Alice-Miranda at Camp 10 by Jacqueline Harvey Read Free Book Online Page B

‘Have you?’
    â€˜All this?’ He scoffed and waved it in the air. ‘I only received it last night. You can fill me in on the way.’
    â€˜I think you’d better read it for yourself, Mr Lipp,’ Miss Reedy said tartly.
    â€˜But I’ll be sick. I couldn’t possibly.’ Harry pouted and did his best impression of puppy-dog eyes.
    â€˜Oh, for heaven’s sake. In the interests of making sure that we do everything properly, I’ll tell you,’ said Miss Reedy. She gave him a withering look.

Hugh Kennington-Jones pulled up outside the arrivals hall and manoeuvred the silver Range Rover into the kerb. An endless stream of vehicles came and went every few seconds.
    Cecelia scanned the throng of people spilling out of the building.
    â€˜There he is, darling.’ She opened the car door and scurried across the pavement. ‘Ed! Over here!’
    A tall, well-dressed man with a thick crop ofsalt-and-pepper hair strode out of the airport, pulling a black bag behind him.
    â€˜Cecelia!’ Ed enveloped her in a warm embrace.
    â€˜It’s wonderful to see you. We’re so excited that you agreed to come,’ Cecelia enthused. ‘The car’s just over here.’
    Hugh left the vehicle idling, hopped out and opened the tailgate.
    â€˜Hello little brother.’ Ed reached out to shake Hugh’s hand.
    â€˜It’s so good to have you here,’ said Hugh. His eyes twinkled. A year ago he never thought he’d be welcoming his big brother home again.
    â€˜How’s that gorgeous little niece of mine?’ Ed asked as he climbed into the back seat.
    â€˜She’s great. Just started back at school but oddly enough is off to camp today,’ Hugh said.
    â€˜That’s a bit soon, isn’t it?’ Ed said. ‘Not that I remember much about school these days.’
    Hugh glanced at him in the rear-vision mirror. ‘Apparently Aunty Gee had something to do with it. The school is doing her a huge favour and things are in a bit of a mess at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale with some late-running renovations, so it’s worked out well for everyone. And what’s even better is thatthe kids are going to Bagley Hall and spending some of their time doing service activities at Pelham Park.’
    Ed frowned. ‘Back up a moment, little brother. Who’s Aunty Gee?’
    â€˜Sorry, Ed. There are so many things I assume you know but of course you don’t. Aunty Gee is otherwise known as Queen Georgiana and she’s um …’
    â€˜She’s Mummy’s best friend and my and Charlotte’s godmother,’ Cecelia finished for him.
    â€˜Wow. That’s intimidating,’ Ed said with a grin.
    â€˜Not at all, darling. Wait until you meet her. She’s a hoot and far more down-to-earth than the press makes her out to be,’ Cecelia explained. ‘Mummy’s much more terrifying.’
    â€˜Second question. Bagley Hall? Do you mean the enormous old manor next to Pelham Park, where that ogre Mrs Marchant used to live when we were kids?’
    Hugh nodded. ‘One and the same.’
    â€˜I thought she was about a hundred when I was a boy. Gosh, she must have seemed like she’d stepped off the Ark to you,’ Ed said.
    Hugh nodded. ‘She scared the socks off me. When the old bird died her family struggled to keep the place afloat. Her grand-nephew was teaching PE at one of the local schools and hit on the idea of turning theproperty into a kids’ camp. The camp’s been open for about ten years now and it’s amazing – won all sorts of awards and has Aunty Gee’s royal warrant.’
    â€˜Things have changed, haven’t they?’ Ed said with a smile. Of course, he thought, it was inevitable after being away for almost forty years.
    Cecelia turned around in her seat. ‘We’re going home to Highton Hall tonight. I know Mrs Oliver has been baking up a storm and Shilly