“Or she thinks we’ve run out of de-skunking options,” Annaliese said before she suddenly bolted forward.
The reason for the bolting became crystal clear when Seth realized that Mabel had passed the jug to Penina, who seemed about ready to take a swig of the moonshine instead of using it on Mabel.
Before Seth could do more than take a few steps, though, Annaliese was splashing her way into the lake and directly up to Penina, where she promptly snatched the jug straight out of Penina’s hands. She then pointed a finger to shore, an action that left Penina looking at her quite as if she’d sprouted two heads.
“Annaliese just taught a lesson last week where she statedthat ladies were never to point at anything as it’s considered a grave faux pas,” Seraphina said as she moved up beside him before he had a chance to contemplate exactly why Penina was currently looking somewhat offended.
“Everyone out of the waternow,” Annaliese snapped in a tone that was downright frigid, something the girls obviously detected as well because not a one of them hesitated to splash their way out of the lake.
“I think I can say with all certainty that Annaliese is not going to have the difficult time she thought she would getting those girls to talk,” Seth said.
“Oh, they’ll still be difficult, but I think you and I can both agree that she’ll get answers out of them in the end,” Seraphina said as they started crossing the beach, the scent of skunk increasing the closer they got to the girls.
Seemingly unmindful of the scent, Annaliese set the bottle of moonshine aside and stalked her way over to girls, who were now watching her warily as they began drying themselves off with cloths Irma handed them.
“Now that all of you are out of the water and not suffering from any ill effects from ingesting moonshine of all things, you’re now going to explain what happened, as well as divulge what part in today’s disastrous events you were responsible for,” Annaliese said. “However, before we get into that, I need to know where Norma Jean and Velma are since no one has laid eyes on them lately.”
Telling looks were exchanged amongst the girls before each of them dropped their heads and began scuffing their toes through the sand.
Annaliese crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m going to count to three,” she began. “By the time I get to three, I expect at least one of you to say something or you will not enjoy the consequences. One ... two...”
“We’re not tattletales,” Mabel said with a lift of her chinbefore Annaliese could get to three as the Zambarello sisters lifted their chins as well.
“This isn’t a tattletale situation,” Annaliese began cooly. “This is a situation where the three of you, along with Norma Jean and Velma, deliberately inflicted harm on the academy.”
“It’s just a bit of skunk oil and small shards of glass,” Penina argued.
“But that oil is responsible for sickening more than a few of your fellow students,” Annaliese argued right back. “And, to remind you, since obviously you’ve forgotten this, all of you were given the privilege of attending this academy after being denied entrance into every academy your poor mothers tried to get you admitted to over the years. I hardly believe they’re going to be proud of your antics today. Nevertheless, before I send all of you off to wait in the office for your mothers to come collect you—and yes, I will send them notes telling them I need them to personally collect you today even if they’ve already sent their drivers—you’re going to set aside any desire to follow some ridiculous lady code and tell me exactly where Norma Jean and Velma are. Furthermore, you’re going to confess what rooms you besmirched with skunk essence so I’ll know where to send you, since you’ll be cleaning up the mess you made before I release you into the care of your mothers.” She lifted a brow toward girls who were now looking rather dejected. “Also, know that unless we run down Norma Jean and Velma, you’ll be cleaning up the messes they made as well.”
“That’s not fair,” Penina all but stuttered.
“Fairer than it would be to ask my staff to clean up a mess not of their making?” Annaliese asked.
“Our mother will not want us doing manual labor,” Donata said.
“I’m sure your mother, along with Mabel’s mother, will find this particular punishment suitable, especially after they learnthat their daughters are going to be the first students to be suspended from the Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies.”
Open mouths all around met that statement before Mabel swallowed. “You’re going to suspend us?”
“Indeed, but it remains to be seen for how long.” Annaliese inclined her head. “That will be determined by how cooperative you are with me.”
Another round of looks was exchanged before Penina stepped forward.
“I don’t think there’s any need to suspend us since smelling like skunk should be considered a punishment in and of itself.”
“Nice try, but where’s Norma Jean?”
A moment later, the girls were huddled in a circle, whispering madly between themselves, statements such as “We can’t break the code” and “Our mothers are going to kill us” reaching Seth’s ears. It wasn’t until Mabel murmured something about them being left with bag in hand while Norma Jean and Velma got away, though, that the girls turned, Penina giving Mabel a nudge that sent Mabel stumbling front and center.
Mabel then made a bit of a process of clearing her throat before she settled her gaze on Annaliese. “We want it noted that we’re only disclosing this out of sheer duress because we know that Norma Jean is going to give us the cut direct after she finds out we sold her out.” She gave a shiver. “However, we think our mothers are more frightening than Norma Jean, so with that said—Norma Jean and Velma have run away from home, and they’re not intending on coming back anytime soon.”
Fourteen
“This has to be some type of record, losing the same two students twice in such a short span of time,” Annaliese muttered before Seth stepped up next to her, took hold of her hand, and gave it a pat, something that left Mabel and the Zambarello sisters all but gawking at them.
“While I’m sure learning that Norma Jean and Velma have run away seems disconcerting, it’s truly not another disaster of epic proportions,” Seth said. “My sister has run away numerous times in the past, but she’s never gone for more than a few hours, always returning home once she runs out of pin money.”
Mabel suddenly coughed behind her hand, and loudly at that. “I, ah, don’t believe Norma Jean will run out of pin money anytime soon because she might, ah, well, have mentioned to Velma, who then mentioned to me, that she’d helped herself to the contents of your, um, safe.”
