Alice-Miranda at the Palace 11 by Jacqueline Harvey Read Free Book Online

exactly the right things to say and do at these parties,’ Millie said.
    â€˜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.’
    â€˜Perhaps you can give me some lessons in curtsying,’ Lloyd teased. ‘I’m horrible at it. I wobble hopelessly.’
    Millie giggled.
    â€˜Don’t be so silly, Lloyd,’ Marjorie rebuked. ‘Of course you enjoy these parties. Who wouldn’t?’
    â€˜It is fun to get dressed up,’ Alice-Miranda agreed.
    â€˜How long are you staying at the palace?’ Lloyd asked the group.
    â€˜Just until tomorrow,’ Alice-Miranda said.
    â€˜I wish we could stay all week,’ Millie added.
    Marjorie smiled at the girls. ‘Oh, well, you never know …’
    â€˜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.
    â€˜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.
    â€˜I don’t think we’re going to have much time to go exploring,’ Alice-Miranda said.
    Lloyd nodded. ‘Perhaps on another visit, then.’
    â€˜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?’
    â€˜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.
    â€˜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.
    â€˜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.’
    â€˜Tavistock? Really?’ Lloyd said, rolling his eyes. ‘I’d much rather stay here.’
    The children giggled as Marjorie hustled him away.
    â€˜Come and rescue me later,’ he whispered over his shoulder.
    Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘We will.’
    â€˜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.
    â€˜He seems like a great guy,’ Sep said.
    â€˜And she’s gorgeous,’ Sloane added wistfully. ‘Mummy would hate her.’

A hand emerged from the bushes and