Alice-Miranda Shows the Way
About the Book
Alice-Miranda has a birthday to celebrate and a village show to look forward to! One of the highlights of the Winchesterfield show is the Queen's Cup horserace. But Aunty Gee's prize racehorse, Rockstar, is refusing to leave the stables. That is, until Alice-Miranda introduces him to her own naughty pony, Bonaparte.
Preparations for the show are coming along well until a series of thefts rocks the community. Things quickly go from bad to worse when Alice-Miranda's beloved Bony is horse-napped. Can Alice-Miranda uncover the culprit and get her horse back in time for Rockstar to compete in the race?
For Sandy, as always, and for Ian, who has been with me every step of this journey
E
velyn Pepper pulled on her riding boots and walked out onto the covered veranda where her basset hound, Keith, lay snoring in his basket.
âI guess you're not coming, fella.'
Keith's ears twitched as if he was having a bad dream, then he grunted and exhaled loudly.
âWe're both getting far too old for all this,' Evelyn murmured in a cloud of breath.
A bright moon lit a path through the garden and the woman drew her coat tighter around her shoulders. She glanced towards the stables and wondered if the new lad, Wally Whitstable, would prove more reliable than the last young fellow she'd taken on. Wally certainly came with excellent references from Charlie Weatherly and Doreen Smith over at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale.
Evelyn reached the stables and, just as she did every morning, grabbed a couple of sugar cubes from the feed room, flicked on the overhead lights and walked down the centre of the building. Her eyes wandered from one stall to the next, checking on her charges and whispering their names, until she reached
her
boy.
âGood morning, my darling.'
The giant black stallion thrust his head over the stall door and nickered softly in reply. Evelyn gave the horse a scratch between the ears and blew gently into his nostrils before the eager beast detected his sugar treat and stomped impatiently with his right foreleg.
âThere you go, Rockstar.' Evelyn held her hand out for the horse to hoover up the two cubes. âSo, are you going to help me with my retirement plan and win the Queen's Cup?' she asked, smiling to herself.
Rockstar whinnied and shook his head up and down as if to agree.
The Queen's Cup was the only trophy missing from a cabinet laden with plates and cups and all manner of prizes earned during Evelyn's stellar racehorse training career. She had promised herself that once it was there, she could give up the early morning starts and find a little place to retire. Perhaps she'd do some travelling, buy a few animals to keep the grass down and maybe even write that novel that had been buzzing around in her head forever. Part of her would hate to leave it all â Dick and the lads, Her Majesty and, more importantly, her horses â but she wondered if there was another life out there, waiting to be enjoyed. It was true that she and Dick had a wonderful partnership and there were times when she wished it had grown into something more than just that of trainer and foreman, but she supposed it wasn't to be.
Evelyn patted the horse's neck. âI think we should be heading out. The Queen's Cup is in three weeks and you won't win it by standing around here all morning.'
She turned and walked towards the tack room to retrieve Rockstar's bridle and the tiny racing saddle she had used since she was a young woman just starting out as a strapper. Evelyn flicked the light switch. Nothing.
âOh, blast,' she cursed to no one in particular as she walked into the dark room. âI thought you were having that looked at, Dick Wigglesworth. Oh, what's that?'
There was a sickening thud followed by an earpiercing whinny that punched a hole in the silence shrouding the stables.
Evelyn Pepper lay in a crumpled heap, unconscious, on the floor.
A
t Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies, the dining room hummed with chatter as the girls ate their breakfast and talked about the day ahead. Mrs Smith had made a particularly delicious spread.
âDo the Americans really eat bacon with their pancakes?' Millie asked as she eyed the two crispy rashers sitting alongside the fluffy stack on her plate.
âOh, yes,' Alice-Miranda replied. âI first tried it like that when Mummy and Daddy took me to
this amazing cafe down on Broadway where all the waiters sing and dance. It's called Ellen's Stardust Diner and it's very famous. Trust me, once you've had the pancakes and maple syrup together with the bacon, you'll never go back.'
Millie shrugged. âI'm game.'
âIt's good that Mrs Smith's trying new recipes,' said Jacinta, âbut I thought it must have been a special day or something. We usually get the really fancy stuff on the weekends.' She loaded her fork and took a mouthful of food. Then Jacinta looked across the table and winked at Millie, who tried to smother a grin.
âWhy are you two pulling faces?' Alice-Miranda asked.
âNo reason,' Millie and Jacinta said in unison. They giggled conspiratorially.
Alice-Miranda had recently returned from a month in New York City with her parents. While she was away, Miss Grimm had allowed Millie and Jacinta to share a room. The two girls had got on well most of the time but they were both glad when Alice-Miranda arrived home. Jacinta's promise not to leave her dirty underwear lying about had lasted less than a week, and although Millie had tried to bite
her tongue, she couldn't help telling Jacinta what she really thought every now and then.
Millie had packed her things and moved back into their old room before Alice-Miranda's plane had touched down on the tarmac.
Jacinta now had a new room mate of her own. Except that she wasn't exactly new.
Alice-Miranda looked up as a tall blonde girl approached the table. âHello Sloane, would you like to sit with us?'
âSure,' the older girl nodded.
Millie and Jacinta both glanced up and said hello.
A lot of girls at school were still wary of Sloane. During her first stay at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale she had behaved horridly and had helped her mother bring Fayle School for Boys to its knees. But Alice-Miranda, Millie and Jacinta had seen a different side to her. During a cruise on board the
Octavia
, Alice-Miranda had sought Sloane's assistance. Sloane had been having such an awful time at her new school that she decided to find out what it would feel like to help someone â not because there was anything in it for her, but just because they had asked. When she had arrived unexpectedly on board the
Octavia
she had been a welcome sight indeed.
Afterwards, Sloane had begged her father to send her back to Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale. A good word from Alice-Miranda and her parents had helped convince Miss Grimm that the girl deserved a second chance. She was currently âon trial' for the rest of the term and so far had been a model student, much to the surprise of many â especially their housemistress, Mrs Howard. Sloane had even been visiting her step-granny Henrietta at Caledonia Manor on a regular basis. The two of them had struck up a lovely friendship and Sloane was surprised to realise that she actually quite enjoyed the old woman's company.
âDoesn't Miss Grimm look lovely today?' Alice-Miranda said as the headmistress, in a striking white suit, moved to the podium beside the teacher's table.
âGood morning, girls. I have some important announcements before you head off to class. I'm sure that you are aware that the Winchesterfield Show, culminating with the running of the Queen's Cup, is coming up in a couple of weeks' time. I know that in the past, I have been somewhat reluctant to allow girls to attend . . .'
âReluctant! That's an understatement,' Jacinta said behind her hand. âWe've never been allowed to go. Ever!'
Ophelia Grimm glared at Jacinta. âIs there something you'd like to share with the rest of us, Miss Headlington-Bear?'
Jacinta shook her head and gulped. âNo, Miss Grimm.'
âWell then, I will continue if I may?' The headmistress's left eyebrow arched menacingly. âI've been speaking with Professor Winterbottom over at Fayle and, in honour of this being the show's 150th continuous year, we are declaring Friday in a fortnight's time a show-day holiday.'
A cheer went up around the room.
âSettle down, girls,' Miss Grimm commanded. âIÂ am looking forward to seeing all of you entering as many of the events as possible. As today is Monday, you will have less than three weeks to prepare. On the Saturday evening we will all be attending the show ball, and then on Sunday we will come together to enjoy the glamour and fun of the Queen's Cup Carnival â a fitting end to a fabulous weekend, I should think. But we also need lots of helpers. Mrs Smith is going to run the tea rooms for the Village Women's Association and is rather keen for girls to assist. And I know Mr Charles is putting together a plant and flower market and will
need some willing workers, too. There will be some sign-up sheets here in the dining room at lunchtime today,' explained Miss Grimm, with a smile at the assembly.
âWe'd better do some proper training then,' Millie whispered to Alice-Miranda. âDo you want to enter all the pairs events?'
Alice-Miranda nodded.
âWhat pairs?' Jacinta asked. She pulled a face as she registered what the girls were talking about. âOh, you mean the stupid horse show. I was just looking forward to the carnival rides.'
âYeah, me too,' said Sloane.
âYou have until next Monday to get your entries to Mrs Derby. I understand there will be a list posted on the noticeboard by this afternoon,' Miss Grimm added, before stepping back from the microphone.
Alice-Miranda looked up at the large clock on the wall. âOh! I'd better go. I said I'd help Miss Wall get the hockey kits ready for our PE lesson.' She stood up.
âExcuse me, young lady, where do you think you're going?' Miss Grimm moved back towards the microphone and stared at the tiny child.
âI'm sorry, Miss Grimm. I thought you'd finished the morning announcements. I told Miss Wall that IÂ would help her before class.'
The headmistress was stern. âI don't think so, Alice-Miranda. You need to sit right back down where you were.'
Alice-Miranda's tummy fluttered. Miss Grimm had changed so much for the better over the past months but right now she seemed a little bit like her forbidding old self again.
Millie, Jacinta and Sloane tried to suppress smiles.
âSurely you didn't think you'd get away with it?' Miss Grimm stared at Alice-Miranda intently.
âI'm sorry, Miss Grimm, but I don't understand what you mean,' she replied.
âPlease come up here, Alice-Miranda.'
The child made her way to the front of the dining room and stood on the floor below the podium.
âDanika, Mrs Smith, Miss Reedy, would you like to come in now?' The headmistress turned to her left and beckoned to the head prefect, the cook and the English teacher. âHaaaâ' Ophelia held the note for several seconds. ââppy birthday to you, happy birthday to you . . .'
The whole room joined in the rousing chorus. Danika entered the room carrying the most beautiful garland of daisies and irises in white and purple, which she placed ceremoniously onto AliceMiranda's head. Her chocolate curls cascaded beneath the flowery headpiece. Miss Reedy was carrying a beautifully wrapped pink parcel with a huge purple bow and a poster-sized card.
Mrs Smith walked behind Danika and Miss Reedy pushing a trolley loaded with the most enormous chocolate cake, on top of which flickered eight candles.
She stopped in front of Alice-Miranda, who leaned forward on her tippy-toes to blow them out.
âHip, hip â' Miss Grimm began.
âHooray!' the girls and teachers replied.
âHip, hip â'
âHooray!'
âHip, hip â'
âHooray!'
Alice-Miranda's smile lit up the room as she cut the cake.
âThank you so much, everyone. This is wonderful,' she exclaimed, then rushed over to Mrs Smith and gave her a hug, then onto the podium to
Miss Grimm, who scooped her up and gave her a hug right back.
âYou didn't really think we'd forget your birthday?' asked Miss Grimm.
âNo. But when nobody said anything this morning, I thought it would be rude to make a fuss. Thank you, Miss Grimm. This is going to be the best birthday ever.' Alice-Miranda hugged the headmistress tightly.
Ophelia deposited the child back to the floor.
âAre you going to open your gift?' Miss Reedy asked.
âIt's so beautiful. I think I'd just like to look at it for a while,' Alice-Miranda replied.
âCome on, Alice-Miranda, open it,' Millie called.
âOpen, open, open,' the girls chanted.
Alice-Miranda carefully picked at the sticky tape.
âOh, please!' Jacinta exclaimed. âWe'll be here until lunchtime if you unwrap it like that.'
Alice-Miranda tore open the end of the parcel and pulled out a black velvet riding cap.
âIt's lovely,' she said. âThank you so much! I'm going to read the card later â it might take me a while.' On the cover was a drawing. It showed
everyone at the school with Winchesterfield Manor in the background.
âSusannah made the card,' Miss Reedy told her. âShe's very clever, isn't she?
Alice-Miranda smiled as she noticed herself in the middle of the picture.
âI'm afraid, girls, that while chocolate cake for breakfast does sound strangely appealing, I think we'll save this scrumptious confection for morning tea,' Miss Grimm announced.
A groan rang out around the room.
âOr perhaps you'd rather that the teachers have it for themselves,' the headmistress said with a smirk.
The room fell silent.
âIt's time for class. I think Miss Wall might let you off the hook this morning, Alice-Miranda.' The headmistress looked at the PE teacher, who nodded and smiled.
âThank you, Miss Grimm, that was the best surprise ever,' Alice-Miranda declared.
âYou have a lovely day, sweetheart,' Ophelia Grimm replied.
Alice-Miranda waved to Millie, Jacinta and Sloane, who were all grinning from ear to ear, thrilled that their plotting had worked so well.
âSee you later,' she called.
âBye,' the girls chorused. âSee you at morning tea.'
And with that Alice-Miranda skipped out the door.