Alice-Miranda Holds the Key 15

by Jacqueline Harvey

  ‘Oh good, you’re back,’ she said.

  Cecelia smiled. ‘Where are they?’ she whispered.

  Alice-Miranda’s ears pricked up at the sound of her mother’s hushed tones. She wondered if it had something to do with the surprise she’d mentioned earlier.

  Shilly frowned. ‘Oh no, ma’am. I’m afraid they have been delayed.’

  ‘Oh,’ Cecelia said, fighting to hide her disappointment. ‘So whose black car is outside?’

  ‘I think you should go and join Mr Hugh in his study. He’s with Dolly and Marjorie Plunkett,’ the woman replied.

  ‘Miss Plunkett!’ Alice-Miranda exclaimed. ‘Does that mean there’s been a breakthrough in the case? Can I come too, Mummy? I’d love to say hello.’

  Cecelia sighed. ‘Darling, I think you should have a rest. You’ve had quite a lot of excitement for one day. I’ll make sure that Miss Plunkett pops into the sitting room on her way out. You can have a chat to her then.’

  Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘Mummy, do you promise to tell me what’s going on? I’m not silly and I’d rather know than have to imagine all sorts of horrible scenarios.’

  Cecelia looked at the child. Silly was definitely not a word she’d ever utter in the same breath as her daughter’s name. ‘All right, but you must let Daddy and me do the worrying.’

  ‘I’ll bring the tea in a few minutes,’ Shilly said, fetching three napkins from the drawer. ‘And you, young lady, need to do exactly as your mother said and go and have a rest. I’ll fix you up a hot chocolate once I’ve attended to the others.’

  Alice-Miranda agreed and took herself off to the sofa, where everything was still set up from the day before. She lay down and arranged herself under the blanket. Ten minutes later, when Mrs Shillingsworth arrived with her drink, the girl was fast asleep.

  Marjorie Plunkett and Dolly Oliver sat side by side in a pair of green leather chairs, an acre of mahogany desk between them and Cecelia, who was in a chair opposite. Hugh was leaning against one of the bookcases, deep in thought. This evening, the room’s masculine decor seemed even heavier than usual, weighed down by the worries of its inhabitants.

  Marjorie pulled a small notebook from her handbag and flipped it open. ‘How many people have fallen ill now?’ she asked.

  Hugh frowned. ‘Last report I heard it was two hundred and forty-three.’

  The woman jotted down the number. ‘And you’re sure they’ve all shopped at Kennington’s?’

  Hugh nodded. The skin beneath his tired eyes had creased into several crescent moons. ‘Do you think we should close the stores?’

  Marjorie’s brow puckered. ‘I’m not sure. Have you managed to narrow down any possible items?’

  ‘We’ve examined an extensive range of goods, from the most obvious things, such as bread and milk, to tinned foods and nuts, but there’s nothing to report there,’ Dolly said. Cecelia couldn’t help thinking that the woman’s complexion had taken on a concerning grey tinge. She was clearly exhausted. ‘And then there are the products that are known to cause salmonella or other bacterial bugs, like chicken or cold meats, but there have been no signs of any problems at all. The food authorities have been testing the same things I have.’

  ‘And what about the processing plants?’ Marjorie asked.

  Hugh shrugged helplessly. ‘The health inspectors have conducted thorough examinations of every plant we own and they’re working their way through other suppliers too. It’s a jolly nightmare.’

  ‘Darling, if anyone can get to the bottom of this, we know Marjorie can.’ Cecelia looked at her husband then at the statuesque woman.

  ‘We’ll most certainly do our best,’ Marjorie said, snapping her notebook shut and placing it in her handbag. ‘Her Majesty has ordered that I put as many resources as necessary into breaking the case.’

  ‘Aunty Gee’s a gem – I’ll call to thank her later,’ Cecelia said.

  ‘I think you’ll find she has an ulterior motive,’ Marjorie said with a grin. ‘Apparently, Dalton has banned all Kennington’s products until the case is solved, and you know how much the Queen loves your orange marmalade on her toast in the morning.’

  Hugh grimaced. ‘Good grief, that’s more than I can bear.’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Dolly piped up, relieved to finally be able to fix a problem. ‘I’ve got pots of home-made marmalade in the pantry. I’ll send some over to the palace immediately. It’s the same recipe as the Kennington’s brand. We can’t have Queen Georgiana missing out.’

  Marjorie stood up. ‘Right, I should head off and get started.’

  Hugh walked around to shake hands with Marjorie as the others rose from their chairs. ‘Thank you so much. I really hadn’t meant to ruin any weekend plans you might have,’ he said.

  ‘Believe me,’ the woman replied, smoothing her pencil skirt, ‘I wouldn’t have been taking the weekend off regardless. I’ve got another rather perplexing case that I suspect is about to become a whole lot more interesting too.’

  ‘Would you mind doing me a favour on the way out?’ Cecelia asked. ‘Alice-Miranda was dying to say hello. I told her we’d stop by the sitting room.’

  ‘I saw the news about her accident. Poor darling. I hope she got the flowers I sent. Is she feeling better?’ Marjorie asked.

  ‘She’s getting stronger every day and, honestly, a bump on the head and a sprained ankle were never going to stop that child of ours. I’m afraid she’s bored being a little immobile – I know she’d sooner be back at school,’ Cecelia explained.

  ‘I should have her working for me,’ Marjorie remarked. ‘Alice-Miranda is as good a problem-solver as I’ve ever seen. In fact, if I didn’t think she was destined to take over the family businesses, I’d say she could come and learn the ropes at SPLOD. After Her Majesty told me what happened on the school trip to China, I read the reports filed by the Chinese agents. Your nine-year-old daughter helped to take down a huge criminal network. Elon Fang has been on the international radar for years.’

  ‘We were as surprised as anyone to find out what she’d discovered, but that’s our girl – there’s never a dull moment with Alice-Miranda around,’ Hugh said. ‘And really, who knows what she’ll do when she grows up. She’s certain to have her own ideas.’

  Hugh and Dolly farewelled the woman and Cecelia led her back through the house, across the grand foyer with its splendid spiral staircase, through the small dining room and the kitchen into the side sitting room, where Alice-Miranda had woken from her nap and was lying on the couch deep in thought.

  She’d had that dream again, although this time it was a little less muddled. She could almost see the person who was standing over her bed, but even though she couldn’t recognise them, she somehow knew the words they were saying were spiteful.

  ‘Hello, sweetheart,’ Marjorie Plunkett said as she followed Cecelia into the room. ‘Were you asleep?’

  Alice-Miranda wriggled up into a sitting position. ‘I was but I woke up a few minutes ago. I’ve been having the most confounding dreams ever since the accident.’

  ‘I suppose that’s what a concussion might do,’ Marjorie said. ‘We’re all terribly glad you’re feeling better. Her Majesty was worried sick and had me call the hospital numerous times for updates.’

  ‘I’m sorry I had everyone so worried. Aunty Gee sent the most wonderful bundle of books for me to read while I’m recovering. There’s a beautifully bound copy of A Little Princess, which was signed by the author, and another that was inscribed to Aunty Gee by her father, the King. I’ll make sure to return them once I’m finished,’ Alice-Miranda said.

  ‘I know she meant for you to keep them,’ Marjorie assured her. She’d been at the palace with Her Majesty the morning she was choosing the books from the library.

  ‘Darling, we mustn’t keep Marjorie,’ Cecelia said. ‘She’s got a lot on her plate.’

  ‘Has there been a development with the food poisoning?’ Alice-Miranda asked.

  Marjorie shook her head. ‘No
, Dolly and your father were just briefing me with the necessary details. SPLOD will be on the case now, so fingers crossed things will come right in a day or so,’ the woman said confidently.

  ‘Thank you for coming to say hello and for my gorgeous roses,’ Alice-Miranda said. She remembered that she had written Miss Plunkett a card that morning, which hadn’t yet been posted. She quickly thumbed through the pile on the coffee table and passed it to her.

  Marjorie smiled. ‘Oh, that’s lovely.’

  Suddenly the girl’s brow furrowed and she looked as if she were searching for the right words. ‘I have been thinking about something, Miss Plunkett … Could it be poison?’

  Marjorie’s eyes widened. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Last term I was doing some reading for my Science project and there was a section on everyday items that were potentially poisonous. I don’t know why, but this evening the thought popped into my head. We were studying Romeo and Juliet too and there was poison in that as well. Maybe I’ve just got poison on the brain,’ Alice-Miranda said, shaking her head. ‘Sometimes I’m not sure what I’m thinking.’

  Marjorie nodded. ‘Well, it’s certainly an avenue we should explore. I don’t know if anyone’s considered that yet,’ she said, patting the girl’s hand. ‘We can’t leave anything to chance.’

  Marjorie then said goodbye and she and Cecelia left Alice-Miranda alone with her thoughts. A face came into focus in her mind for a split second but then it was gone. Alice-Miranda had no idea who the person was and what they had to do with her dream but she wished her mind would stop playing tricks on her so she could work it out.

  ‘Thank goodness today’s over,’ Millie sighed as she and Sloane walked into the dining room.

  It was already bustling with girls lined up at the servery and carrying trays to tables of chattering friends. The space was looking better than it had in years with Miss Grimm and Charlie recently uncovering an Aladdin’s cave of discarded honour boards and portraits that had been abandoned in the cellars under Winchesterfield Manor. Charlie had reinstated them to the walls and Miss Grimm had already had the names of head prefects and duxes from the past thirty years or so added.

  ‘I tell you that assignment on William Shakespeare almost killed me,’ Millie groaned. ‘He of weirdo language that maketh not much sense to me.’

  Sloane giggled. ‘I thought Romeo and Juliet was kind of charming in a tragic, horrible way.’

  ‘If you like the fact that everyone dies,’ Millie said. ‘They’re so young and in love – it’s sickening, if you ask me. Worse than Jacinta and Lucas.’

  ‘Come on, Jacinta and Lucas are cute,’ Sloane chuckled. The girl raised her nose in the air and drew in a deep breath. ‘At least Mrs Smith’s going out on a high for the holidays. It smells like pizza night.’

  Sure enough, the servery was crowded with girls eager to get their slices of the home-made ham-and-cheese or supreme pizzas. Unbeknown to the crowd, Mrs Smith had made lots of extras, anticipating the popularity of the treat.

  ‘There’s garlic bread too,’ Sloane gasped, reaching across to take three pieces, which garnered her a quizzical look from the cook. Her eyes met Mrs Smith’s. ‘Too many?’

  The woman shook her head and smiled. ‘There’s plenty more. I thought this menu might be a bit of a hit. Besides, you can never have too much garlic bread.’

  ‘That’s what I always say, Mrs Smith.’ Sloane grinned at her. ‘Although I pity whoever has to sit near me tonight with my stinky breath. What are you doing for the holidays?’

  ‘Well, dear, I had a call from Dolly Oliver and it looks like I’ll be off to Highton Hall next week to help out there for a little while. They have a big event coming up next weekend and Dolly could do with an extra pair of hands,’ the woman explained.

  Millie’s eyes lit up. ‘I’m going to stay with Grandpa for a few days, so I’ll be able to visit. Hopefully I’ll see you there.’

  ‘You can both say hello to Alice-Miranda from me,’ Sloane said.

  ‘Of course,’ Mrs Smith replied before scurrying back into the kitchen to fetch some more garlic bread out of the oven.

  Millie and Sloane quickly filled their plates and found a table, where they were joined by Sofia Ridout. Millie had just taken a bite of her pizza slice when the dining-room door burst open and Caprice raced into the room huffing and panting. ‘They’re taking Miss Grimm away in an ambulance!’ the girl shouted.

  Within seconds, everyone was on their feet, wanting to see the drama for themselves, but Miss Reedy was on to it in a flash. ‘Girls, sit down at once,’ the teacher commanded. It was fortunate that Benitha Wall was sitting near the door and stood up to block the exit.

  The appearance of an ambulance was news to Livinia and the rest of the staff too, who all sported surprised looks. Josiah Plumpton waddled over to his wife and whispered in her ear, then disappeared to investigate.

  ‘Right, Mr Plumpton has gone to see what’s happening. For now I’d like you to return to your meals and stop speculating,’ the woman ordered. ‘Caprice, get something to eat and sit down. NOW!’

  ‘Gosh, Miss Grimm must be really sick,’ Sofia said, her voice wavering with concern. ‘I hated being in hospital.’

  Caprice slotted in beside her, her plate overflowing with food. ‘You only had appendicitis,’ she scoffed. ‘It’s not like you were going to die or anything.’

  ‘No, but it still wasn’t much fun and I had to miss the trip to China,’ Sofia replied. ‘Mummy said that it could have been really serious if we hadn’t got there so quickly. There’s some awful blood poisoning thing that can happen.’

  Caprice rolled her eyes. ‘Yes, we know – septicaemia,’ she said with her mouth full. ‘The golden child told us all about it.’

  ‘Do you really need to be so mean?’ Millie said, throwing down her piece of garlic bread.

  Caprice wrinkled her nose. ‘It’s true, isn’t it? Everyone knows Alice-Miranda is the golden child around here. I was simply stating a fact,’ she said in a menacingly sweet tone.

  Millie resisted the urge to pick up one of the pizza slices on her plate and hurl it at Caprice. It would serve the girl right to be slapped on the head with it.

  Josiah Plumpton hurried back into the room and skittered along the timber floor to his wife. His cheeks were red and there were two dark patches spreading out from under the arms of his blue shirt. He mopped at his brow as the pair spoke quietly for a few minutes. Miss Reedy then walked to the microphone, which screeched loudly as she switched it back on.

  ‘Seriously!’ Caprice bleated, covering her ears.

  Miss Wall raced over to the speaker. She fiddled with the dials before the ear-splitting noise thankfully abated and Miss Reedy once again stepped up to speak.

  ‘Apologies for that, girls. It seems that Miss Grimm has indeed been transported to hospital for a suspected gastro bug. Dr Marsh has advised that she be taken in for observation. It’s not an emergency, just a precautionary measure. I’m sure you’ll all be keeping her in your thoughts and I will update you as any further news comes to hand,’ the teacher said.

  ‘Told you,’ Caprice sneered.

  Millie gripped her pizza slice more tightly, afraid that she wasn’t going to be able to stop herself if the girl opened her mouth one more time.

  ‘And girls, please be extra careful about your own hygiene for the remainder of the term. I want to see lots of thorough hand-washing and no sharing of food. The last thing we need is a school-wide outbreak.’ Miss Reedy cast a long look over the students before stepping down from the podium.

  Caprice poked out her tongue. ‘Yuck, I’m glad I’ll be in the south of France by Monday.’

  ‘Are you sure about that?’ Millie eyeballed the girl. ‘Like, really sure?’

  Caprice glared at her. ‘What are you going on about now?’

  ‘I just want to be certain that you won’t be turning up out of the blue at Highton Hall because your mother is catering for the garden party or
something,’ Millie said.

  Caprice flicked her copper-coloured mane. ‘Why would she do that?’

  Sloane and Sofia giggled. Despite the girl’s protests, they knew exactly what Millie was getting at, as Caprice had made a habit of unexpected holiday appearances since joining the school.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Millie noticed that Miss Reedy was heading for the door. She jumped up and ran after the woman.

  ‘Excuse me, Miss Reedy, may I speak with you?’ Millie quickly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

  Livinia nodded. ‘Of course, Millie. What’s the matter?’

  ‘Do you think Miss Grimm’s illness could be linked to the Kennington’s food-poisoning outbreak?’ Millie asked quietly.

  ‘I’m sure that Dr Marsh would have diagnosed that by now,’ Livinia said doubtfully.

  Millie shrugged. ‘I just hate the thought that Miss Grimm might be a victim and I know Alice-Miranda has been worried about her too.’

  ‘You’re both very kind. Please say hello to Alice-Miranda next time you’re speaking to her. I trust she’s feeling much better,’ the woman said. ‘Mr Plumpton and I are planning to attend the Highton Hall Garden Party in the holidays. Miss Grimm and Mr Grump had expressed an interest in coming along with us, so I hope we still all manage to get there.’

  Livinia smiled as she walked to the exit. It was lovely to see how concerned the girls were these days about Ophelia – and rightly so. The woman was almost unrecognisable from the miserable dictator she’d once been. These days, Livinia couldn’t imagine the school without her and, truth be told, she hoped the doctors could sort out her health issues sooner rather than later. In all the years Livinia had known her, Ophelia Grimm was as strong as an ox. There was something very off-kilter knowing that she’d been laid so low.

  On Saturday morning Alice-Miranda managed to shower and dress without any assistance at all. She arrived in the kitchen to find her mother at the stove and the smell of sizzling bacon and freshly baked bread filling the air.