Alice-Miranda at the Palace 11 Read Online Free PDF Page B

beats Grimthorpe House any day!’
    â€˜Just a bit,’ Millie said. ‘Have you been to the garden yet?’
    Jacinta and Sloane shook their heads.
    â€˜We’ve had a bit of a look around this floor but we didn’t want to go downstairs,’ Jacinta explained. ‘That scary butler, Mr Langley, told us that we’d have to pay for any damages and pointed out somepriceless vase he said had been in the family for centuries. We didn’t want to risk it.’
    They were interrupted by another knock, but this time Alice-Miranda knew exactly where it was coming from. She ran to the bedroom door and opened it. ‘Aunt Charlotte!’ she cried. ‘Uncle Lawrence!’
    Charlotte Highton-Smith scooped her niece into her arms and peppered the girl’s face with kisses. Lawrence Ridley bent down and hugged Alice-Miranda once she was back on the ground.
    â€˜Hello Millie, Jacinta, Sloane, it’s lovely to see you all.’ Charlotte smiled at the girls.
    â€˜Yes, good to see you all,’ Lawrence said and gave a wave.
    Alice-Miranda peered behind them. ‘Where are the babies?’
    â€˜They’re in our room, being watched over by two dutiful young men,’ Lawrence nodded.
    â€˜Have you got footmen babysitting for you?’ Sloane asked.
    Lawrence grinned. ‘Not quite. Your brother and Lucas volunteered their services.’
    â€˜Whoa, you’re brave,’ Sloane said. ‘I don’t think Sep’s ever looked after a baby in his life.’
    â€˜He was doing very well for a beginner,’ Lawrencesaid. ‘And as for Lucas, he’s more gaga over them than I am, which I didn’t think possible.’
    Jacinta almost swooned at the thought of Lucas holding a baby. ‘Lucas will be such a wonderful father one day.’
    The girls giggled.
    â€˜When he’s much older, of course,’ Jacinta added quickly.
    â€˜Would you like to meet them?’ Charlotte asked.
    Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘Yes, please. Can we all come?’
    â€˜Absolutely,’ Charlotte said. ‘But you’ll have to be quiet. They’re still sleepy.’
    â€˜Just the way I like them,’ Lawrence Ridley said with a wink.

The girls followed Charlotte and Lawrence down the hallway to their room. Lawrence held open the door as the girls and Charlotte filed in. A double pram was sitting in the middle of the room with Lucas and Sep standing over it, gazing at the babies.
    â€˜Hi Lucas,’ Jacinta said, much more loudly than she’d intended.
    The boy turned around and pressed a finger to his lips.
    Jacinta blushed. ‘Sorry.’
    The girls walked over and peered into the pram.
    â€˜They’re adorable,’ Millie whispered.
    â€˜She looks just like you, Alice-Miranda,’ Sloane said, pointing at the baby in a white jumpsuit with a pink trim.
    Sep nodded. ‘That’s what we were saying. Imagine how cute it will be when she’s a bit bigger. You’ll have your own mini-me, Alice-Miranda.’
    The children huddled around the infants, mesmerised by their tiny faces with rosebud lips and creamy skin.
    â€˜I think Marcus is waking up, Aunt Charlotte,’ Alice-Miranda said as the little boy stretched his arms, his face contorting.
    The children watched and waited to see if he’d open his eyes but his face just went red and his eyes remained shut.
    â€˜Pooh-wee!’ Millie held her nose. ‘I think he’s done something evil.’
    The other kids laughed.
    â€˜Bags not changing the nappy,’ Sloane said, screwing up her face.
    â€˜I’ll do it,’ Lucas volunteered.
    â€˜Really?’ Jacinta looked at him quizzically. ‘You’ll change his nappy?’
    The boy shrugged. ‘I have to learn sometime and I might as well practise on my baby brother.’
    Jacinta sighed. Lucas would make an even better father than she’d first thought.
    â€˜Come on, then.’ Lawrence