Alice-Miranda in Japan 9

by Jacqueline Harvey

  ‘Oh great, now I have to find someone else for Ojiisan’s room,’ Obaasan grouched. ‘Always work to do, phone calls, squirrels . . . and who are you people?’ She looked at Mrs Oliver and Millie and Jacinta. ‘Maybe I am getting too oooooold for all this,’ she sputtered to herself as she shuffled away down the hall.

  Alice-Miranda giggled. The princess did too.

  That night, Princess Kiko returned to the palace with her father and grandfather. It seemed that her grandfather’s letters had been intercepted by Princess Hatsuko as part of her grand plan to seize power from her brother and get rid of her niece. She had always resented the fact that, although she was the eldest sibling, because she was a woman she would never rule. When there were moves afoot to change the law so that Kiko would inherit the crown, Hatsuko saw her opportunity. She had found the Empress’s diary and planted it in Kiko’s room. She knew that when the child found her grandparents’ address, she would want to search for them. After all, her life in the palace was such a miserable one. Hatsuko had made it easy to run away. She ensured that staff were off-duty, doors were open and gates unlocked. She never intended to kill the child, but she had set up what amounted to a prison in an abandoned castle in a remote part of Kobe.

  The Emperor was horrified to learn of his sister’s intentions and the evil treatment of his only child. He vowed that Hatsuko’s life would now be equally unpleasant and decided that rather than lock her away, as she would have done to Kiko, she should be made to do something useful in society. She was appointed as Obaasan’s new live-in assistant – with strict instructions that the old woman keep her under lock and key. Yuki and Yamato and their technical friend found themselves reassigned too – to the city’s waste management team.

  Kenzo was heartbroken to learn that the woman he loved could be so cruel. The torch that he had carried for her for many years was well and truly extinguished, and he resigned himself to the fact that he would most likely be a bachelor for the rest of his days. Hugh disagreed with his friend. As he pointed out, there were at least a couple of hundred single young women working in the palace who might be very interested in the particularly handsome Grand Chamberlain.

  It turned out that Obaasan had been completely unaware of her son’s fraudulent activities. While it was true that she collected old people to live in her house, her son deliberately neglected to report any of their deaths to the authorities and continued to collect their pension money for years afterwards. Obaasan thought she had a safe full of cash because her Itoshii Squirrel business was booming. Sadly, that was just a front for Tatsu to launder the money. Tatsu was wrong about anyone reporting him. It seems he had become increasingly paranoid about being caught and with the appearance of police cars and men in black sitting in the alley, he brought himself unstuck in the end. Tatsu was forced to pay the money back to the government. The judge decided he should be kept under house arrest with Obaasan in charge of him – after all, she could inflict much more pain than any prison.

  Obaasan’s dreams of a giant Itoshii Squirrel seemed thwarted until the Emperor decided to commission the creature in recognition of her kindness to his father-in-law and daughter. A two-metre tall squirrel in aviation goggles now stands proudly at the entrance to the Senso-ji Temple arcade.

  Hugh Kennington-Jones decided that Dolly’s language pill development was one of the most exciting things he’d ever heard about. But it had to remain top-secret until they could be sure that there were no strange side effects. Millie enjoyed her night being able to speak Japanese and couldn’t wait until the pills were available for regular use. Jacinta, on the other hand, was sorely disappointed that her Spanish never got past a few words.

  Princess Kiko invited the children back to the palace to thank them for everything they had done. They had a wonderful time exploring, and when Alice-Miranda opened her locket and pulled out the photograph of the Empress for Kiko to keep, she discovered the tracker. At once, it became clear why Yuki and Yamato had been following the wrong child. Princess Kiko took the little device and threw it into one of the palace ponds, where a giant koi carp rose to the surface and swallowed it in one gulp.

  As the girls wandered through the garden, they could hear warbling birdsong. A little yellow canary landed on a branch of a cherry blossom tree. It seemed that Kiko wasn’t the only one who had come home.

  Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones household, family and friends

  Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones

  Only child, eight and one-quarter years old

  Cecelia Highton-Smith

  Alice-Miranda’s mother

  Hugh Kennington-Jones

  Alice-Miranda’s father

  Dolly Oliver

  Family cook, part-time inventor

  Mrs Shillingsworth

  Head housekeeper

  Aunt Charlotte Highton-Smith

  Cecelia’s younger sister

  Lawrence Ridley

  Aunt Charlotte’s husband and a famous actor

  Lucas Ridley

  Lawrence’s son

  Millicent Jane McLoughlin-McTavish-McNoughton-McGill

  Alice-Miranda’s best friend

  Jacinta Headlington-Bear

  Friend

  Pippa McLoughlin-McTavish

  Millie’s mother

  Hamish McNoughton-McGill

  Millie’s father

  Ambrosia Headlington-Bear

  Jacinta’s mother

  Others

  Aki

  Hotel receptionist

  Kiko

  Runaway eleven-year-old

  Hatsuko

  Kiko’s aunt

  Jimmu

  Kiko’s father

  Yuki and Yamato

  Hatsuko’s assistants

  Michiko

  Fashion designer in Harajuku

  Obaasan

  An old woman

  Tatsu

  Obaasan’s son

  Taro

  Tatsu’s son

  Kenzo Aoki

  Old student friend of Hugh’s

  Professor Dimble

  An inventor

  Nobu Taguchi

  Representative from the Japanese Ministry for Invention and Innovation

  Check out the newest Alice-Miranda adventure:

  ALICE-MIRANDA AT THE PALACE

  Available February 2015

  Read on for a sample chapter!

  A man in a bowler hat and charcoal overcoat dashed out of the alley and through the pounding rain. Just as he did so, a sleek black car pulled up to the kerb. He glanced left and right, then quickly folded his umbrella and jumped into the passenger seat.

  The driver gave a swift nod. ‘Good evening, Sir.’

  ‘I’d hardly call it that, old chap,’ the passenger replied, brushing the droplets of water from his shoulders.

  The windscreen wipers swiped at the deluge as the driver checked his side mirror and pulled out into the deserted street. Without a word, he handed the passenger a manila folder.

  The man scanned the contents, a row of frown lines settling on his forehead. ‘Why her?’ he asked. ‘She’s not a relative.’

  ‘No, but she makes perfect sense. Rich parents, adored by all and apparently just about the sweetest child you’ll ever meet. She’s a natural target.’

  ‘Do you think this is enough to force Her Majesty’s hand?’ the passenger asked.

  ‘That, and this.’ The driver passed the man a plastic sleeve containing a single document. ‘Everything we need is there.’

  The passenger nodded. ‘So it’s true, then?’

  ‘Yes. It was never witnessed and countersigned. It should never have been her and it most certainly won’t be him.’

  ‘How did you get this, or do I not want to know?’

  ‘I have someone on the inside. Very reliable and even more ambitious,’ the driver replied.

  ‘It’s not the original, is it?’

  ‘Heavens, no. But don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll have it when
we need it.’ The driver slowed down as the traffic lights ahead turned red.

  ‘When do we begin?’

  ‘The first letter will arrive tomorrow, then there’s no going back.’ The driver swallowed hard. ‘Are you ready?’

  ‘Since I was fifteen years old,’ the man in the bowler hat said.

  ‘Very good, Sir.’ The driver pulled up outside a row of Georgian townhouses.

  The passenger shook the other man’s hand. ‘No going back,’ he said firmly and opened the car door. The man popped up his umbrella and scurried away towards the yellow glow of a porch light.

  ‘Ooh, she gives me the creeps,’ Millie whispered, glancing at the new teacher sitting at the end of their row. The tall woman with a pixie hairdo, dressed in a sensible beige pants-suit, looked up just at that moment and their eyes met. Startled, the child quickly turned back to the front.

  ‘Who?’ Alice-Miranda asked, peering around her friend. ‘Miss Broadfoot?’

  ‘Miss Bigfoot more like it. Don’t look!’ Millie cringed as she noticed the teacher giving them a death stare.

  ‘You shouldn’t be so hard on her,’ Alice-Miranda chided. ‘She only started a week ago.’

  But Alice-Miranda had a strange feeling about the woman too, though it was nothing she could put her finger on exactly. Miss Broadfoot just seemed to be popping up all over the place. She’d taught Alice-Miranda’s English class and then Science and even PE. She was also helping out in the boarding house. And there had been a strange incident that Alice-Miranda hadn’t told anyone about yet – not even Millie – mainly because she wasn’t sure if it was real or if she’d been dreaming.

  ‘Quiet,’ Miss Broadfoot hissed.

  The clacking of high heels echoed as Miss Ophelia Grimm walked to the podium in the middle of the stage. Immaculately dressed in a striking red suit, she cleared her throat and waited until all eyes were focused her way.

  ‘I’m so thrilled to have everyone together for the final assembly of the term,’ she began. ‘And after a slightly patchy start, I can’t tell you how pleased I am with the way things are going over at Caledonia Manor with the year seven girls. You are doing yourselves proud, and Miss Hephzibah and Miss Henrietta tell me they haven’t felt this young and happy in years.’

  The two old women were sitting up on the stage, having been specially brought over for the occasion by Charlie Weatherly, the school gardener. Both of the ladies nodded and grinned, and Hephzibah gave a little wave. Alice-Miranda waved back.

  ‘It now gives me great pleasure to announce this term’s citizenship awards, as voted by the teachers and girls,’ Miss Grimm continued. ‘These awards are very important. Knowing that you have won the admiration and respect of your peers is quite something – and I must say there is one name here I would never have guessed. It just goes to show that all of us are capable of being better versions of ourselves.’

  Miss Grimm glanced at Caprice Radford, who wasn’t paying the slightest bit of attention. As the girl wasn’t in the running for the award, she couldn’t have cared less. Ophelia knew she had a challenge and a half on her hands with that one but, fortunately, Caprice’s parents were well aware of their child’s foibles. It made for a nice change compared to some of the monsters and their completely hoodwinked parents that she’d dealt with over the years.

  The girls waited quietly while Sofia Ridout, the Head Prefect, picked up the badges and certificates from the table at the side of the stage and handed them to the headmistress.

  ‘Congratulations to Essie Craven in year three, Lilian Banks in year four, Matilda Suttie in year five and Susannah Dare in year seven.’ The announcement of each name was followed by a loud burst of applause. ‘Please come up to accept your award.’

  ‘What about year six?’ The words tumbled from Millie’s mouth before she had time to stop them.

  Miss Broadfoot sent a thunderous look her way.

  ‘Don’t be so impatient, Millie,’ Miss Grimm said, a strange smile perched on her lips. ‘Without further ado, I am very pleased to announce that the citizenship award for year six goes to –’ Miss Grimm paused and looked out at the students – ‘Sloane Sykes.’

  The mention of Sloane’s name sent the children into a frenzy. The girls stamped their feet on the floor and cheered loudly.

  Sloane looked as if she’d been bitten by a bedbug. ‘Me? Really?’

  Alice-Miranda grinned while watching the girl practically float down the centre aisle. ‘I don’t think she can believe it.’

  ‘Who’d have thought?’ Millie said, shaking her head. ‘But, you know, she totally deserves it.’

  Sloane bounded across the stage and, to everyone’s great surprise, launched herself at Miss Grimm and hugged the woman tight. There was an audible gasp from the students as they watched to see what Miss Grimm would do next.

  ‘I couldn’t be any prouder of you if you were my own daughter,’ the headmistress said quietly, embracing Sloane.

  ‘Thank you for giving me a second chance, Miss Grimm,’ Sloane said, positively beaming.

  Miss Grimm stepped back and shook Sloane’s hand vigorously. ‘Thank you for proving you deserved one.’

  Miss Reedy smiled as did Mr Plumpton and the other teachers who were sitting on stage beside Sofia Ridout. Miss Grimm stepped back up to the microphone.

  ‘Please give our award-winners another round of applause,’ she said as the girls exited the side of the stage, and the hall erupted again. The headmistress waited for the noise to die down before she continued. ‘Girls, I’d like to wish you all a wonderful term break. Whatever it is that you’re doing, be sure to do it well. Mr Grump and I are looking forward to a very special holiday in Italy, and I know that some of the other staff are off on grand adventures too.’ Miss Grimm arched an eyebrow in Miss Reedy’s direction.

  Miss Reedy’s cheeks flushed and Mr Plumpton’s nose glowed bright red.

  ‘Did you see that?’ Alice-Miranda whispered to Millie. She smiled, hopeful that there might be another special announcement when they returned to school.

  Millie giggled. ‘I think Miss Grimm must know about Mr Plumpton and Miss Reedy.’

  The assembly finished with the school song, and the girls filed out into the sunshine to the sound of Mr Trout playing the organ.

  Alice-Miranda spotted Sloane and rushed over to give her a hug. ‘Well done!’

  ‘I still can’t believe it,’ Sloane replied, shaking her head.

  ‘How many of those little kids did you have to bribe for their votes?’ Jacinta teased.

  Sloane’s jaw dropped. ‘I was going to say I miss sharing a room with you but maybe not so much after that comment.’

  But that wasn’t true at all. Sloane was having a far more difficult time with the school’s newest student, Caprice Radford.

  ‘You know I’m joking,’ Jacinta said, holding her hands up in surrender. ‘Seriously, Sloane, congratulations. I’ve never won a citizenship award.’

  ‘Wait until I tell Mummy. She’ll probably take out a notice in the newspaper.’ Sloane grimaced at the thought.

  The other girls grinned.

  Millie’s stomach let out a strangled gurgle.

  Sloane stared at the girl. ‘What’s going on in there?’

  ‘Sorry – I must be hungrier than I thought,’ Millie apologised.

  ‘I wish we could stay for lunch but we have to head back to Caledonia Manor,’ Jacinta said with a frown. ‘But I’ll see you all tomorrow. I think Mummy is even more excited than I am.’

  ‘I can’t wait to meet the twins,’ Alice-Miranda said. Her Aunt Charlotte had recently given birth to two bouncing babies, Marcus and Imogen. ‘I’m so glad that they’ve been given the all-clear to travel.’

  None of the group noticed the girl with the long copper-coloured hair lurking behind them. ‘What are you all fizzing about?’ she asked, barging into their conversation.

  The girls had agreed not to mention their invitations to Aunty Gee’s jubilee celebrations t
o their classmates. Millie had been desperate to share the news but Alice-Miranda convinced her that it might sound as if she were boasting, and they didn’t want anyone to feel left out.

  Alice-Miranda turned around and smiled at the girl. ‘Hello Caprice. I was just saying how much I’m looking forward to meeting my new cousins.’

  Caprice wrinkled her nose. ‘Babies are boring. All they do is eat, sleep and poo.’

  Millie glared at the girl. ‘And you’d know that because …?’

  Since the incident during camp at the beginning of the term, when Caprice had blackmailed Millie into some behaviour she was less than proud of, things hadn’t improved much at all between the two girls. Although there were times when Caprice seemed relatively normal, she still let her competitive streak get the better of her more often than not.

  ‘What are you doing in the holidays, Caprice?’ Alice-Miranda asked.

  ‘Mummy’s in charge of the catering for some stupid party for the Queen,’ the girl began.

  Millie, Sloane and Jacinta gulped in unison and stared at one another.

  ‘I don’t know why she has to do it. Doesn’t Queen Georgiana have a thousand servants? Mummy says that it’s an honour, but I say it’s ruined our holidays,’ Caprice blathered.

  ‘Are you going?’ Alice-Miranda asked as the other three girls’ faces contorted.

  ‘Of course not!’ Caprice snapped. ‘Children aren’t allowed to go and, besides, Queen Georgiana’s mean.’

  Jacinta shook her head. ‘That’s not true. We’re –’

  ‘Looking forward to having a break,’ Alice-Miranda quickly finished.

  Caprice eyed the two girls suspiciously. ‘What were you going to say?’

  ‘Nothing,’ Jacinta replied, relieved that Alice-Miranda had stopped her. Who knew what Caprice might do if she found out they were all attending the Queen’s jubilee weekend.