Alice-Miranda in China Read online

  Summer smiled again and nodded.

  ‘Do you like being in a circus?’ Jacinta asked. She thought about how she could do some actions that might help the girl understand, but came up empty.

  ‘How have you been getting along?’ Benny asked, walking into the room with Lawrence.

  ‘Not too badly,’ Alice-Miranda replied, ‘but perhaps you could help interpret for us. Jacinta asked Summer if she liked working in the circus.’

  Benny posed the question in Cantonese. Summer gulped and stared for a moment before Benny said something else. Then she nodded fiercely, a thin smile on her lips.

  ‘It must be incredible,’ Jacinta said. ‘I do gymnastics too. I was actually thinking of giving it up altogether, but now Summer has inspired me to become an acrobat.’

  ‘Perhaps you will come and work for me,’ Benny said, chuckling.

  ‘That would be a dream come true,’ Jacinta sighed.

  Alice-Miranda studied Summer’s face. The girl was so expressive on stage, but in real life she almost seemed sad. For a few seconds, Alice-Miranda held her gaze and something passed between them, although she had no idea what it meant.

  ‘How long in Hong Kong?’ Summer asked, her words stilted as she worked hard to remember the right ones.

  ‘We’re leaving tomorrow night for Shanghai and then after that we’re going to school in Beijing for a few days,’ Alice-Miranda explained slowly, and waited for Benny to translate.

  ‘Sorry, girls, but we’d better get moving, otherwise Miss Grimm will have my head,’ Lawrence said. ‘It’s been a pleasure to meet you Summer.’

  Jacinta couldn’t help herself and, as they were about to leave, she rushed forward and hugged the girl.

  Summer gasped, and Jacinta released her just as quickly. ‘I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.’ The words tumbled out faster than the gymnasts in the hallway as she turned bright red and scampered from the room.

  ‘It was lovely to meet you,’ Alice-Miranda said, giving Summer an affectionate squeeze.

  The group filed out of the room and closed the door. Summer collapsed in her chair and looked at herself in the mirror. Finally, she allowed the tears to slide down her face.

  Alice-Miranda was awake long before it was time to get up. As Millie snored gently from the next bed, Alice-Miranda pushed back the covers and walked to the window, where the first rays of sunshine sparkled on the water below. She sat down on the ledge that doubled as a seat and watched the city wake up. A ferry made its way across the harbour while smaller fishing boats chugged along the coastline. There were yachts bobbing about in the marina and she spotted a couple of junks too. Huge ships steamed in and out of view. Others were moored, waiting to load or unload their cargoes. From eighteen storeys high, she could see shopkeepers thrusting up shutters and street vendors pushing carts.

  Millie’s eyes fluttered open and she squinted into the light. ‘Oh, did I sleep in?’ she yawned.

  Alice-Miranda shook her head. ‘No, I just woke up a while ago,’ she said, and hugged her knees. ‘The view from here is gorgeous.’

  ‘What are we doing today?’ Millie asked, propping herself up on one elbow. Miss Grimm had made some announcements the night before but she couldn’t remember much of what was said. After the flight and their evening activities, Millie had felt like a zombie on the way back to the hotel. She couldn’t wait to fall into bed and she must have been asleep before her head hit the pillow.

  Alice-Miranda slid off the ledge and pulled the itinerary from her daypack. ‘We’re taking the tram to the top of Victoria Peak first of all. I hope the weather stays like this because the views will be stunning. Then we’re going to some markets and having lunch, and after that it says we’re off to the botanic gardens and the zoo and then we’re flying to Shanghai.’

  ‘That sounds exhausting,’ Millie mumbled. She fell back on the bed and snuggled under the duvet.

  ‘You can’t sleep now,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘I need an update on some of the sights we should be looking out for from your guidebook, and breakfast is in half an hour. We have to pack our bags too and take them with us. I’ll have first shower, if you like.’

  There was a knock on the door. Alice-Miranda walked over and stood on the tips of her toes to look through the peephole. It was Lawrence. She undid the latch and opened the door with a smile. ‘Good morning, Uncle Lawrence, you’re up early. Is everything all right?’ She wondered why he was looking so serious.

  ‘May I come in for a tick?’ he asked, wiping some crumbs from the side of his mouth.

  ‘Of course. Is there something the matter?’ Alice-Miranda asked.

  Lawrence walked into the room and waved to Millie. ‘To be honest, I’m not sure. I’ve just had a call from Benny Choo. He wanted to know what you and Summer talked about.’

  ‘Why would he want to know that?’ Millie said.

  Alice-Miranda thought for a moment. ‘Well, let’s see. We told her how clever she was and how much we admired her bravery and Jacinta hugged the poor girl like there was no tomorrow. Why? What’s happened?’

  ‘He didn’t say exactly,’ Lawrence said, scratching his head. ‘In fact, he was being quite mysterious. Why would he call me at this hour to ask what you talked about?’

  Alice-Miranda frowned, recalling the strange look that had passed between her and Summer after the girl was asked whether she liked being in the circus. ‘There was one thing,’ Alice-Miranda said, ‘but I may have just imagined it.’

  ‘What was it?’ Millie asked, sitting up with interest.

  ‘It was a feeling more than anything,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘It was probably nothing.’

  Millie’s mind raced with possibilities. ‘Maybe Summer hates being in the circus,’ she said excitedly. ‘Can you imagine how hard they must train to be as good as they are? Perhaps she’s run away.’

  ‘Golly, I hope not,’ Lawrence said. ‘Anyway, I told Benny I’d call him back once I spoke to you, so I’ll see if I can get anything more out of him.’

  ‘How well do you know Mr Choo?’ Alice-Miranda asked.

  ‘About as well as you really know anyone in Hollywood. In some ways I owe him my career. He took a big risk when he cast me in The Lobster trilogy – nobody had any idea who I was back then – and I don’t know if I’d be anywhere these days without having had that opportunity,’ Lawrence said. ‘But to be fair, he made an absolute killing on those movies, which is just as well because I’m sure he hasn’t had any good earners since then. I’m relieved I passed on a role he offered me in order to play Vector instead. His movie tanked while Vector turned out brilliantly for me.’

  ‘Have you worked with him again?’ Millie asked.

  ‘Sadly not. He keeps sending me scripts, but they’ve all been pretty terrible. Anyway, I should let you get ready, or Miss Grimm will be more cross with me than she was last night. I’d better not wander off anywhere without telling her in future. I’ll see you at breakfast,’ Lawrence said, and walked out the door.

  Millie looked at her friend. ‘So what was this feeling you mentioned?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Alice-Miranda said, ‘but there’s something bothering me. I just wish I could work out what it is.’

  ‘You know, you’re usually right when it comes to your strange feelings,’ Millie said as she hopped out of bed.

  Alice-Miranda grabbed some clean clothes from her suitcase. ‘Well, I hope I’m wrong this time. Summer is so talented and quite the sweetest girl. I’d hate to think she was in any trouble.’

  Caprice yawned and rubbed her sleepy eyes. Whoever was in the room next door to her and her mother had snored like a jet engine all night. She’d vowed to find out who it was and make sure that they were nowhere near them in the next hotel.

  ‘You look tired,’ Sloane commented as the group stood on the platform waiting for the tram.

  ‘Yeah, you’ve got bags under your eyes,’ Figgy chimed in.

  ‘As big as my suitcase,’ Rufus added.<
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  Caprice shot them a fierce glare. ‘You would too if someone had kept you awake all night with their snoring.’

  ‘It was probably us,’ Rufus said, grinning. ‘We were in room three-oh-one.’

  ‘We were miles away,’ Caprice said, ‘in three-six-nine at the end of the corridor – so there was only one room next to us.’

  Figgy and Rufus had already lost interest in the conversation and skived off to see whether they could coax a free drink from a vending machine they’d spotted.

  ‘Oh, we were in three-six …’ Sloane stopped suddenly, realising that she and her mother had been in the room beside Caprice and Venetia. ‘Six,’ she fibbed. ‘Three-six-six, down the hall.’

  Sloane hadn’t heard a thing last night. It must have been her mother, she thought, because if it wasn’t, that could only mean one thing and that was too awful to contemplate.

  Further along the platform, Jacinta had just finished telling her mother that acrobatics was the future direction she wanted to take. Ambrosia wasn’t sure if she liked the idea – it seemed even more dangerous than gymnastics – but there was no point getting into an argument about it now. Jacinta had been on edge for weeks, something Ambrosia had put down to the moodiness of growing up. The woman was relieved when Alice-Miranda interrupted their discussion and even more pleased to see Venetia and Mr Grump arrive on the platform with two trays of takeaway coffees for the adults. She promptly excused herself from the girls and went to get one.

  ‘Is everything all right with you and your mother?’ Alice-Miranda asked, having noticed the serious expression on Ambrosia’s face before she’d walked away.

  Jacinta nodded. ‘I just told her I’m going to be an acrobat. I don’t think she’s that keen on the idea, but that’s her problem. She can’t stop me.’

  Alice-Miranda relayed her early-morning visit from Lawrence and the odd conversation he’d had with Mr Choo about Summer.

  ‘I can’t stop thinking about her,’ Jacinta sighed dreamily. ‘She’s my idol.’

  ‘Did you talk to Lucas this morning?’ Alice-Miranda asked.

  Jacinta shook her head. The boy was standing with Lawrence, who was eating a very large custard bun. ‘I will, though,’ she promised.

  ‘Hey,’ Millie called, and aimed her camera at the girls. ‘Smile!’

  The tram pulled up and the children and adults piled into the carriage. When everyone was safely on board, the tram lurched forward and soon began its ascent. Victoria Peak loomed large in the distance.

  ‘Whoa, this thing’s cool,’ Figgy declared as he tried to force open the window.

  ‘Sit down, George!’ Miss Grimm barked. ‘You need to keep your body inside the carriage at all times. You can take photographs through the glass.’

  Alice-Miranda nabbed a seat beside her uncle. She was eager to find out if he knew anything more about Summer. Millie squeezed in beside her.

  ‘Did you speak with Mr Choo?’ Alice-Miranda asked.

  ‘No, I’ve left a message for him,’ Lawrence said. ‘Did she tell you how old she was?’

  Alice-Miranda shook her head. ‘No, but I wouldn’t have thought she was more than thirteen. It must be quite a burden to work so hard and carry a sold-out show at such a young age.’

  ‘The poor girl’s probably exhausted,’ Millie said. ‘Maybe they make her do loads of jobs on top of being the star of the show. What if she has to cook and clean and sew costumes and stuff, like a slave? She’s probably run off so she can have a rest.’

  Alice-Miranda frowned. ‘I think your imagination might be getting the better of you, Millie. Mr Choo seems like a very nice man and lots of fun too.’

  ‘Yes, Benny’s a good fellow,’ Lawrence said.

  ‘I hope Mr Choo calls back soon, though,’ Alice-Miranda said. Despite not wanting to give any credence to Millie’s fanciful notions, Alice-Miranda knew she’d feel much better once she was sure the girl was safe and sound. She looked at her uncle. ‘Have you talked to Aunt Charlotte?’

  Lawrence nodded, and pulled a chocolate bar from his pocket. ‘She and your mother are run off their feet. The twins are keeping them very busy.’

  Alice-Miranda grinned. ‘I bet. I can’t wait to see them again. We’ll have to make sure that we spend all of the long holidays together, or the next thing you know they’ll be at school. I don’t want to miss them in that cute toddler stage.’

  ‘Cute toddler stage?’ Lawrence tilted his head. ‘That’s one way to put it. I’m surprised you didn’t hear Imogen’s tantrum the other night – I know half of Beverly Hills did. I think she’s destined to be a singer because she’s already a diva, that’s for sure. The funny thing is, Marcus is the opposite. He is the calmest child you’ll ever meet. He just stared at her and, at one point, I could have sworn he shook his head.’

  ‘I bet you’ve never had a tantrum,’ Millie said, looking at Alice-Miranda.

  ‘Of course I did,’ the girl replied.

  ‘When?’ Millie challenged. ‘Can you remember one?’

  The girl thought for a moment. ‘Um … Oh, I know. When I was four, Mrs Oliver and I made a cake for Mummy’s birthday and I insisted on carrying it to the table outside, where we were going to have a picnic. At the time we had a horrible goose called Gertrude, who lived on the lake beyond the garden wall. She spotted me and gave chase, nipping at my bottom. I tripped and sent the cake flying and it splattered all over the grass. She ate it up too, the naughty thing. You should have seen my meltdown.’

  Millie rolled her eyes. ‘That’s not a tantrum. That’s doing something nice and a stupid goose attacking you. Anyone would have been upset. Seriously, it’s like you were born a grown-up. I’ve had so many tantrums I couldn’t even pick the best one, although I grew out of them before I started at boarding school, unlike some of our friends,’ she said, grinning at Jacinta, who was in the seat ahead of them.

  Jacinta turned around. ‘What? I don’t have them anymore,’ she said. ‘And at least I was only ever known as the school’s second best tantrum thrower, which is an honour I’m happy to hold on to. I mean, there aren’t many girls who can lay claim to that.’

  Alice-Miranda giggled as she recalled her first meeting with Jacinta, when the girl was sitting on the floor of the gymnasium and squealing with the might of ten elephants.

  ‘I know,’ Jacinta said, reading Alice-Miranda’s mind. ‘Who’d have thought we’d ever end up being such good friends?’

  Alice-Miranda leaned forward and squeezed the girl’s shoulder. ‘I’m glad we are.’

  The tram continued along, climbing higher and higher. The terrain alternated between being steep and flat, and the views were stunning.

  ‘What are we doing when we get to the top?’ Sloane asked no one in particular.

  ‘We’ll have a quick look around and then we have to go back again,’ Miss Reedy said.

  ‘Why did we bother coming all the way up here, then?’ Rufus Pemberley complained from the other side of the carriage.

  September Sykes couldn’t have agreed more. She’d tried to sneak off and get in some shopping that morning, but when she’d asked the hotel concierge the best places to go, she’d been told that the stores didn’t open until ten o’clock. What was the point of being in Hong Kong if she couldn’t at least max out each and every one of Smedley’s credit cards? Not that he seemed to care about her spending these days, ever since he and Leonard Nordstrom’s property development business had begun to go gangbusters.

  September had always been disappointed that her husband had missed out on the compere’s role on her favourite game show, Winners Are Grinners. It had been a huge let-down when he’d had to make a career flogging vacuum cleaners on the home shopping channel, but all that had changed when they moved to Spain and money was no longer such a source of conflict for the pair of them. Her husband was a lot happier these days and she was too – especially now she could shop without getting told off all the time.

  ‘What are we doing after that?�
� Rufus called out.

  Miss Reedy exhaled loudly. ‘If you’d been listening this morning, you’d already know,’ she bit. Her husband reached over and patted her hand.

  ‘Don’t let the boy get to you, darling,’ he soothed. ‘Let’s just enjoy the day.’

  ‘We’re going to the Ladies Market in Kowloon,’ Sloane said.

  September tingled with excitement. ‘Finally, some good news.’

  ‘What about the men’s market?’ Figgy griped. ‘I don’t want to look at handbags all afternoon.’

  ‘There will be a range of goods, George – it’s not strictly for women. Perhaps you could buy a gift for your mother,’ Miss Reedy suggested. ‘It’s also an opportunity to learn the fine art of haggling. Anyway, we won’t have a lot of time for shopping as we’ll take a tour of the botanic gardens and zoo at lunchtime. Now –’ she looked around the carriage at the students – ‘it’s very important that you stick with your groups in the markets as I’m sure it will be busy and we don’t want anyone getting lost. We’re flying out at half past five to Shanghai and I don’t plan on missing that plane.’

  September rolled her eyes. ‘Great.’

  The views from Victoria Peak were every bit as good as the group had hoped, with vistas extending back across the city and to the islands. Millie took masses of photographs, although she was just as interested in the people as the scenery and found herself snapping sneaky shots of the adventurous fashion statements.

  Ambrosia Headlington-Bear caught her spying on a couple of very stylish young women. ‘I love that look too,’ she whispered to the girl. ‘Maybe I could use some of your pictures for an article I’m writing about upcoming fashion trends in China.’

  ‘Sure thing.’ Millie snapped away with renewed vigour. ‘But I have to warn you: my rates are pretty high these days.’

  Ambrosia grinned. ‘It looks like Miss Reedy wants a group shot,’ she said, pointing at the woman, who was gesturing at the children to come together.

  ‘Goodness me,’ Livinia remarked. ‘Hurry up, everyone.’ She felt like she was herding cats. She’d just about have them all in place when someone would wander off. Finally, the teacher passed her camera to a tiny woman wearing a large electric-blue sun visor, a shimmery gold top dotted with diamantes and the skinniest of skinny jeans. She had on the most outrageous platform wedges made of denim and lace. Gold bracelets and crystals dripped from the woman’s slender arms, and her bleached hair was pulled back into a high ponytail.