Alice-Miranda at Sea Read Online Free PDF Page A

will be a tender picking up and delivering post each morning – depending on the weather, of course.’
    â€˜That’s lovely,’ Alice-Miranda fizzed. ‘I had hoped I would be able to send Miss Grimm a postcard or two. And I promised Mrs Smith I would let her know all about the food.’
    â€˜You’re so old-fashioned, Alice-Miranda,’ snorted Jacinta. ‘Who sends letters these days?’
    â€˜I think letters are lovely. It’s so much nicer to get something in the post. I mean, emails are wonderful but there’s something truly delicious about a letter,’ said Alice-Miranda.
    â€˜On that, miss, I must agree with you.’ Winterstone nodded his head.
    Jacinta shook hers. ‘You won’t catch me wasting time writing any silly old letters. Boring!’
    â€˜If I may continue?’ Winterstone interrupted. ‘There is a small refrigerator located behind this panel.’ He pulled open the bottom door of the china cabinet, revealing a miniature fridge loaded with juices, bottled water and soft drinks.
    â€˜See, Jacinta,’ Millie piped up. ‘You won’t need to call Mr Winterstone in the middle of the night. Everything’s here already.’
    â€˜Now, there are three room keys.’ Winterstone handed the girls one each. ‘Try not to lose them. Is there anything else you need at this point?’
    â€˜No, thank you, Mr Winterstone, I don’t think so. You’ve been extremely helpful,’ Alice-Miranda smiled.
    â€˜Very good, miss.’ He gave a small bow, turned and left the room.
    Millie pulled a face. ‘He’s a bit weird, don’t you think?’
    â€˜I’m sure he’s perfectly lovely,’ Alice-Miranda countered. ‘Perhaps he was just a little upset about his hair.’
    â€˜Well, I’d be upset if I had hair like that, too,’ Jacinta called from the bathroom where she had gone to rearrange her own messy locks.
    â€˜That’s not what I meant,’ Alice-Miranda frowned. ‘He might have been embarrassed.’
    â€˜I don’t think he likes children very much,’ Millie went on.
    â€˜Why do you think that?’ Alice-Miranda asked.
    â€˜He’s got wobbly eyes,’ Millie concluded. ‘And they’re the colour of wet cement.’
    â€˜I don’t think his eye colour suggests a dislike of children,’ Alice-Miranda replied.
    Jacinta emerged from the bathroom looking more her neat and tidy self. ‘Well I agree with Millie,’ she declared.
    â€˜Come on,’ Alice-Miranda urged. ‘Let’s go and see everyone.’

'G ood afternoon, Admiral Harding,’ Queen Georgiana greeted the Commander at the top of the gangplank. He was about to speak when the clamour of bagpipes rang out around the ship.
    â€˜That will be quite enough of that,’ Aunty Gee whispered to Dalton, who promptly murmured into his sleeve, silencing the kilt-wearing musician mid-bar.
    â€˜Good afternoon, Your Majesty,’ said Admiral Harding with a slight bow. ‘It’s wonderful to have you aboard.’
    â€˜It’s wonderful to be here finally.’ Aunty Gee arched her left eyebrow and glanced towards the flag rippling on the main masthead.
    â€˜We’re hoping to push off at two, ma’am. All passengers have arrived.’
    â€˜Wonderful. Let’s get everyone up onto the Promenade Deck, throw some streamers and start the party,’ she smiled.
    Admiral Harding nodded.
    Aunty Gee glanced at her lady-in-waiting, who looked as if she’d sucked a whole tree’s worth of lemons. ‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, Mrs Marmalade, it’s a wedding, woman. A party. I don’t know about you, but this week I plan to have a jolly good time – so might I suggest you loosen up a little, dear, and enjoy yourself?’
    Dalton barely suppressed a smirk. He wasn’t a fan of old Marmalade’s. The two had been with Queen