They kept trying to fall down.

Likewise, the pleated blue tartan kilt-skirt was too big in all directions. It hung loosely on her hips, rather than at her waist, so that the hem nearly reached her ankles.

At least the blazer hid everything else. It dwarfed her, hanging shapelessly from her narrow shoulders and finishing just below her bottom.

Surely I can’t have lost that much weight on the boat trip this morning! Jenny thought, despairing at her image in the mirror.

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