Alice-Miranda at Camp 10
Read Alice-Miranda at Camp 10 Online
Authors: Jacqueline Harvey
Alice-Miranda and her schoolmates are going on camp. There are sleep outs, treasure hunts and so many other activities to look forward to! However, it's not all fun and games. Alice-Miranda and Millie will need to keep a close eye on Caprice, the school's newest student, who seems determined to cause trouble.
Next door to the camp is Pelham Park, where Alice-Miranda's father, Hugh, grew up. These days, Hugh's beautiful old house serves as a retirement home but when some startling objects are uncovered in its cellar, the peaceful estate is turned upside down. With help from a much-loved relative, Alice-Miranda sets out to investigate.
For Ian, who made one school camp
especially memorable, and for Sandy,
who would love that we've come so far.
The grandfather clock chimed two as the man made his way along the empty corridor towards the back staircase. Dust danced on the moonbeams that shone through the window at the end of the hall, lighting his path. Somewhere in the inky darkness outside a beast howled, but the house and its occupants slept on.
When he reached the ground floor, the man entered the disused kitchen. He passed the ancient cooker and empty cupboards and went through
the butler's pantry to a locked door. He fumbled about in his dressing-gown pocket, retrieved a key and turned it in the lock. Then he closed the door behind him, pressed the button on the tiny torch in his other hand and walked down, down, down until another door blocked his path. This one required a different key. A moment later, safely on the other side, he flicked the switch on the wall.
A golden glow lit the space around him.
âGood evening, Sidney.' He nodded at the polar bear. The giant taxidermied beast stood guard over a jumble of antiques and household goods that had long ago been banished to the cellars. The man wove his way through the cast-offs, acknowledging several more trophy creatures. In the far corner of the room he pulled aside a thick black curtain to reveal a large metal door. With his glasses perched on the tip of his nose, he leaned down and turned the circular lock, listening for the clicks. One, eight, six, four. As he pulled on the handle, a blast of cool air escaped. He reached around and flicked a switch, then waited as a bank of fluorescent lights stuttered to life.
Inside, the vault walls were a jigsaw of paintings in heavily gilded frames. On the floor, rows upon rows of V-shaped racks contained yet more,
smaller treasures. He shuffled past several racks before something caught his eye. He wondered why it seemed so out of place. His once-sharp memories often felt as blurred as the Impressionist landscapes he loved so much, but surely this was just his weary mind playing tricks. He shook his head, trying to focus, then looked across and spotted what he was searching for.
He lifted the painting out and propped it on the lone easel in the room.
The folding chair was hidden in an alcove, just as he'd left it. With its faded stripes and worn seat, its picnic days were a distant memory. He positioned the chair in front of the painting then sat down and stared into the glowing canvas. JMW Turner's landscapes had always been his favourite.
He pulled a chocolate from his pocket and slowly peeled the golden wrapper. As he popped the confection into his mouth, he didn't notice the foil flutter to the floor.
Minutes became an hour and the alarm on his watch beeped. He returned the chair to its original position and the painting to its rack.
Back in the cellar, he pulled the vault door and spun the dial, then retraced his steps up to the butler's
pantry, locking the doors behind him. He stepped carefully across the kitchen flagstones, climbed the back stairs, and walked silently to his apartment, avoiding the squeaky floor boards that might rouse his slumbering neighbours. Then he climbed into bed and fell into a deep, deep sleep.
As Alice-Miranda and Millie approached the music room on their way to afternoon tea, they heard the most extraordinary sound. A voice, as smooth as honey and just as rich, floated into the hallway.
âIs that Jacinta?' Millie asked.
Alice-Miranda shook her head. âNo, wouldn't she be at Caledonia Manor with the year sevens?'
Millie nodded. âI suppose so, but it doesn't sound like Sloane either. It must be one of the new girls. What a voice! They'll definitely hate her, you know.'
âWho'll hate her?' Alice-Miranda asked.
âJacinta and Sloane, of course,' said Millie.
Alice-Miranda grinned. âMillie, you know that's not true. But I think Mr Lipp's going to want whoever it is in the choir.'
Just as the girls reached the open door, the soloist stopped. Alice-Miranda and Millie peeked into the room.
Mr Trout was sitting at the grand piano clasping his hands together. âBravo, my dear. That was beautiful, absolutely beautiful!'
Miss Reedy was standing beside him. A tall girl had her back to the door. âIs that the piece you sang for the National Eisteddfod?' the English teacher asked.
âYes,' the girl replied with a nod.
Mr Trout beamed. âWhat an accomplishment to win the open category at your age.'
The girl shrugged.
Miss Reedy glanced over at the doorway and spotted Alice-Miranda and Millie. âOh girls, perfect timing. Come and meet Caprice Radford.'
The pair hurried into the room as the willowy girl turned and looked at them. She had a long mane of copper-coloured hair, with a blunt fringe
framing sparkling sapphire-blue eyes. Her pale skin was luminous and Alice-Miranda thought she was probably about ten or eleven years old.
Alice-Miranda stepped forward and held out her hand. âHello, my name's Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones and I'm very pleased to meet you.'
âI'm Caprice Radford,' the girl replied. She reached out and gave Alice-Miranda's hand a shake as limp as a fish.
The group looked expectantly at Millie, who for a moment seemed to have fallen under some sort of hypnotic spell.
âOh, me?' the girl blathered. âI'm just Millie.' She hadn't meant to stare but the newcomer was ridiculously pretty.
âHi,' Caprice said, looking the flame-haired child up and down.
âCaprice arrived after lunch and we've been having a tour of the school. It was fortunate that we ran into Mr Trout and Caprice told him about her singing. I don't know if you heard any of it, but she's marvellous,' Miss Reedy gasped.
Alice-Miranda and Millie nodded. âYes, we heard,' Alice-Miranda said.
âGirls, would you please take Caprice to afternoon tea and then to the boarding house?' asked Miss Reedy. âMr Trout and I have a meeting to attend.'
âOf course, Miss Reedy,' Alice-Miranda replied. She paused, frowning. âOh. I just remembered I have to collect a sports shirt from Miss Wall. Millie, could you take Caprice and I'll meet you there in a minute?'
âSure,' Millie said as Alice-Miranda shot off.
âThanks, girls. We'll see you later,' Miss Reedy said.
Caprice followed Millie to the door then turned and smiled at the teachers. âI'm really looking forward to singing in the choir, Mr Trout. Please keep me in mind for some of the solos if you think I might be good enough.' She fluttered her long eyelashes.
âOh, absolutely.' Cornelius Trout felt a tingle run the length of his spine. He couldn't remember ever hearing such a prodigious talent before.
âWhat a charming girl,' Miss Reedy said loudly.
âYes, indeed,' Mr Trout agreed.
A smug smile settled on Caprice's face as she joined Millie in the corridor. The two girls walked to the door at the end of the hallway and out into the sunny courtyard.
âDo you have singing lessons?' Millie asked.
âNo,' Caprice replied sharply.
âReally? Your voice is amazing,' said Millie.
âEveryone says that,' Caprice said matter-of-factly. âIt gets
so
boring after a while.'
âI don't think it would be boring to be able to sing like you,' Millie said.
Caprice shot Millie a pitying stare. âI guess you'll never know.'
Millie looked at the girl. What she said was true, but considering Caprice had never heard her sing, it seemed an odd thing to say.
âThe dining room's over there.' Millie pointed at the freshly painted blue door.
The place was buzzing with students swapping stories of their holidays and moaning about the amount of work some of their teachers had already set. After all, they'd only arrived back yesterday and today was the first day of lessons. The pair joined the end of the long line at the servery.
âWhere did you go to school before here?' Millie asked.
âLots of places,' Caprice replied.
Millie wondered what that meant. âDid your parents move around a lot?'
âNo,' Caprice snapped. âWhy would you think that?'
Millie wondered what she'd said to upset her. The girl's sunny nature seemed to have turned decidedly dark.
âWhy did you change schools then?' Millie asked.
âYou ask a lot of questions. If you must know, I won the academic scholarship, and the work at my old schools was always way too easy. Miss Grimm promised that I could do my lessons with the older girls so I don't get bored, but I probably will.'
âAlice-Miranda does a lot of extension work,' Millie said.
âDoes she have a scholarship too?' Caprice asked.
Millie shook her head.
âWell, she can't be that smart then,' Caprice scoffed.
âYes, she is,' Millie retorted. She was growing wary of this beautiful and âbrilliant' new student. âAlice-Miranda is the smartest girl in the whole school.'
âReally? We'll see about that.' Caprice folded her arms and turned her back.