Alice-Miranda Shows the Way

by Jacqueline Harvey

  ‘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.

  Thursday 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 B
ony 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.’

  Saturday progressed much the same way as the day before. Millie and Alice-Miranda managed to add more ribbons to their haul, winning individual first and second places in the junior showjumping. Millie beamed; she hadn’t expected Chops to beat Bonaparte.

  ‘Are you all right?’ Millie asked Alice-Miranda when they left the ponies and headed off to get some lunch.

  ‘I’m fine,’ Alice-Miranda smiled.

  ‘You seem like you’re a million miles away,’ Millie said with a worried frown. ‘You know I can tell when something’s bothering you. And today you’re bothered.’

  Alice-Miranda shook her head. She hated keeping secrets from Millie. They’d shared so much over the past year that it didn’t seem right to keep anything from her. But Mr Boots had begged her not to say a thing.

  ‘Come on, let’s go and have a look at this painting of Lucas’s. Jacinta said that she wants her mother to buy it for the cottage,’ Alice-Miranda said.

  Millie giggled. ‘Jacinta would ask her mother to buy a paddle-pop stick if she thought Lucas might have eaten the ice-cream off it,’ she declared.

  Alice-Miranda shuddered, then grinned at her friend. ‘That’s gross, Millie.’

  ‘But true.’ Millie grabbed Alice-Miranda’s arm and they headed for the pavilion.

  As the girls neared the building, a ruby-coloured Bentley turned into the showground driveway. The flag on the front betrayed its owner’s identity.

  ‘Aunty Gee’s here.’ Alice-Miranda’s face lit up and she tugged Millie towards the car.

  A smart-suited chauffeur emerged from the driver’s seat and stood sentry at the back passenger door. Aunty Gee’s personal bodyguard, Dalton, hopped out of the front passenger seat and ordered away the curious group of onlookers who’d already gathered. Two more vehicles pulled in and a posse of security men alighted and took up their positions around the vehicle.

  ‘You know Mrs Parker will be beside herself,’ Millie whispered to Alice-Miranda with a glint in her eye. ‘Did she know Aunty Gee was coming?’
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br />   ‘I’m sure it would have been planned,’ Alice-Miranda replied. ‘You know poor Aunty Gee doesn’t get to do anything much on a whim.’

  Seconds later, just as Millie had predicted, Myrtle Parker raced out of the pavilion towards the car. She must have been attempting to camouflage herself in the flower exhibition; her dress was bursting with blooms and her purple hat resembled an upturned tulip.

  ‘She’d better not stand still for too long or someone will mistake her for curtains and try to hang her up,’ Millie giggled.

  Myrtle flounced and preened as she waddled towards the car gripping a large bouquet of roses.

  Alice-Miranda and Millie were standing as close to the vehicle as the security men would allow.

  Myrtle glared at the pair of them and then sniffed as though she suspected that one of the girls had stepped in something unpleasant.

  The chauffeur opened the door and Queen Georgiana stepped out.

  ‘Oh, Your Majesty, it is an honour to see you again.’ Myrtle curtsied so low that Millie wondered if one of the security guards would have to lift her back up.

  ‘Hello Mrs Parker, it’s lovely to see you again too. I presume the show’s going well?’ The Queen offered Myrtle her gloved hand. Myrtle momentarily wondered whether she should kiss it or shake it. Fortunately she opted for the latter. Myrtle handed Her Majesty the roses, which Aunty Gee dutifully smelled and then passed to her lady-in-waiting, Mrs Marmalade.

  ‘And hello my little lovelies,’ Queen Georgiana greeted Alice-Miranda and Millie, who both curtsied too. ‘Oh enough of that, haven’t you got a hug for your Aunty Gee?’

  The girls rushed forward and were enveloped in Her Majesty’s ample bosom.

  ‘I was hoping to see you two. I hear that your Bonaparte has become quite the good friend to my Rockstar,’ said Queen Georgina. She stepped back to look at the girls. ‘Where is the little man?’