Alice-Miranda at Sea Read Online Free PDF

Georgiana for many years and there was no love lost between them. It warmed his heart to hear Her Majesty giving the old girl the rounds of the kitchen. Marmalade, in her aqua twin-set and pearls, dropped her eyes to the floor.
    â€˜Dalton,’ Aunty Gee snapped, ‘while I hope you enjoy yourself too, I suggest you be on your game this week. We can’t afford to have any incidents .’
    Dalton gulped, clearly recalling their last outing with the Highton-Smith-Kennington-Joneses, which had almost ended in disaster.
    On that occasion, Aunty Gee had been mistaken yet again for Dolly Oliver, this time by crooks intent on stealing Dolly’s formula for miraculous, miniaturised frozen food.
    â€˜Would you like to go to your suite and freshen up, ma’am?’ Admiral Harding glanced at his watch. ‘We have a few minutes.’
    â€˜No, I’m quite all right. I think I’d like to head straight up and see everyone. I’ve been looking forward to this for months.’
    Dalton was surprised that Her Majesty no longer required a visit to the amenities after she had been giving them all the hurry-up in the car, but he thought it best not to ask.
    And with that, Aunty Gee led the way to the Promenade Deck where she found her goddaughter, Cecelia, her dearest friend in the world, Valentina, and the family she considered as much her own as any other.

    The girls left their suite and scurried upstairs to meet Hugh and Cecelia on the Promenade Deck. There were loads of people gathering, most of whom Alice-Miranda recognised as friends of her parents, or relatives she only ever saw at large celebrations.
    â€˜Isn’t that . . .?’ Millie squinted into the light. ‘That’s my mother over there!’ She ran towards a flame-haired woman standing beside Mrs Oliver on the open deck. ‘Mummy, what are you doing here?’
    Pippa McNoughton-McGill turned and hugged her daughter into her outstretched arms. ‘Hello, Mill, didn’t think we were going to let you have all the fun did you, sweetheart?’
    â€˜Now, who’s this gorgeous girl?’ Hamish McLoughlin-McTavish appeared next to his wife and tapped Millie on the shoulder.
    â€˜Dad! This is the best surprise ever,’ Millie squealed. ‘I can’t believe you kept it a secret – we only saw you a couple of weeks ago at the play and you didn’t mention anything!’
    Ambrose McLoughlin-McTavish walked up behind his granddaughter and put his hands over her eyes. ‘Wonderful occasion, isn’t it?’
    â€˜Grandpa!’ Millie wriggled free. ‘You’re here too?’
    â€˜He’s with me, dear,’ said Mrs Oliver. During the last term break Dolly Oliver had been reunited with her old friend, Ambrose McLoughlin-McTavish, when Millie had gone to stay with Alice-Miranda. Now both widowed, Mrs Oliver and Ambrose were rather enjoying each other’s company.
    Alice-Miranda and Jacinta joined Millie’s family reunion.
    â€˜Hello there, young lady.’ Pippa leaned down and kissed Alice-Miranda’s cheek. ‘And Jacinta, it’s lovely to see you again too,’ she said and gave her a hug.
    Cecelia Highton-Smith approached the group. ‘I see you’ve found your surprise, Millie.’
    â€˜You’re so sneaky,’ Millie admonished. ‘But in the nicest possible way, of course.’
    â€˜Well, Charlotte and Lawrence insisted we invite your parents. As it turns out Cha and Pippa knew each other a little bit at school – I’m much older so we didn’t meet back then. And would you believe that Lawrence and Hamish were only a couple of years apart at Fayle, too?’ Cecelia scanned the gathering crowd as they began to line the side of the deck.
    Jacinta fiddled with a strand of hair. Cecelia glanced over at her, then searched the sea of faces.
    â€˜It’s all right, Cee,’ Jacinta whispered. ‘You don’t have to