Alice-Miranda on Vacation (22 page)

B
ack at the Hall, Alice-Miranda, Jacinta and Daisy had reached the cellar. Alice-Miranda explained about Mr. Blunt and his attempt to capture the girls and lock them in the bathroom.

When she told everyone about the gun, her mother almost fainted.

“Oh, darling, you could have been hurt—or worse.” Cecelia hugged Alice-Miranda tightly.

“I don’t think so,” Jacinta piped up. “Alice-Miranda was so brave. I was bawling like a baby but she wasn’t even scared.”

“That’s my girl.” Her father beamed.

“And Daddy, there are lots of tunnels leading
out from the cellar here,” Alice-Miranda informed them.

“How do you know that?” he asked.

“Because my doll’s house is such a perfect replica of the Hall, I thought that it might even have the cellar, and guess what? It does. Jacinta drew a plan.” She unfolded the piece of paper. “Look, there are seven tunnels and they go all over the estate and even to Rose Cottage.”

“So that’s why Mr. Blunt was so interested in seeing the cottage and the plans,” Daisy whispered.

Through a haze of tears, Daisy managed to explain that Mr. Blunt had introduced himself to her and Granny as an historian who was writing a book about the Hall. He’d had a number of meetings with Granny, who’d even found a set of old plans of the Hall in the attic to show him. But Granny enjoyed his company so much that she wouldn’t let him take the plans away with him. At first Daisy had found him most charming, but she had grown suspicious after she overheard him out in the garden talking on the phone about Mrs. Oliver and FDF.

“I confronted him and asked what he was really up to and he got very angry and said that if I didn’t cooperate, he could make people disappear. He showed me his gun, so I knew he was serious. He kept on
talking about Alice-Miranda and asking me how much everyone would miss her. I was so scared I didn’t know what to do,” Daisy said, weeping.

“You poor, poor girl.” Mrs. Oliver reached out to hold her hand.

“I knew zat man vas up to no good. Jasper told me about zum fellow who vas poking around in ze machinery shed. I should have paid more attention,” Heinrich tutted to himself.

Daisy regained her composure and continued. “And then I found another set of plans, for Rose Cottage and the stables and the gatehouse, so I hid them where I never thought anyone would find them—in the crisper in the fridge.”

“And I think I might have accidentally delivered them to Mr. Blunt when I found them and put them on the kitchen table,” Alice-Miranda confessed. “I thought Granny was losing her mind and putting things away in strange places.”

“Then Granny couldn’t help herself and told him all about the party. He insisted on coming. I wanted to tell you but I couldn’t bear the thought of what he might do,” Daisy sobbed.

Alice-Miranda put her arm around the young woman’s waist. “It’s not your fault, Daisy. Mr. Blunt’s a brute.”

“Well, come on,” said Hugh. He strode toward the area where a tunnel supposedly linked to Rose Cottage. “Let’s see what we can find.”

Mrs. Oliver looked on as the rest of the group ran their hands across the walls and searched for any sign of a passageway. Millie was crawling along the floor when her knee came down on a wobbly cobblestone. There was a loud grating noise of brick on brick and slowly a section of wall slid back to reveal a wide tunnel.

“We’ve found it!” the girls chorused.

Peering into the gray half-light, they could make out a figure in the distance. It was coming closer.

“I hope it’s not one of Mr. Blunt’s associates,” whispered Mrs. Oliver. She bit her lip.

Alice-Miranda squinted. “My gosh, I think it’s Aunty Gee.” She turned around to face the expectant audience, then peered back into the darkness. “It
is
Aunty Gee!”

Alice-Miranda rushed into the tunnel. A few minutes later she emerged with the Queen by her side.

“Oh, ma’am, what a relief,” Mrs. Oliver cried.

“Are you all right, Aunty Gee?” Cecelia asked, and took her by the hand.

“Yes, yes, just a few cobwebs, and I suspect my bunions will play up a treat tomorrow. It’s quite a
long way back from wherever those ghastly men took me.” She snorted.

“Did they hurt you at all, ma’am?” Dalton asked worriedly. He took her handbag and tiara.

“No. It wasn’t me they were after at all. It was poor Dolly here. I hate to imagine what they might have done to you to get that formula.” Aunty Gee’s lips drew into a thin line.

“Yes, and I bet I know who the mastermind is.” Hugh sighed in disgust. “I’d put my life on there being no new player with an identical formula.” He looked at Cecelia. “I’m sure they were just bluffing until they could get their hands on our Dolly.”

Hugh didn’t say so, but he was rather glad that they had taken Aunty Gee. If they’d got their hands on Mrs. Oliver, who knew what they might have done to her.

“I am so sorry, ma’am. I can’t believe that they mistook me for you,” Mrs. Oliver cried.

“Oh, Dolly, I can, dear. Look at us—we could be twins, and especially tonight with you in that lovely Valentino. I was rather hoping you might let me borrow it sometime.” Her Majesty smiled.

“How did you get away, Aunty Gee?” Alice-Miranda asked, wide-eyed.

“Well, let’s just say that Lord Percy Gisborne will
be finding an alternative source of income for a very long time to come,” she replied, arching her eyebrow.

The group mouthed a synchronized silent “Oh!”

“It appears your kidnappers were not acting alone. Alice-Miranda and Jacinta have a Mr. Blunt tied up in one of the bathrooms upstairs,” Hugh explained.

“Clever girls.” Aunty Gee smiled.

“Shouldn’t we call the police?” Jacinta asked.

“No, dear,” Her Majesty answered. “I think we’ll deal with this ourselves.” She nodded at Hugh. “If this gets back to the palace, I’ll never enjoy another moment alone for the rest of my life.” Aunty Gee glared at Dalton, who nodded like a jack-in-the-box. “And girls”—Aunty Gee looked at Alice-Miranda, Jacinta and Millie now—“I know I don’t have to tell you how important it is that this incident never be spoken of again. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Aunty Gee,” Alice-Miranda and Millie chorused. Millie then gave a rather wonky curtsy, at which Aunty Gee couldn’t help but smile.

Jacinta, however, had remained tight-lipped. The whole group turned their attention in her direction.

“Oh, all
right
,” Jacinta reluctantly agreed. “Nothing interesting ever happens to me—and this is so much more exciting than all the silly things Mummy does—and now I can’t even tell anyone!”

“No, dear, you mustn’t tell anyone.” Aunty Gee was stern. “Not ever.”

“Heinrich, would you mind dealing with Blunt?” Hugh asked. “It sounds like he may require some medical attention. Take him out the back and I’ll phone through to Dr. Marsh in the village. He’s a confidential man. And then you can drop Blunt off at the police station and let them know you caught him breaking into the Hall.”

“The key’s under my pillow,” Alice-Miranda added.

“Certainly, sir.” Heinrich grinned broadly as he left the room.

“Now.” Aunty Gee picked a cobweb from her hair. “I think we should be getting back to the party, don’t you?” She looked about at the group.

“Are you sure that’s what you want to do, ma’am?” Dalton inquired.

“Yes, of course. Poor Charlotte will think we’ve abandoned her. And I don’t know about the rest of you, but I could well do with a big piece of birthday cake.” Aunty Gee motioned for Dalton to follow her.

The group left the cellar in dribs and drabs so as not to arouse any unnecessary suspicion. Alice-Miranda, Millie and Jacinta were the next to leave.

Hugh and Mrs. Oliver lingered behind for a moment.
As Hugh locked the cellar, Mrs. Oliver ascended the stairs and stepped onto the veranda just in time to find Mr. Greening and Lucas arriving in the jeep.

In the back of the vehicle were a couple of large wriggling sacks.

“What have you got there?” Dolly called out.

Hugh caught up and walked over to take a closer look.

“I found these two leaving Rose Cottage—they were in a bit of a hurry too, so I thought perhaps they’d like to have a chat with Sergeant Gray about what they were doing there in the first place,” Mr. Greening said with a smile. “And we can thank young Lucas here for helping me catch them.” He nodded at the boy beside him in the front seat. “He was out for a walk when he saw me chasing these bumbling idiots. The lad’s fast, that’s for sure. They’d have outrun me if I’d been on my own.”

“I’ll give Gray a call and tell him that you’re on your way,” Hugh replied. “Why don’t you come and join us, Lucas? It sounds like you’ve earned yourself a piece of cake.”

“I’ll be back for some of that too,” Mr. Greening laughed. “Can you ask Mrs. Greening to save me a dance?”

Lucas opened the door of the jeep and walked over to Hugh.

“I believe you’re Lily’s nephew,” Hugh said. “It’s nice to meet you.” He offered his hand.

Lucas shook it cautiously. “Yes, I’m Lucas.”

“Welcome to Highton Hall.” Hugh patted him on the back as they walked inside.

“W
here have you been?” asked Jasper, racing toward Alice-Miranda as she entered the ballroom with Millie and Jacinta close behind. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

“Sorry—we got caught up with something,” Alice-Miranda said. Millie and Jacinta exchanged innocent looks.

“I had to dance with Mum,” Jasper groaned, “and she stepped on my toes three times.”

The ballroom was a kaleidoscope of colored gowns—a swirl of emerald and aubergine, lilac and buttercup.

Aunty Gee reappeared a few minutes later with
Dalton by her side. He wasn’t about to let her out of his sight again.

“I still can’t believe it’s actually her,” Millie whispered in Alice-Miranda’s ear.

Alice-Miranda took a deep breath. For the first time since she had arrived home, her strange feeling had vanished completely.

Ambrose McLaughlin-McTavish interrupted the children. “Have you seen Mrs. Oliver?” he asked, his forehead wrinkled with worry.

“Yes, there was a bit of a disaster in the kitchen, but I believe she’ll be back any minute,” Alice-Miranda informed him.

Just as she spoke, Mrs. Oliver emerged through the doorway, looking only slightly worse for wear.

“Are you all right, dear?” Ambrose asked. “I thought you must have grown sick of my company.”

“No, not at all, just a bit of unexpected business to attend to. I am sorry, Ambrose—it was frightfully rude of me to leave you all this time,” Mrs. Oliver said.

“A problem in the kitchen?” Ambrose queried.

“Yes, something like that.”

“That’s perfectly all right. Mrs. Smith has been taking very good care of me.” He smiled. “Would you care to dance?”

“Are you sure? What about your bad leg?”

“My dear, I’m expecting you to hold me up,” he chuckled.

“I’ll do my best,” she said, and led him to the floor.

Cecelia and Hugh had managed to slip back to the party and were taking a twirl around the dance floor.

“Do you want to dance?” Alice-Miranda asked Jasper.

“Okay, but only if you keep your feet to yourself,” he agreed.

“Where has everyone been, Alice-Miranda?” Charlotte asked as she and Cyril danced past the swaying pair. “And have you seen Lawrence? He’s been missing for half an hour.”

“I’m sure he’ll be back soon,” her niece giggled as Jasper attempted a fancy dip.

Millie offered to go and get some lemonade for her and Jacinta. While she was gone, Jacinta plonked down in a chair against the wall, feeling a little overwhelmed by the whole evening. She was completely lost in her own thoughts, mumbling to herself.

“Hi,” said a voice.

She looked up and saw Lucas standing in front of her.

“Oh, hello,” she replied. “I’m glad you decided to come.”

“Well, I met your friend’s father and he
forced
me,” Lucas told her.

For the second time that day, Jacinta couldn’t help but feel that Lucas reminded her of someone. His piercing eyes seemed to look right through her. There was just something about him.