Alice-Miranda on Vacation (18 page)

“I don’t know what you mean,” said Lawrence a little uneasily.

“Well, I don’t usually spy on people nor mind their business, but I know you met someone in the garden that night.” Alice-Miranda spoke gently. “Jacinta saw you leaving the house and so she came and woke me up and then we followed you.”

“You did what?” Lawrence snapped.

“I am sorry. Jacinta wanted to tell Mummy and Daddy because she’s convinced that you are up to no good, but I told her that there had to be a perfectly reasonable explanation for why you were romping around in the garden after midnight. So we haven’t said anything to anyone—well, except Millie, but she’s very good at keeping secrets too,” Alice-Miranda prattled. “I came to see you the next morning but you’d already gone out. The window was open and there were papers all over the floor. I promise I didn’t read them … but I couldn’t help seeing that you had a letter from someone named Kitty.”

Lawrence looked defeated. “Yes, you’re right, Alice-Miranda. It wasn’t a coincidence that I ran into your father at the club, nor that I ended up at your house that night. But I promise you, there
is
a very good explanation for my behavior.” His dark
eyes met Alice-Miranda’s. There was something about her, something wise and warm, which for some strange reason made him suddenly want to tell her everything. “If I tell you, you mustn’t say a word,” Lawrence begged. “It’s all rather complicated, and I suspect I might be about to make it even more so.”

“Of course.” Alice-Miranda listened as he shared his secrets.

A few minutes later, her round eyes were wider than ever. “Oh,” she breathed. “Now it all makes sense.”

Millie and Charlotte appeared at the rear door of the pub. “Are you two ever coming inside?” Charlotte asked.

“I’m starving,” Millie called.

“We’re coming,” Alice-Miranda replied as she gave Bonaparte a rub behind his ears.

Lawrence got down on one knee to face Alice-Miranda. “So, we’re good?”

“Of course, Mr. Ridley. Your secrets are safe with me.” She smiled.

B
y the time the riding party arrived back at Highton Hall, everything and everyone was in place. The guests were under strict instructions to remain out of sight until six-thirty p.m., when they were to gather in the formal dining room. Their cars had been hidden behind the stables, in sheds and garages. Hugh was to bring Charlotte to the drawing room for drinks at exactly six o’clock, via the back stairs, where just the family and staff would be waiting.

Alice-Miranda and Millie found Jacinta in Alice-Miranda’s bedroom. She was looking at the dresses
Cecelia had had sent up for her and Millie to choose from.

“Hello, how was your ride?” Jacinta asked as she heard the girls come through the door.

“It was great fun,” Millie replied. “We had a race and I won—but only by a nose—and that’s only because Phinnie has the longest nose I’ve ever seen on a pony. I don’t think she’d be in the running for any beauty contests, that’s for sure,” she laughed.

“Poor Phinnie. I think she’s beautiful anyway—and she’s certainly a lot better behaved than Bonaparte,” Alice-Miranda added. “Did you go for your run?”

“Yes. And I heard some people arguing in the garden at Rose Cottage—it was very strange. I couldn’t work out what it was about. But I think it might have something to do with Mr. Ridley,” she began.

“I don’t think so,” Alice-Miranda replied.

“Why? Did you ask him what he was doing out in the garden at midnight?” Jacinta sat down on the edge of her bed.

“We had a talk and I can assure you he’s done nothing wrong. He asked me not to say anything and I promised.”

“Come on,” Jacinta begged. “That’s not fair. I told you about the argument at the cottage.”

“No, Jacinta, I made a promise.”

“Leave it, Jacinta,” Millie interrupted. “We’re going to a party, and I for one plan to have a wonderful evening.”

“He’s probably lying—just so you won’t suspect anything,” Jacinta huffed and rolled her eyes. “He’s far too good-looking to be trusted, you know.”

Alice-Miranda smothered a smile and tried to distract her friend. “Have you chosen a dress?”

“Yes—what do you think of this one?” Jacinta held up a beautiful mauve silk with a pretty round neckline and layered short sleeves that looked like petals.

“It’s lovely.” Alice-Miranda walked to her wardrobe and began to look through her own clothes.

“What do you think of this one for me?” Millie picked up an emerald-colored dress with a fitted bodice and organza skirt. There were delicate ribbon bows appliquéd around the hemline. She held it against her.

“That color looks amazing with your hair,” Alice-Miranda enthused. “You should definitely wear that—it’s splendid.” She turned back to the wardrobe, and pulled out a pink dress with a wide white sash around the middle. It had a long layered skirt.

“And you should definitely wear that one.” Jacinta nodded at Alice-Miranda.

The girls took turns having showers and helped each other get dressed. Cecelia appeared in the most gorgeous floor-length pink gown—empire line with a black bow sitting just under the bust and the most amazing ruffled sleeves. The girls all commented that she looked like a supermodel. Hair was then dried and styled and the girls were ready to head downstairs.

Hugh Kennington-Jones met the girls in the hallway. “Look at you lot! Turn.” His finger pirouetted, motioning for the girls to do the same. “Lovely, lovely, lovely. You too, darling.” He took Cecelia’s hand and kissed it gently. “Beautiful.”

Hugh looked rather dashing himself. He was a striking man, with olive skin and thick salt-and-pepper hair. Dressed in a stylish tuxedo, he looked every inch the lord of the manor.

It was quarter to six. In the drawing room spirits were high as Mr. and Mrs. Greening, Mrs. Oliver and Millie’s grandfather, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Shillingsworth allowed themselves to be waited on by the staff that had been hired especially for the evening. Lily and Heinrich were there too, and Daisy and Granny Bert. Poppy and Jasper were wandering around the room admiring the myriad bits and pieces that had been collected over hundreds of
years. Alice-Miranda’s grandmother had yet to join the party, but it was her trademark to be late.

Mrs. Oliver turned and saw the girls and Hugh and Cecelia at the door. “Don’t you all look lovely!”

“Such pretty dresses,” Mrs. Greening added.

“Is that really my granddaughter over there?” Ambrose squinted.

Millie playfully poked out her tongue, then ran to give the old man a hug. “It’s not my usual style, I know,” Millie said, and curtsied. “But it is fun to dress up once in a while.”

Alice-Miranda walked over to Jasper but was immediately pounced upon by Poppy.

“Where’s Lucas?” Jacinta asked as she joined them.

“He didn’t come,” Jasper replied. “Said something about it not being his thing.”

“That’s a pity,” Jacinta said, and frowned. “I thought I might have talked him into it this afternoon.”

At that moment Charlotte and Lawrence appeared in the doorway. Charlotte was beautiful in a blue Grecian-style gown, and Lawrence looked every inch the movie star in his tuxedo.

“Well, here comes the birthday girl,” Granny Bert bleated.

“It’s not until tomorrow, Granny,” Charlotte said.
“But I’m so glad everyone could be here tonight to celebrate. This is wonderful.”

She moved around and said hello to everyone, introducing Lawrence too. Jacinta noticed Daisy standing on the other side of the room. Her lips were pursed and she kept looking around, as if expecting to see someone. Jacinta wondered if it might have been Daisy she had overheard in the garden.

“Hello, Granny Bert, this is my friend Millie,” said Alice-Miranda.

“A pleasure to meet you, Sophie,” Granny replied. “Perhaps you’d like to come and visit me. Alice-Miranda says that she will but she doesn’t. Would you be a dear and ask that waitress over there to bring me another glass of lime and soda—I’m rather parched,” Granny complained. “Oh, and bring me my purse, Alice-Miranda—I’ve left half my lipstick on the side of that glass. It’s meant to stay on all day. Those cosmetic companies tell such lies.”

“I see Granny is her usual happy, mixed-up self,” Jacinta commented to Alice-Miranda.

“Wait until the dancing starts—then she’ll really get going,” Alice-Miranda giggled, and headed off to find the waitress.

When Granny Highton-Smith finally arrived, Hugh walked to the center of the room. He tapped
the side of his glass with a spoon and the crowd fell silent.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for sharing this auspicious occasion, that being the eve of my beautiful sister-in-law’s birthday. I won’t tell you which one because a lady never tells her age and if her brother-in-law reveals it, he will be in serious trouble with all female members of the family—and if you haven’t noticed, I am a little outnumbered.”

There was a titter of laughter around the room.

“And so, let’s raise a toast to our darling Charlotte.”

“Darling Charlotte,” the room echoed.

“And now, might I suggest we head to the dining room. I don’t know about you lot but I could eat a horse,” Hugh laughed.

“That’s probably what you’ll get,” Mrs. Oliver tutted, still not quite over the fact that she hadn’t been allowed to cook for the occasion.

The group moved through to the main foyer and the dining room—where the doors were still closed.

“Goodness me, Shilly,” Hugh called. “I know you’re always worried when we have new staff in, but did you really need to lock the place up?” He threw her a dramatic curious glance. Charlotte was standing beside Hugh and Lawrence as he pushed open the giant cedar doors.

“SURPRISE!” the room erupted.

Charlotte was speechless. “Oh my goodness!” She turned to her sister. “However did you arrange all this?” She hugged Cecelia.

“Well, we thought you wouldn’t mind,” Cee whispered.

“Mind? This is amazing.” Charlotte took a step forward. “Hello, everyone—hello.”

The room grew noisy as the guests talked among themselves. Charlotte moved around to greet everyone. “Wow—I can’t believe you’re here.… I thought you were still overseas … and you knew about this for how long?”

Alice-Miranda and the girls had been charged with the job of making everyone feel at home. Millie headed straight for a lady wearing a black gown and a ruby and diamond tiara.

“Hello, I’m Millie.” She curtsied. “What a lovely tiara.”

“Aren’t you a darling?” the woman replied. “Please call me Aunty Gee. It’s very nice to meet you, Millie.”

Millicent studied the woman’s face carefully and decided that she must be Mrs. Oliver’s sister—they could have been twins.

The room buzzed. For the moment nobody noticed the handsome stranger talking with Daisy in the
corner. Only Granny Bert recognized Mr. Blunt, the man who had been writing the book about the Hall. She thought it was lovely that the Highton-Smith-Kennington-Joneses had invited him. They must have approved of his work.

T
he room was bustling with over one hundred guests. Old family friends mingled with Charlotte’s school pals and the rest of the household. Young Max looked dashing in his borrowed tuxedo, even though he kept tugging at the bow tie and complaining to Cyril that it felt like a straitjacket. Shilly looked stunning in a navy blue gown, which was complemented by a Cartier diamond necklace borrowed from Granny Highton-Smith. Mrs. Oliver wore a striking black Valentino dress with a long strand of South Sea pearls. Mrs. Smith had selected a fire-engine-red Chanel frock, which Granny had
worn once before to the opera. The entire staff looked magnificent.

Mrs. Oliver could not remember ever laughing so much, as Ambrose McLaughlin-McTavish kept her well and truly amused. Mrs. Smith seemed to have her hands full too, as she received more than her fair share of attention from crusty old Lord Gisborne.

“So tell me,” Lord Gisborne said. “I hear that Mrs. Oliver’s been busy in the cellars lately.”

“Oh yes, she’s a trick.” Mrs. Smith fiddled with the stem of her champagne flute. “I’ve never known such a talent—well, except perhaps Alice-Miranda. Did you know that Mrs. Oliver has perfected the Freeze-Dried Foods formula? I think Mr. Kennington-Jones is just about to sign contracts to have it shipped all over the world. My goodness, the woman could almost single-handedly bring an end to malnutrition and starvation. She’s a genius,” Mrs. Smith went on. She was far more talkative than usual.