Alice-Miranda at the Palace 11 Read online

  ‘Eww.’ Jacinta and Sloane wrinkled their noses.

  ‘But he is pretty cute,’ Lucas said as Marcus’s tiny fingers wrapped around his pinkie.

  Lawrence nodded. ‘Yes, I think we’ll probably keep him.’

  Charlotte glanced at her watch. ‘Oh, goodness, it’s a quarter past twelve. Sorry, darlings, but I need to start feeding these two,’ she said, settling herself into the rocking chair with Imogen. ‘It’s a marathon effort and I don’t want to miss all of the festivities.’

  ‘Thanks for letting us meet the babies,’ Jacinta said.

  The children said their goodbyes and made their way to the door.

  ‘Oh, and Alice-Miranda,’ Lawrence called, ‘I think you’re up for nappy-changing duties next time.’

  The girl turned and grinned. ‘I don’t mind. They could make the biggest, smelliest mess ever and I’d still love them to pieces.’

  The man opened the top drawer and took out a pair of thin white gloves. He carefully pulled them on then picked up a pair of scissors. It was a tedious business but it had to be done. He read over the words before he began to cut letters from the pages of the newspaper.

  Soon enough The Beacon looked like something from a kindergarten craft class. He’d had it sent from the other side of the country so, even if they were able to trace the origins of this particular edition, there was nothing to lead them to him.

  He hummed quietly to himself as he cut out the letters with military precision. There was a strange meditative quality to the whole thing. He arranged the letters on the blank page and unwound the glue stick. Then he carefully pasted each letter until the page was full. This time the words were fiercer, the threat more forceful. They had to be – there was a lot at stake.

  A child so sweet and young and fair,

  her spirit free, without a care.

  Hugh and Cecelia must not know,

  nor anyone else, or my wrath will grow.

  I imagine you’d like to know what I seek.

  Hold tight, old dear, you’ll know next week!

  A smug smile settled on his lips as he surveyed his work. He hadn’t written poetry in years but it had always been something he’d excelled at. He threw the newspaper in the hearth, then struck a match and watched the pages burn.

  He walked back to the desk and folded the letter carefully before placing it in an envelope. But he didn’t seal it yet. He flicked open the locks on his briefcase and pulled three photographs from the rear compartment. He added them to the envelope and sealed it with his first mistake.

  ‘This is a much more adventurous approach to the garden,’ Braxton Balfour said as he led the children through a tightly woven tunnel of trees. ‘I just discovered it recently myself.’

  ‘Have you been here long, Mr Balfour?’ Alice-Miranda asked the man.

  ‘A couple of months. I was previously a footman at Brackenhurst before I was promoted to the role of under butler here at Evesbury.’

  ‘Congratulations!’ Alice-Miranda smiled at him. ‘Do you think you might be in charge one day?’

  ‘Well, you never know. I suppose that’s what I’m hoping for.’ The man looked a little sheepish. ‘Better not tell Mr Langley, though. I don’t think he’s ready to retire just yet.’

  Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘Don’t worry, Mr Balfour, I won’t say a word.’

  The man grinned.

  ‘Wow!’ Jacinta exclaimed as the group emerged onto a viewing platform that overlooked an enormous sunken garden.

  Large expanses of lawn were framed and crisscrossed by hedge-lined paths dotted with exquisite marble statues. In the centre of it all, a giant fountain guarded by four marble lions spouted water high into the blue sky. At the opposite end, a Palladian summer house was swarming with guests and waiters in black tail coats, carrying trays of drinks and delicious treats.

  Braxton Balfour caught sight of Mr Langley glaring at him from down below. ‘I should leave you now. Have a lovely afternoon, children.’

  ‘Thank you for bringing us, Mr Balfour,’ Alice-Miranda said.

  ‘It was my pleasure.’ The man gave a bow before he turned and walked back up the path.

  The children stared out into the crowd. Alice-Miranda spotted her parents talking to Ambrosia Headlington-Bear, and waved.

  ‘It’s all so beautiful,’ Sloane sighed happily.

  Jacinta pointed to a woman’s hat. ‘Is that an umbrella on her head?’

  ‘Jacinta!’ Alice-Miranda chided, giggling.

  ‘You have to admit it will come in very handy if it starts to rain,’ Jacinta teased. ‘I think we could all fit under there.’

  Millie raised her camera and clicked away at the men dressed in top hats and tails, and the women in a kaleidoscope of pretty dresses, hats and gloves. The child paused and glanced down at her own mint-green ensemble, wondering if it was up to scratch.

  ‘I love your dress, Millie,’ Alice-Miranda commented, noticing her friend’s hesitation. ‘It’s perfect.’

  ‘Do you really think so?’ Millie asked.

  Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘Of course.’

  Her own dress was the palest of pinks with a delicate floral pattern. Jacinta was in powder-blue, and Sloane had decided on a yellow outfit. Together, they looked like a rainbow of pastels.

  ‘I don’t know about everyone else but I’m starving,’ Sep said as he spied a plate of food circulating just below them. He led the way towards one of the two sets of stairs that fanned out from either side of the platform.

  Sep and Lucas made a beeline for the waiter.

  ‘You have to try these,’ Lucas said to the girls while munching on a miniature pie. ‘They’re amazing.’

  The children all reached in and the waiter handed each of them a tiny white napkin that bore the initials ‘GR’ in gold.

  ‘Mmm.’ Millie smacked her lips together. ‘These are delicious.’

  The group wandered further into the garden with Lucas charging ahead, eager to explore every inch of it.

  ‘Hey, look at this,’ he called out. In the middle of one of the outer walls, Lucas had found an opening to what looked like a cave. He could hear the sound of running water coming from within.

  The children ran to catch up. Just as they were heading for the entrance, a statuesque woman in a white lace dress stepped out from a side path to block their way. She wore a wide-brimmed hat trimmed with the same delicate fabric and was on the arm of a tall, handsome man.

  ‘You’re not going in there, are you?’ she barked.

  Alice-Miranda and her friends looked at the woman, startled.

  ‘It’s just that it might not be safe,’ the woman said, her voice softening.

  ‘Marjorie, leave the poor children alone,’ the man said, frowning at her. ‘I’m sure there’s nothing to be afraid of.’

  Alice-Miranda smiled at the couple and held out her hand towards the man. ‘Hello, I’m Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones.’

  ‘Oh, you’re Hugh and Cee’s little girl.’ The man reached out and took her tiny hand into his. ‘I’m Lloyd Lancaster-Brown and this is my worrywart fiancée, Marjorie Plunkett.’

  ‘It’s lovely to meet you both.’ Alice-Miranda was thrilled to meet a member of the Lancaster-Brown family, and introduced her friends to the couple.

  ‘Charmed,’ Marjorie said stiffly. She turned to Lucas. ‘You’re Lawrence Ridley’s son, aren’t you?’

  The boy nodded, wondering how she knew that since he and his father didn’t share the same surname. ‘How do you know Her Majesty?’ he asked.

  ‘Oh, I’m just a distant relative,’ Lloyd replied.

  ‘Hardly distant, darling,’ Marjorie leapt in. ‘Lloyd’s a cousin of Queen Georgiana’s. His grandfather and Her Majesty’s father were brothers.’

  Alice-Miranda’s eyes grew wide. ‘Was King George your grandfather?’

  ‘Yes,’ the man said with surprise, ‘but how on earth would you know that?’

  ‘I was reading something in the libra
ry recently about King George and how he abdicated to marry your grandmother Evelyn,’ the child explained.

  ‘Why did he do that?’ Millie asked.

  ‘Marry my grandmother?’ Lloyd said with a cheeky grin. ‘Oh, the old girl wasn’t that bad. Then again, come to think of it …’

  Millie laughed, shaking her head. ‘No, why did he have to abdicate to marry her?’

  Sloane frowned. ‘I’m confused. What’s abdicate mean?’

  ‘It’s when a king or queen stands aside and gives up their claim to the throne,’ Alice-Miranda explained.

  Lloyd nodded. ‘Yes, that’s exactly right. My grandfather abdicated because my grandmother had been married before, and back then divorce was frowned upon,’ he said. ‘Grandmama Evelyn was the love of his life, although I always found her a little bit on the scary side.’

  ‘So if your grandfather hadn’t abdicated, would you be King now?’ Jacinta asked, trying to work out the royal line in her head.

  Marjorie nodded. ‘Lloyd’s father was the eldest son and he passed away some time ago, so you’re right – Lloyd would have been King.’

  ‘Cool,’ Lucas said.

  Lloyd grimaced. ‘All those visits to factories and hospitals are not my thing at all. I’d much rather leave it to Cousin Gee.’

  ‘At least you know exactly the right things to say and do at these parties,’ Millie said.

  ‘Oh, not at all.’ Lloyd chuckled, shaking his head. ‘Even after all these years I never know what to talk about or who I might offend. It’s a bit of a minefield.’

  Millie smiled with relief. ‘I’m glad I’m not the only one who gets confused. I think there should be a guide to curtsying. I accidentally curtsied to one of the maids before, but she didn’t seem to mind.’

  ‘Perhaps you can give me some lessons in curtsying,’ Lloyd teased. ‘I’m horrible at it. I wobble hopelessly.’

  Millie giggled.

  ‘Don’t be so silly, Lloyd,’ Marjorie rebuked. ‘Of course you enjoy these parties. Who wouldn’t?’

  ‘It is fun to get dressed up,’ Alice-Miranda agreed.

  ‘How long are you staying at the palace?’ Lloyd asked the group.

  ‘Just until tomorrow,’ Alice-Miranda said.

  ‘I wish we could stay all week,’ Millie added.

  Marjorie smiled at the girls. ‘Oh, well, you never know …’

  ‘I would love to see the hunting tower,’ Lucas admitted.

  Sloane nodded. ‘And everything else. I bet there are secret places all over the estate.’

  Marjorie frowned. That very same thought had begun to dawn on her too.

  ‘I used to play in the tower as a boy,’ Lloyd said, staring into the distance. ‘But it’s been abandoned for years. I haven’t been back there since …’

  Marjorie looked at her fiancé. ‘Since when?’

  Lloyd shook his head, as if banishing a memory. ‘It doesn’t matter, dear.’

  Marjorie wished he’d say something. It was awfully hard pretending she didn’t know things sometimes.

  ‘I don’t think we’re going to have much time to go exploring,’ Alice-Miranda said.

  Lloyd nodded. ‘Perhaps on another visit, then.’

  ‘There probably won’t be another one, so we should make the most of being here now,’ Millie said, brightening up. She pulled her camera out of the little handbag that was slung across her shoulder. ‘Would you mind taking a picture of us?’

  ‘Oh, that’s a lovely camera, Millie,’ Marjorie said. She’d hoped that one of the children would have one.

  Lloyd reached out to take it from Millie but Marjorie intercepted him. ‘Darling, you know you’re terrible at taking photographs,’ she scolded. ‘I can do it.’

  The children organised themselves into a huddle and smiled as the woman snapped away.

  ‘Hang on, it’s a bit glary,’ Marjorie said, checking the screen. ‘I’ll just make sure they’re as good as I think they are.’

  She turned away from the others and, quick as a flash, pulled a small silver object from her handbag. She popped open the battery case and within seconds had replaced the original battery with the one from her bag. She swivelled back to the children and passed the camera to Millie.

  ‘They’re perfect,’ Marjorie said with a smile. She placed a hand on Lloyd’s arm. ‘Come along, darling. I’ve just spotted Lord Tavistock, and I’d like to ask him if he’d be emcee at the wedding.’

  ‘Tavistock? Really?’ Lloyd said, rolling his eyes. ‘I’d much rather stay here.’

  The children giggled as Marjorie hustled him away.

  ‘Come and rescue me later,’ he whispered over his shoulder.

  Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘We will.’

  ‘I wonder why Miss Plunkett was so worried about us going into the grotto,’ Sloane said, once the couple was out of earshot.

  Millie and Jacinta shrugged. ‘She looks like she’s forgotten about it now,’ Jacinta said.

  ‘He seems like a great guy,’ Sep said.

  ‘And she’s gorgeous,’ Sloane added wistfully. ‘Mummy would hate her.’

  A hand emerged from the bushes and tapped Lord Luttrell on the shoulder before quickly retreating into the hedge. The fellow turned around, smiling, expecting to see someone he knew. He paused, confused to find no one there, then shrugged and returned to his drink. Just as he took a large gulp, the hand darted out again and tapped him on the opposite shoulder. This time he sputtered and showered champagne all over the woman in front of him.

  ‘Hubert, what on earth?’ his wife shrieked. She glared at him as she dabbed her sodden apricot-coloured frock with her napkin.

  ‘I’m sorry, Lisbeth. Someone touched me on the shoulder and startled me. I didn’t mean it.’

  ‘You must be imagining things.’ His wife craned her neck to see over his shoulder. ‘There’s no one there.’

  ‘But I felt it,’ he whined.

  A few metres away, Lucas and the rest of the group were about to explore the cave.

  ‘Are you coming, Alice-Miranda?’ Millie asked, noticing the girl hadn’t moved. She squinted into the distance to see what her friend was looking at.

  When Alice-Miranda saw the hand poke out of the hedge for a third time, she leapt into action, charging down the path and intercepting the offending limb.

  ‘Hey!’ a voice shouted as Alice-Miranda grasped the hand and yanked it from the bushes.

  The victim spun around. ‘What’s all this?’

  ‘I’m sorry, sir, but I think you’ve been the brunt of a practical joke.’ Alice-Miranda held up the contraption – a long stick with a stuffed black glove attached to one end. She scanned the bushes for its owner.

  ‘Good heavens, that’s the last thing I’d expect to happen here,’ Lady Luttrell said, still mopping up the front of her dress. ‘Who on earth is responsible for such mischief?’

  Millie, Jacinta, Sloane, Sep and Lucas ran to see what Alice-Miranda was up to. Just as they reached her, Aunty Gee approached from the other end of the path. She was flanked by Mrs Marmalade on one side, and Archie and Petunia on the other.

  ‘Good afternoon, Hubert, Lisbeth, children. It’s lovely to see you all. I do hope you’re enjoying yourselves.’

  There was a flurry of curtsies and bows.

  ‘Hello Aunty Gee.’ Alice-Miranda smiled at her.

  Queen Georgiana leaned down and embraced the girl, kissing the top of her head.

  Alice-Miranda grinned at Her Majesty’s furry companions. ‘Who are you two?’ The child crouched down to pat the beagles.

  ‘This is Archie and Petunia. They are a little wary of children, but perhaps that’s just my grandchildren.’ The Queen pointed to the stick with the gloved hand. ‘What’s that you’ve got there, dear?’

  ‘I think someone’s been playing tricks on your guests,’ Alice-Miranda said, holding the hand upright.

  There was a rustle in the hedge. Archie and Petunia shot off towards the greenery, barking.

  A
deep row of lines furrowed across Queen Georgiana’s brow. ‘That had better not be my missing Hermès glove, or two boys I know will be spending the rest of the weekend mucking out the stables. Edgar, Louis, come out of there right this minute!’

  The hedge rustled again and two boys slunk out from behind the bushes. Their black suits were covered in leaves, and twigs were sticking out of their wild hair.

  ‘Goodness me,’ Queen Georgiana growled as loudly as the dogs. ‘Archie, Petunia, heel,’ she commanded, and the two pooches ran and sat behind their mistress.

  The lads said nothing, but it was obvious they were working hard to suppress smirks.

  ‘How old are you now?’ Queen Georgiana demanded.

  ‘Fourteen,’ they answered in perfect unison.

  ‘Old enough to know better.’ Her Majesty shook her head. ‘I believe you owe Lord and Lady Luttrell an apology.’

  ‘It was just a joke,’ one of the boys muttered.

  ‘We didn’t hurt anyone,’ the other boy added sullenly.

  Lady Luttrell pointed at the wet patches on her dress. ‘Well, I’m not very happy about this.’

  Millie smothered a grin. She wouldn’t have been either if she was wearing such an ugly dress.

  ‘Oh, Lisbeth, I hadn’t realised,’ Queen Georgiana said. ‘You boys are incorrigible. And I thought your sisters were bad when they were younger. I can’t say I’m sorry that they’re all away studying at the moment, but at least they seem to be growing into decent human beings. I can only hope that one day you might do the same.’

  ‘Sorry, Grandmama,’ the boys said flatly.

  ‘Don’t apologise to me.’ Queen Georgiana glared at the lads and nodded at Lord and Lady Luttrell.

  The boys reluctantly mumbled some words of regret.

  ‘I’ll look after that, Alice-Miranda.’ The Queen took the stick and passed it to Mrs Marmalade, whose face was set into a very nasty scowl.

  ‘What am I supposed to do with it?’ the woman muttered under her breath.

  Queen Georgiana frowned at her. ‘I’m sure you’ll think of something. Come along, Lisbeth. I’ll organise for a dress in your size. Boys, I suggest you stay out of trouble, or that threat to muck out the stables will very quickly come true.’