Page 37 of The Chalet Girl

They nodded, and Emme looked at the small playground, gated by wooden poles. There wasn’t much space in town for a school, but it certainly looked perfectly formed with pristine play equipment, a basketball court and a large sandpit for the little ones.

‘Tie my shoelaces!’ Emme heard a princely voice demand, coming from a little boy across the playground.

‘Nooo,youtie your shoelaces Arjun, you know how to tie your shoelaces…’

‘I will not.’ A boy in a duffel coat and glasses stood with his arms folded and his left foot pushed outwards. Emme and the children observed him.

‘That’s Arjun, he’s in my class,’ Bella said, with an eyeroll that made Emme smile back conspiratorially.

‘Well if you won’t tie your shoelaces you’ll just have to trip over and bump that lovely big nose of yours!’ the woman said. The boy waited, in deadlock. Standing his ground, nudging his foot out further, until he realised he wasn’t going to get his way.

Emme watched aghast, glad the woman hadn’t caved in. This town didn’t need any more entitled men in it.

‘Now, if you’re finished, I suggest you go in.’ The woman’s pretty face was stern.

She caught sight of Bella in her peripheral vision.

‘Bella, Harry, good morning!’ the woman said, then turned to Emme.

‘Ahhh, you must be the new Jenny!’

‘That’s what it says on my lift pass,’ Emme replied with a grin.

The woman had beautiful dark skin and a northern British accent. Finally, another young British woman. Perhaps she could help Emme navigate this weirdness. And she obviously knew Jenny, which was intriguing in itself.

‘I’m Cassie, Arjun’s nanny.’ She extended a hand and Emme shook it. Cassie had polished make-up, impeccable hair and a beautiful cream down coat. Emme felt terribly shabby again in her hand-me-downs, but Cassie had an energy that was warm and real.

‘Hi, I’m Emme.’

The bell rang and the children went rushing in. Emme was heartened to hear Harry say to a friend, ‘She’s our new nanny,’ as if this were a positive thing. Perhaps she and Harry were going to be OK. He hadn’t been particularly nice to her since she arrived, but at least he hadn’t spoken to her the way Arjun had spoken to Cassie.

‘Nice to meet you Emme-not-Jenny.’ Cassie released her hand.

‘Bye kids! I’ll pick you up for ski school!’

‘Bye Arjun!’ Cassie called. ‘And fuck off if you think I’m getting on my knees to tie your shoelaces,’ she added behind a stage smile. Emme gasped, then laughed.

‘Is he like that all the time?’

‘Yes. Gets it from his father. He is ahugeman baby. The little shit sits on a special cushion in class like it’s a throne.’

Emme crumpled her face.

‘And the teacher allows that?’

‘Mummy and daddy contributea lotto the PTA.’

Cassie tossed her lustrous mane and rewrapped her caramel-coloured scarf.

Emme cleared her throat and plucked up the courage to ask Cassie if she wanted to go for a coffee. She seemed lovely, and perhaps coffee with Cassie would give her some answers as to what had happened to Jenny. Emme couldn’t help thinking it was strange no explanation had been given as to why she left, or why there were no traces of her predecessor, ski pass aside. Not that it mattered, but Lexy Harrington and her rules were a little unnerving, and any insight might help.

‘Drat, I’d love to, but I have to go down to Bloch to pick up some actualbloomersfor Arjun while he’s at school.’ Both women stifled a giggle.

‘Do Amazon not deliver to Kristalldorf?’ Emme asked.

‘I know right?! His mother ordered them from an old-school department store overan houraway!’

‘Oh dear,’ Emme offered. ‘Maybe at pick up, when they’ve gone to ski school?’ she suggested.