Alice-Miranda Shows the Way (18 page)

‘Well, I think I'm going to enjoy visiting Mr Parker,' Alice-Miranda said.

Sloane rolled her eyes. ‘Alice-Miranda, sometimes you are just
not
normal.'

J
acinta had arrived back at Grimthorpe House late on Sunday night with her mother. When Alice-Miranda and the girls got back they'd explained to Mrs Howard what had happened and Mrs Howard telephoned Ambrosia to let her know that it was fine for Jacinta to stay with her for the evening but Jacinta had wanted to come back to school and Ambrosia needed some time on her own to get things sorted out.

Monday had been a busy day and in the evening after dinner the girls had been enlisted to make signs
for the show. The dining room was covered in cardboard and marker pens and the girls were having a wonderful time being creative.

‘Is everything all right between you and your mother?' Alice-Miranda asked Jacinta quietly as they worked on a sign for the flower show.

‘I suppose so. She's really needy and now I'm worried about her being here
all
the time. It's not much of a surprise though that Daddy has decided they should get a divorce – well, not to me, anyway. They've never liked each other all that much and my father has always been disappointed that I wasn't a boy. I just can't imagine Mother staying here forever though. The Village Women's Association won't exactly be her thing. But at least she finally told me the truth. I let her know how pathetic she was, sitting there in her bedroom bawling among the ball gowns.'

Alice-Miranda smiled at her friend. ‘Don't be too hard on her, Jacinta. The break-up may have been quite a shock for your mother. I think she's lucky to have you so close now.'

‘I suppose,' Jacinta shrugged.

At 8 pm Mrs Howard asked the girls to finish the signs they were working on and head back to the
boarding house. The poor woman looked dead on her feet and she was worried that the girls would be late getting to bed.

On Tuesday night there was napkin folding duty and on Wednesday the girls made decorations for Mrs Smith's cafe, including a giant backdrop of a Parisian scene to hide the stage at the end of the pavilion. The excitement of the show was certainly building and all of the teachers were helping out too.

Alice-Miranda kept up her training at Chesterfield Downs and Mrs Smith kept up her baking. But on Thursday afternoon, when Mrs Smith picked Alice-Miranda up after her ride, instead of going straight back to school, she turned the Mini onto Downsfordvale Road and explained to Alice-Miranda that they were going to visit Miss Pepper. The girls were having a sausage sizzle for dinner back at school and Charlie and Billy were taking care of it, so it didn't matter if they were a little late getting home.

‘I'm a terrible friend, Alice-Miranda,' Mrs Smith informed her young charge.

‘Why do you say that?' the girl asked.

‘I've only been to see Evelyn twice since she's been in hospital,' Mrs Smith sighed.

‘But you've done all that baking for her boys and I know you've been talking to her on the telephone quite a lot,' Alice-Miranda pointed out. ‘I'm sure Miss Pepper knows that you're a very good friend.'

Mrs Smith frowned. ‘That's not what Myrtle Parker said. I know I'm just overreacting and I shouldn't let her get to me but that woman loves to make trouble.' Mrs Smith eased her foot off the accelerator as they reached the edge of the village.

She turned right into the hospital car park and drew into a spare spot.

‘I wish I'd known we were coming,' Alice-Miranda said as they got out. ‘I'd have asked Mr Charles for some flowers.'

‘It's all right, dear.' Mrs Smith walked around to the back of the car and opened the tiny boot. ‘He gave me these.' She pulled out a lovely bunch of roses with silver foil wrapped around the stems.

‘They're gorgeous,' Alice-Miranda exclaimed.

Once inside the hospital, Mrs Smith led Alice-Miranda through a long ward to the room at the very end of the corridor. She poked her head around the door. ‘Hello Ev, are you awake, dear?'

‘Awake and bored out of my mind,' Evelyn Pepper replied.

Doreen Smith walked to the side of the bed and gave her friend a hug and kiss on the cheek. She handed her the roses.

‘Oh, these are lovely!' Evelyn buried her nose into the centre of the blooms and sniffed. ‘Charlie's handiwork, no doubt.'

Alice-Miranda stood beside Mrs Smith.

‘Hello Miss Pepper. I hope you don't mind that I've come along. I was hoping to see you soon anyway. I'm . . .'

‘Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones,' Evelyn said. ‘And I'm very glad that you came.'

‘I wasn't sure if you'd remember me, Miss Pepper. I saw you earlier in the year when I was out riding my pony Bonaparte in the village,' Alice-Miranda said.

‘Of course I remember you. I liked your pony too. He was a very sweet fellow,' Evelyn replied.

‘I think you're one of the only people who would say that about Bony, other than me,' Alice-Miranda grinned. ‘And maybe Mr Boots. Bonaparte really likes him for some reason too.'

‘I feel as if I know you quite a bit already,' said Evelyn. She grimaced and shifted in the bed.

‘Really?' Alice-Miranda asked, noticing the woman's discomfort. ‘Why is that?'

‘When Her Majesty was here last month, Dick and I were invited to dinner over at the house and she was regaling us with tales of your aunt's birthday party and her wedding on the
Octavia
. She had us in stitches,' Evelyn recalled. ‘She has a wicked sense of humour.'

‘Oh, we've have had a lot of fun with Aunty Gee this year,' Alice-Miranda confirmed. ‘You should have seen her and Mrs Oliver when they took the speed boat out for a spin around the ship after the wedding. You would have thought they were both seventeen, not seventy.'

‘Come and sit down.' Evelyn motioned at the two chairs either side of her bed. ‘You two are making the place look untidy.'

‘Is there anything I can get for you?' Mrs Smith asked.

Evelyn licked her lips. ‘Actually, I'd love a cup of tea. I think there's one of those dreadful machines just down the hall. Have one with me, Dor.'

‘I'll be right back. And you can tell Miss Pepper all about Rockstar's little romance with your Bonaparte,' Mrs Smith told Alice-Miranda before exiting the room.

‘I think we'd call it a bromance,' Alice-Miranda said.

‘Ahh,' Evelyn nodded. ‘I've heard my Rockstar has a lovely new friend. So what else has been going on there? I've talked with the new lad Wally quite a bit but old Dick just seems put out that I'm here.'

Alice-Miranda told Miss Pepper all about the first day she and Millie went to visit Wally and how Bonaparte had got loose and charged into the stables. Wally was terrified about riding Rockstar at first but he had done marvellously. Miss Pepper agreed that if she'd been Wally she'd have been petrified too.

‘That horse has always been a one-woman animal, I'm afraid,' Evelyn said. ‘I'm stunned that the lad has done so well. Sounds like we should keep him for sure.'

‘It's wonderful that Rockstar can still run in the Queen's Cup on Sunday,' said Alice-Miranda happily.

‘I hope you're right,' Evelyn replied. ‘Dick doesn't seem as keen as I'd hoped.'

Mrs Smith returned with two steaming cups of tea and a hot chocolate for Alice-Miranda. She placed Evelyn's on the portable tray and wheeled it in close to her.

‘How are you feeling?' she asked her friend.

‘I think I might be able to convince the doctor to let me go home for the Cup,' Evelyn replied.

‘That's great news,' Alice-Miranda grinned. ‘Mr Wigglesworth was very concerned that they'd let you out too early and you'd overdo it.'

‘If he's so concerned, he should have come to visit a little more frequently. The lousy so-and-so has only been here twice,' said Evelyn, frowning. ‘And he spent the whole time telling me that he didn't think Rockstar should run in the Cup. It was too much of a risk, blah, blah, blah. Anyone would think he didn't want us to win it!'

‘I think he's just worried about you, Ev, that's all,' Doreen said. ‘You know Dick.' She shrugged.

‘That's just it. I thought I did but he's been behaving very strangely since I've been in here.'

‘What's that you've been looking at?' Doreen Smith picked up a real estate magazine sitting on the bedside table. ‘Are you buying a place?'

‘Yes. I think it's high time I had my own little patch of ground. I'm getting too old for this game, Doreen,' Evelyn Pepper declared. ‘I've found a lovely holding up north near a village called Penberthy Floss. I want to have a look at it once I'm out of here.'

‘That's not far from where I live at Highton Hall. It's the next village along from Highton Mill,' Alice-Miranda said. ‘It's so pretty. But it's a long way to drive to work each day.'

‘I'm rather hoping to retire,' said Evelyn as she thumbed through the magazine and pointed at the cottage she had been talking about.

‘But what about Rockstar?' Alice-Miranda asked.

‘He'll be fine,' Evelyn said. ‘If he wins on Sunday he'll retire to stud anyway. I think it's time to do some things for me.'

‘Of course you should,' Mrs Smith said with a nod.

There was a memory tugging at the corner of Alice-Miranda's mind. ‘But Mr Wigglesworth wouldn't know what to do without you, Miss Pepper.'

‘Dick Wigglesworth will be fine without me. Besides, all bets are off unless Rockstar can bring home the Cup. It's the last piece of silverware missing from Her Majesty's trophy cabinet and I've promised myself I'll get it for her. If he doesn't win, then I'll give it another year,' Evelyn explained. ‘Anyway, I've spoken with Dick and he's going to take Bonaparte to the showground for you in the morning, Alice-Miranda,' Evelyn said.

‘Thank you, Ev,' said Mrs Smith. ‘I was thinking I'd have to drive Alice-Miranda over to your place before dawn so she could get the pony ready in time and over to the ground.'

‘It's the least we can do. I'm sure the only reason Rockstar's not still having a mighty great sulk is because of Bonaparte. And Dick will float Bonaparte back to Chesterfield Downs on Friday evening and have him at the showground again on Saturday. I hope that's all right, Alice-Miranda. I just don't want to risk separating them at this stage. I'm planning to take Bony to the racetrack on Sunday too,' Evelyn explained, ‘if that's all right with you?'

‘That's perfect, Miss Pepper,' said Alice-Miranda. ‘I'm just glad that Bonaparte's being a good friend.'

The trio chatted a while longer before Mrs Smith noticed that it was almost six and said they should be getting back. Alice-Miranda gave Miss Pepper a peck on the cheek. Mrs Smith did too.

‘See you on Sunday, Miss Pepper,' Alice-Miranda said with a wave. ‘And good luck. I'm sure that Rockstar will do his best.'

‘And good luck to you for tomorrow, my dear. Give Bonaparte a special hug from me,' Evelyn replied.

T
hursday night at Grimthorpe House was utter chaos. Several girls were busy ironing their riding shirts, which was no easy task; others were packaging up their cakes and biscuits to take the next day; Ivory was sobbing in the downstairs kitchen because the sponge cake for her lamingtons was as rubbery as a bald tyre and Sloane was busy deciding what dress she'd wear to the ball on Saturday night. She had half of Jacinta's wardrobe strewn over their bedroom floor. As the clock in the hall struck nine Mrs Howard
might as well have been herding cats as she tried to get everyone into bed.

Somehow just before ten the house was quiet and the next morning, to Mrs Howard's great surprise, everything ran exactly to schedule.

The showground was a kaleidoscope of colour. In the main arena ponies paraded around the edge of the track, while in the centre a challenging jumps course was proving difficult for even the most seasoned of riders. Millie and Alice-Miranda had competed in two events so far, pairs hacking and showmanship. Unfortunately Bony and Chops decided to have a noisy squabble during the latter, with their bad manners noted by the chief judge.

‘I see your little fellow is very poorly behaved, Millicent,' Myrtle Parker commented as she turned and whispered the score to Mrs Howard, who had the unenviable task of following the floral-clad woman around the ground recording the results. She had no idea how she came to be given that particular job.

Howie grimaced and mouthed ‘don't worry' to Millie and Alice-Miranda.

‘I'm sorry, Millie, that was Bony's fault. Chops has impeccable manners – it's this fellow who needs
to behave,' said Alice-Miranda. She glared sternly at Bonaparte. Bonaparte bared his teeth.

‘I think our chance of being reserve champions has just floated away on the smell of Mrs Parker's stinky perfume,' Millie sighed.

‘Don't worry, Millie. Let's just have some fun.' Alice-Miranda smiled at her friend as the two girls led their ponies over to the temporary stalls for a rest before their next challenge.

Around the edge of the ground, the carnival rides were lurching to life. Noisy music blared from the speakers, frequently drowned out by announcements about the different events. The tantalising smell of barbecued meat mingled with the sweet smell of fried foods and the tang of animal manure. Alice-Miranda had kept an eye open for Fern and Tarquin but they were nowhere to be seen.

Susannah rode past on Buttercup with a beautiful blue ribbon pinned to the pony's bridle.

‘Congratulations,' Alice-Miranda called out. ‘What did you win?'

‘The under-thirteen showjumping,' the girl called back.

‘That's fantastic,' Millie grinned. ‘That course looked super hard.'

Despite Millie's predictions, by the end of the day she and Alice-Miranda had managed to pick up several rosettes too. Bony and Chops had worked like clockwork in the walking and trotting division. Much to Mrs Parker's obvious distaste she couldn't find fault with their entire routine and had to award them the blue ribbon. There was also a second place in the barrel race and a third for the keyhole, which Mrs Parker thought entirely unsuitable for a genteel country show. Given that the results were determined by the competitors' times, the girls deserved their place fair and square.

At four o'clock all of the horses and riders from Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale gathered together to head back to school. Miss Grimm and Mr Grump stood in front of the group.

‘Well done, everyone, you've made me very proud today,' Ophelia Grimm told her young charges as she waved a half-eaten stick of fairy floss like a conductor's baton. A huge smile was plastered across her face. ‘Now, you'd better head home, girls, and get a good rest this evening. Tomorrow is another busy day, and then of course the ball is tomorrow night.'

The group began to move off. Some of the girls trotted ahead on their ponies while the rest of the
school walked together, chatting about their favourite parts of the day and planning their outfits for the ball.

‘Do you want us to wait for you, Alice-Miranda?' Millie called. She and Susannah were sitting astride Chops and Buttercup at the back of the group.

‘No, you go ahead, I won't be long. I think that's Wally coming now,' Alice-Miranda called back.

Wally pulled up in the truck from Chesterfield Downs ready to transport Bonaparte back with him.

‘Looks like you've had a good day, miss,' he said, admiring the ribbons Alice-Miranda was holding.

‘Yes, Bony's done quite well and so has Chops. Millie and I surprised ourselves. But I think we surprised Mrs Parker even more.'

‘Well, I'm glad we're taking this one back with us. Rockstar's been making an awful lot of noise today and he was a right monster at the track this morning. I couldn't get him to budge,' Wally complained.

‘He wouldn't run?' Alice-Miranda frowned.

‘Not a stride. It was all I could do to get him down to the track. I just kept on telling him that Bony would be there. Freddy even went and got one of the other old mares and stood in the distance
trying to convince Rockstar it was your little mate, but he's a smart one, that horse. He didn't buy it at all.'

Alice-Miranda shook her head and gave Wally a sympathetic smile. She turned to Bony and began to lead him up the ramp and into the truck. ‘You be a good boy, Bonaparte, and have a word to your friend. He doesn't need to be so stubborn.'

Wally took over and tied Bony into the stall. Alice-Miranda planted a kiss on the pony's nose and skipped out of the vehicle.

‘Do you need a lift?' Wally asked as he raised the tailgate and locked the back of the truck. ‘I've got to go right past the school gate.'

‘No, thank you, I think I'll walk. But can you look after these for me?' She handed Wally her bundle of ribbons. ‘There's someone I'm hoping to see.'

Alice-Miranda waved as Wally hopped into the truck and turned the key in the ignition. The vehicle clattered into life and surged forward.

The girls had seen Lucas and Sep a couple of times during the day, and the boys had sat with Jacinta and Sloane to watch several of Alice-Miranda and Millie's events. Lucas had won first prize in the art competition for his watercolour and Sep's
pipe band had led the morning's parade around the showground.

Fern and Tarquin, on the other hand, seemed to have vanished into thin air since Alice-Miranda last saw them over a week and a half ago. She was hoping that they'd be around somewhere at the showground now. Alice-Miranda walked back through the carnival rides and spotted Ivy bobbing up and down on a cream-coloured pony on her family's carousel. She waved to the young girl, who waved back as she disappeared on another revolution.

The caravans were parked in the paddock beyond the showground. Alice-Miranda decided to go and see if Fern was at home.

As she made her way through the maze of mobile residences, Alice-Miranda heard a gruff voice. She walked a little further between two of the vans, then stopped.

‘All right, you lot, listen up. You know the drill. And I'm pleased to say that this little lady has finally decided to join the team. Tomorrow night there's a ball and everyone within twenty miles of this place will be there. Which means that every house and shed and garage within twenty miles will be empty. We've got some very good leads, so, you know what to do.
Head out in pairs, get what you can, don't get caught, and take it all to the barn. And by the way, I want my little gnome friend back again. I miss him.'

Alice-Miranda gasped. She hadn't wanted to believe the gossip, but now she'd heard proof of it with her own ears. And it was up to her to stop them. Alice-Miranda had to find Constable Derby. She spun around and crept back down the narrow gap between the vans. She'd almost reached open ground when she tripped on a rope and fell to her knees.

‘Ow!' She clasped her hand over her mouth. But it was too late.

‘Oi! What's that?' the gruff voice growled. ‘Fern, go and see what that was. And if it's anyone snooping about, bring 'em back here. I've got just the thing for 'em.'

Alice-Miranda scurried to her feet. She turned around and saw Fern's amber eyes glaring at her.

But what happened next took Alice-Miranda completely by surprise. Fern whispered, ‘Please just go. Get out of here and don't say a thing. I promise, it's not what you think!'

There was a look of horror on Fern's face. Alice-Miranda didn't know
what
to think.

‘Fern, what was it?' the voice growled.

‘It was nothing, Alf, just a cat,' she called back.

Alice-Miranda felt as if her lungs were ready to burst as she ran towards the main road. Her mind was racing. Why did Fern let her go? Why didn't she tell Alf? There was more to this – there had to be.

Alice-Miranda jogged down the high street and past Mr Munz's store. The police station was just across from the church. Should she tell Constable Derby what she'd heard? Just as she was about to cross the road, she caught sight of Billy Boots on the other side of the low stone wall. He was standing in the graveyard. Alice-Miranda wondered what he was doing there.

‘Mr Boots,' she called, and then walked through the gate and into the church grounds. ‘I thought it was you.'

‘Oh, hi there,' he replied, sniffing.

Alice-Miranda noticed that his eyes were red and there were streaky marks on his cheeks. ‘Are you all right?' She reached out and touched his arm.

‘Yeah, of course. Just get choked up sometimes in cemeteries. Thinking about all those people who've died, some of them far too young,' he said quietly.

They were standing in front of the timber cross that Alice-Miranda thought belonged to Fern and Tarquin's mother.

‘Where are you heading?' he asked. ‘I thought you'd be off home for a rest.'

‘I have to find Constable Derby,' Alice-Miranda said. ‘I'm afraid that something terrible's going to happen tomorrow night.'

Billy looked at Alice-Miranda closely. ‘What do you mean?'

‘I should tell Constable Derby, Mr Boots. But let's just say, I think you were right about the carnival people.'

‘Why? What do you know?' Billy asked. ‘What are they up to?'

‘I went to look for Fern and Tarquin, those children I met at Gertrude's Grove a couple of weeks ago, but when I got to the caravans Alf was having a meeting. I couldn't see how many of the kids were there but he was talking about empty houses and good leads. I think they're going to rob the village when everyone's at the ball tomorrow night,' Alice-Miranda explained. ‘And worst of all, I think Fern's part of it.'

Billy Boots sighed. He locked his hands on top of his head, then sat down on the edge of a raised gravestone and looked up at Alice-Miranda.

‘Sit down,' he instructed, patting the stone beside him.

Alice-Miranda looked into Billy Boots's amber eyes. And right then she knew.

‘There's something I have to tell you,' he said, exhaling deeply. ‘But you have to promise me you won't breathe a word.'