Alice-Miranda at the Palace 11 (4 page)

The girls followed Charlotte and Lawrence down the hallway to their room. Lawrence held open the door as the girls and Charlotte filed in. A double pram was sitting in the middle of the room with Lucas and Sep standing over it, gazing at the babies.

‘Hi Lucas,' Jacinta said, much more loudly than she'd intended.

The boy turned around and pressed a finger to his lips.

Jacinta blushed. ‘Sorry.'

The girls walked over and peered into the pram.

‘They're adorable,' Millie whispered.

‘She looks just like you, Alice-Miranda,' Sloane said, pointing at the baby in a white jumpsuit with a pink trim.

Sep nodded. ‘That's what we were saying. Imagine how cute it will be when she's a bit bigger. You'll have your own mini-me, Alice-Miranda.'

The children huddled around the infants, mesmerised by their tiny faces with rosebud lips and creamy skin.

‘I think Marcus is waking up, Aunt Charlotte,' Alice-Miranda said as the little boy stretched his arms, his face contorting.

The children watched and waited to see if he'd open his eyes but his face just went red and his eyes remained shut.

‘Pooh-wee!' Millie held her nose. ‘I think he's done something evil.'

The other kids laughed.

‘Bags not changing the nappy,' Sloane said, screwing up her face.

‘I'll do it,' Lucas volunteered.

‘Really?' Jacinta looked at him quizzically. ‘You'll change his nappy?'

The boy shrugged. ‘I have to learn sometime and I might as well practise on my baby brother.'

Jacinta sighed. Lucas would make an even better father than she'd first thought.

‘Come on, then.' Lawrence leaned in and picked up the baby boy. ‘Looks like it's us men on duty.'

Sep shook his head. ‘Not me. I think I'll stay here if you don't mind.'

Charlotte and Lawrence didn't just have one room – they had a sitting room, where the children were gathered, and a bedroom through a set of double doors. There was a huge king-size bed for Charlotte and Lawrence, and twin cots for the babies.

Charlotte looked at Alice-Miranda. ‘Would you like to hold Imogen?'

The girl's eyes widened. ‘Could I?'

‘I have to get her up for a feed before the party and I'd best make a start,' Charlotte said, reaching into the pram. She lifted the infant into her arms. ‘Why don't you go and sit on the chair over there and you can all have a turn?'

The girls and Sep walked over to a large rocking chair and Alice-Miranda sat down. Charlotte placed baby Imogen into her arms.

‘She's so little.' Alice-Miranda kissed the girl's downy forehead.

‘You were even smaller when you were born,' Charlotte remarked.

‘Really? I can't imagine it.' Alice-Miranda admired the tiny baby, breathing in her scent. ‘I love her so much I think my heart is going to burst.'

Charlotte rested her hand on Alice-Miranda's shoulder. ‘I know she'll adore you too, darling girl.'

Alice-Miranda wanted to hold her forever but Millie, Jacinta and Sloane were keen to have their turns. As she was passed around all of the children, baby Imogen slowly began to wake up, opening her eyes every few minutes before drifting back to sleep again.

‘Well, that was gross,' Lucas said, walking out of the bedroom holding Marcus. ‘Don't ask me to do it again.'

Charlotte smiled. ‘You offered, remember?'

‘I didn't realise that something so small could make such a disgusting mess,' the boy replied, clearly horrified by the experience.

Charlotte looked at Lawrence. ‘Was it really nasty?'

‘Nasty is an understatement, Char. Most of it wasn't even in the nappy and, just to top it off, he let loose on me with the sprinkler.' Lawrence grinned.

‘Eww.' Jacinta and Sloane wrinkled their noses.

‘But he is pretty cute,' Lucas said as Marcus's tiny fingers wrapped around his pinkie.

Lawrence nodded. ‘Yes, I think we'll probably keep him.'

Charlotte glanced at her watch. ‘Oh, goodness, it's a quarter past twelve. Sorry, darlings, but I need to start feeding these two,' she said, settling herself into the rocking chair with Imogen. ‘It's a marathon effort and I don't want to miss all of the festivities.'

‘Thanks for letting us meet the babies,' Jacinta said.

The children said their goodbyes and made their way to the door.

‘Oh, and Alice-Miranda,' Lawrence called, ‘I  think you're up for nappy-changing duties next time.'

The girl turned and grinned. ‘I don't mind. They could make the biggest, smelliest mess ever and I'd still love them to pieces.'

The man opened the top drawer and took out a pair of thin white gloves. He carefully pulled them on then picked up a pair of scissors. It was a tedious business but it had to be done. He read over the words before he began to cut letters from the pages of the newspaper.

Soon enough
The Beacon
looked like something from a kindergarten craft class. He'd had it sent from the other side of the country so, even if they were able to trace the origins of this
particular edition, there was nothing to lead them to him.

He hummed quietly to himself as he cut out the letters with military precision. There was a strange meditative quality to the whole thing. He arranged the letters on the blank page and unwound the glue stick. Then he carefully pasted each letter until the page was full. This time the words were fiercer, the threat more forceful. They had to be – there was a lot at stake.

A smug smile settled on his lips as he surveyed his work. He hadn't written poetry in years but it had always been something he'd excelled at. He threw the newspaper in the hearth, then struck a match and watched the pages burn.

He walked back to the desk and folded the letter carefully before placing it in an envelope. But he
didn't seal it yet. He flicked open the locks on his briefcase and pulled three photographs from the rear compartment. He added them to the envelope and sealed it with his first mistake.

‘This is a much more adventurous approach to the garden,' Braxton Balfour said as he led the children through a tightly woven tunnel of trees. ‘I just discovered it recently myself.'

‘Have you been here long, Mr Balfour?' Alice-Miranda asked the man.

‘A couple of months. I was previously a footman at Brackenhurst before I was promoted to the role of under butler here at Evesbury.'

‘Congratulations!' Alice-Miranda smiled at him. ‘Do you think you might be in charge one day?'

‘Well, you never know. I suppose that's what I'm hoping for.' The man looked a little sheepish. ‘Better not tell Mr Langley, though. I don't think he's ready to retire just yet.'

Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘Don't worry, Mr Balfour, I won't say a word.'

The man grinned.

‘Wow!' Jacinta exclaimed as the group emerged onto a viewing platform that overlooked an enormous sunken garden.

Large expanses of lawn were framed and crisscrossed by hedge-lined paths dotted with exquisite marble statues. In the centre of it all, a giant fountain guarded by four marble lions spouted water high into the blue sky. At the opposite end, a Palladian summer house was swarming with guests and waiters in black tail coats, carrying trays of drinks and delicious treats.

Braxton Balfour caught sight of Mr Langley glaring at him from down below. ‘I should leave you now. Have a lovely afternoon, children.'

‘Thank you for bringing us, Mr Balfour,' Alice-Miranda said.

‘It was my pleasure.' The man gave a bow before he turned and walked back up the path.

The children stared out into the crowd. Alice-Miranda spotted her parents talking to Ambrosia Headlington-Bear, and waved.

‘It's all so beautiful,' Sloane sighed happily.

Jacinta pointed to a woman's hat. ‘Is that an umbrella on her head?'

‘Jacinta!' Alice-Miranda chided, giggling.

‘You have to admit it will come in very handy if it starts to rain,' Jacinta teased. ‘I think we could all fit under there.'

Millie raised her camera and clicked away at the men dressed in top hats and tails, and the women in a kaleidoscope of pretty dresses, hats and gloves. The child paused and glanced down at her own mint-green ensemble, wondering if it was up to scratch.

‘I love your dress, Millie,' Alice-Miranda commented, noticing her friend's hesitation. ‘It's perfect.'

‘Do you really think so?' Millie asked.

Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘Of course.'

Her own dress was the palest of pinks with a delicate floral pattern. Jacinta was in powder-blue,
and Sloane had decided on a yellow outfit. Together, they looked like a rainbow of pastels.

‘I don't know about everyone else but I'm starving,' Sep said as he spied a plate of food circulating just below them. He led the way towards one of the two sets of stairs that fanned out from either side of the platform.

Sep and Lucas made a beeline for the waiter.

‘You have to try these,' Lucas said to the girls while munching on a miniature pie. ‘They're amazing.'

The children all reached in and the waiter handed each of them a tiny white napkin that bore the initials ‘GR' in gold.

‘Mmm.' Millie smacked her lips together. ‘These are delicious.'

The group wandered further into the garden with Lucas charging ahead, eager to explore every inch of it.

‘Hey, look at this,' he called out. In the middle of one of the outer walls, Lucas had found an opening to what looked like a cave. He could hear the sound of running water coming from within.

The children ran to catch up. Just as they were heading for the entrance, a statuesque woman in a white lace dress stepped out from a side path to block
their way. She wore a wide-brimmed hat trimmed with the same delicate fabric and was on the arm of a tall, handsome man.

‘You're not going in there, are you?' she barked.

Alice-Miranda and her friends looked at the woman, startled.

‘It's just that it might not be safe,' the woman said, her voice softening.

‘Marjorie, leave the poor children alone,' the man said, frowning at her. ‘I'm sure there's nothing to be afraid of.'

Alice-Miranda smiled at the couple and held out her hand towards the man. ‘Hello, I'm Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones.'

‘Oh, you're Hugh and Cee's little girl.' The man reached out and took her tiny hand into his. ‘I'm Lloyd Lancaster-Brown and this is my worrywart fiancée, Marjorie Plunkett.'

‘It's lovely to meet you both.' Alice-Miranda was thrilled to meet a member of the Lancaster-Brown family, and introduced her friends to the couple.

‘Charmed,' Marjorie said stiffly. She turned to Lucas. ‘You're Lawrence Ridley's son, aren't you?'

The boy nodded, wondering how she knew that since he and his father didn't share the same
surname. ‘How do you know Her Majesty?' he asked.

‘Oh, I'm just a distant relative,' Lloyd replied.

‘Hardly distant, darling,' Marjorie leapt in. ‘Lloyd's a cousin of Queen Georgiana's. His grandfather and Her Majesty's father were brothers.'

Alice-Miranda's eyes grew wide. ‘Was King George your grandfather?'

‘Yes,' the man said with surprise, ‘but how on earth would you know that?'

‘I was reading something in the library recently about King George and how he abdicated to marry your grandmother Evelyn,' the child explained.

‘Why did he do that?' Millie asked.

‘Marry my grandmother?' Lloyd said with a cheeky grin. ‘Oh, the old girl wasn't that bad. Then again, come to think of it …'

Millie laughed, shaking her head. ‘No, why did he have to abdicate to marry her?'

Sloane frowned. ‘I'm confused. What's abdicate mean?'

‘It's when a king or queen stands aside and gives up their claim to the throne,' Alice-Miranda explained.

Lloyd nodded. ‘Yes, that's exactly right. My
grandfather abdicated because my grandmother had been married before, and back then divorce was frowned upon,' he said. ‘Grandmama Evelyn was the love of his life, although I always found her a little bit on the scary side.'

‘So if your grandfather hadn't abdicated, would you be King now?' Jacinta asked, trying to work out the royal line in her head.

Marjorie nodded. ‘Lloyd's father was the eldest son and he passed away some time ago, so you're right – Lloyd would have been King.'

‘Cool,' Lucas said.

Lloyd grimaced. ‘All those visits to factories and hospitals are not my thing at all. I'd much rather leave it to Cousin Gee.'

‘At least you know exactly the right things to say and do at these parties,' Millie said.

‘Oh, not at all.' Lloyd chuckled, shaking his head. ‘Even after all these years I never know what to talk about or who I might offend. It's a bit of a minefield.'

Millie smiled with relief. ‘I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets confused. I think there should be a guide to curtsying. I accidentally curtsied to one of the maids before, but she didn't seem to mind.'

‘Perhaps you can give me some lessons in curtsying,' Lloyd teased. ‘I'm horrible at it. I wobble hopelessly.'

Millie giggled.

‘Don't be so silly, Lloyd,' Marjorie rebuked. ‘Of course you enjoy these parties. Who wouldn't?'

‘It is fun to get dressed up,' Alice-Miranda agreed.

‘How long are you staying at the palace?' Lloyd asked the group.

‘Just until tomorrow,' Alice-Miranda said.

‘I wish we could stay all week,' Millie added.

Marjorie smiled at the girls. ‘Oh, well, you never know …'

‘I would love to see the hunting tower,' Lucas admitted.

Sloane nodded. ‘And everything else. I bet there are secret places all over the estate.'

Marjorie frowned. That very same thought had begun to dawn on her too.

‘I used to play in the tower as a boy,' Lloyd said, staring into the distance. ‘But it's been abandoned for years. I haven't been back there since …'

Marjorie looked at her fiancé. ‘Since when?'

Lloyd shook his head, as if banishing a memory. ‘It doesn't matter, dear.'

Marjorie wished he'd say something. It was awfully hard pretending she didn't know things sometimes.

‘I don't think we're going to have much time to go exploring,' Alice-Miranda said.

Lloyd nodded. ‘Perhaps on another visit, then.'

‘There probably won't be another one, so we should make the most of being here now,' Millie said, brightening up. She pulled her camera out of the little handbag that was slung across her shoulder. ‘Would you mind taking a picture of us?'

‘Oh, that's a lovely camera, Millie,' Marjorie said. She'd hoped that one of the children would have one.

Lloyd reached out to take it from Millie but Marjorie intercepted him. ‘Darling, you know you're terrible at taking photographs,' she scolded. ‘I can do it.'

The children organised themselves into a huddle and smiled as the woman snapped away.

‘Hang on, it's a bit glary,' Marjorie said, checking the screen. ‘I'll just make sure they're as good as I think they are.'

She turned away from the others and, quick as a flash, pulled a small silver object from her handbag.
She popped open the battery case and within seconds had replaced the original battery with the one from her bag. She swivelled back to the children and passed the camera to Millie.

‘They're perfect,' Marjorie said with a smile. She placed a hand on Lloyd's arm. ‘Come along, darling. I've just spotted Lord Tavistock, and I'd like to ask him if he'd be emcee at the wedding.'

‘Tavistock? Really?' Lloyd said, rolling his eyes. ‘I'd much rather stay here.'

The children giggled as Marjorie hustled him away.

‘Come and rescue me later,' he whispered over his shoulder.

Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘We will.'

‘I wonder why Miss Plunkett was so worried about us going into the grotto,' Sloane said, once the couple was out of earshot.

Millie and Jacinta shrugged. ‘She looks like she's forgotten about it now,' Jacinta said.

‘He seems like a great guy,' Sep said.

‘And she's gorgeous,' Sloane added wistfully. ‘Mummy would hate her.'