9. Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
After the heavy door closed behind them, Jacquelyn frowned. This was not turning out the way she’d expected. Old Eddie had more gumption than she’d given him credit for. He’d turned the tables on her and she never even saw it coming. Well, bully for him. She knew that her brother was going to love hearing about this. She suspected that she’d never live this one down.
Outside, she thought she heard the sound of an automobile door shutting. Eddie probably opened it and closed it to fool her and was grinning like an idiot even now. Getting her clothes back would be the first order of business. She scratched at her neck where the collar had been rubbing. Honestly, what was this cheap dress made of?
Well, two could play at this game. To save face, she’d give Eddie until the count of thirty before she opened the door to check. When she finished counting, she peered outside, shocked to see the back end of the Rolls-Royce as it left the driveway and turned onto the road. “Wait!” she yelled, even knowing there was no way Eddie could hear her at this distance. Inside, she seethed. The nerve. Now he was taking it too far. Jacquelyn was going to have a thing or two to say about Eddie once they got home.
Jacquelyn clutched the edge of the doorframe, her eyes squinting toward the distance. He had to come back. He just had to. Certainly that little fool Jane Shaw had let him in on the joke by now. She stood there waiting until the cold draft was too much, then let the door slam shut and went inside.
This was ridiculous. If he wasn’t back in fifteen minutes, she was calling home to demand that David come and get her. Her heart sank when she remembered that David had gone somewhere today and probably wasn’t even home right now. Darn. Well, no matter. Eddie would be back any minute, and he’d be sorry for putting her through this. She’d have a talk with her father and have him cancel Eddie’s tuition payments. Yes, that’s what she’d do. Eddie would just have to pay for his own education.
And if he didn’t return soon, she’d have someone here drive her home. Then if he turned around and came back, she’d be gone. Maybe he’d worry at having lost his precious passenger. She smiled at the idea of turning the tables on him.
Walking down the hallway, she followed the sounds of the girls chattering in the dining room. She found them sitting at the long tables working on their candy canes, with Mary standing in the middle of the room.
“You’re back!” Mary said. “Did Miss Sheridan leave? ”
Still keeping up the pretense. Could it be that she really didn’t see the difference? Jacquelyn said, “They’ve gone, but they’ll be back.”
“Why is that?” Mary’s forehead wrinkled.
One of the little girls got up from the table and ran into Jacquelyn, nearly knocking her over, then wrapped her arms around her waist. “Miss Shaw! I’m so excited about Christmas! Are you really going to tell us a story tonight? We were good.”
The other girls perked up then, adding their own Christmas comments.
“Yes, a story!”
“Christmas is my favorite time of year.”
“And we don’t even have to do chores for two whole days!”
Jacquelyn looked down at the little girl’s face. She’d actually be cute, given the right clothes. “You need to go sit down,” she said, shaking her off. The child, who looked crestfallen, trudged back to her seat.
“They’re just so excited,” Mary said, making an excuse. “They’re looking forward to having hot chocolate.”
“I love hot chocolate!” said one of the older girls. All of the others loudly agreed with her.
The noise level was aggravating. Jacquelyn felt the onset of a headache. “I need to talk to you,” she called out, beckoning to Mary. When they were close enough to speak quietly, she said, “I’m not Jane Shaw. We switched clothing as a joke. I’m Jacquelyn Sheridan.”
Mary burst out laughing. “Jane, you’re too much.” She gave her a gentle punch in the arm. “Always making merry. ”
“I’m being completely serious. I thought it would be readily apparent, but it seems I’m surrounded by imbeciles. Now your Miss Shaw seems to have taken off in my car, and I have no way to leave this horrible place.”
“You’re really Jacquelyn Sheridan?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I don’t understand. Why would you switch clothing?”
Fools and idiots. She wasn’t sure which category this young woman fell into, not that it mattered. “The reason is not any of your concern. All that’s important is that I need your help in getting home. Do you drive?”
Mary shook her head. “No, I don’t.”
“I need someone to drive me back to civilization. Is there someone else here who can provide that service? I will pay them, of course.”
“Mrs. Irving has the only car, and it’s quite a hike into the village. I’m not sure if anyone there would be able to help either.”
“You do have a phone, though?”
“Yes,” Mary said. “In Mrs. Irving’s office. We’re not allowed to use it without her permission, though. She’s very strict about that rule.”
“I have a feeling Mrs. Irving won’t mind if I make a call.”