Alice-Miranda on Vacation by Jacqueline Harvey Page A

he pulled, Bonaparte took a deep breath and his stomach inflated.
    “Come on, Bonaparte. Be a good boy and I’m sure I can find you some treats while we’re out.” Alice-Miranda nuzzled his mane.
    At the mention of treats Bonaparte whinnied and Max strained the girth strap to its usual notch.
    Max gave Alice-Miranda a leg up into the saddle. She checked her stirrups before urging Bonaparte out into the sunshine.
    “Bye, Max, see you later,” she called, then leaned forward and scratched Bonaparte between the ears.“Let’s go and find Lily,” she said, giving his tummy a squeeze as they trotted down the drive.
    It was a glorious morning. With the breeze on her face, Alice-Miranda clicked her tongue and Bonaparte lengthened his stride into a canter. She loved the rhythm of the horse under her, and although Bony was still considered a pony—just on fourteen hands—he was quite big enough to have a loping rather than bone-shuddering gait, especially for a child as small as she was.
    “Hello, Mr. Greening,” Alice-Miranda called as they neared the gatehouse. Bonaparte slowed to a trot, then a lazy walk. Mr. Greening was trimming a photinia hedge that had pushed its way through the fence and was poking untidily into the driveway.
    He looked up and waved. “Hello there. You on your own?” he inquired.
    “Yes, Jacinta’s not feeling well, so she’s gone to bed. And just between you and me,” Alice-Miranda said with a smile, “I think she’s quite enjoying Mrs. Oliver making a big fuss of her.”
    Mr. Greening laughed.
    “So I thought it was a good opportunity to take Bony out—Jacinta’s not fond of horses, and I’ve been neglecting him since I arrived home. I’m off to see Lily,” Alice-Miranda babbled.
    “Oh, I thought Lily would be up at the Hall with Mrs. Greening and your mother and just about anyone else who knows anything about dusting and polishing and cleaning,” Mr. Greening offered. “I’m not going near the place this morning in case they put a bottle of silver polish in my hand.”
    “No.” Alice-Miranda shook her head. “Mummy said that Lily was busy with other things.”
    “I’m surprised,” Mr. Greening replied. “I know it’s all hands on deck so the place can be ready in time for Fri—” He stopped suddenly.
    “Friday?” Alice-Miranda’s eyes were wide. “What’s happening on Friday?”
    “Oh, umm, nothing, nothing at all,” Mr. Greening said, trying to backtrack.
    “You’re telling a big fat fib,” Alice-Miranda prodded. “Last night Daddy said something and Mummy cut him off. I thought he said ‘par—.’ Is it a party? Let me see—why would we be having a party? It’s not Mummy’s birthday and it’s not Daddy’s or mine. I think Granny’s is in a month or so. Oh!” Alice-Miranda’s mouth formed a perfect letter O. “It’s Aunt Charlotte’s—it’s her birthday on Saturday. Mummy and Daddy must be throwing a party for her. It must be a special one—I think she must be … now, let’s see … I wonder how old she is?Daddy’s forty-five and Mummy’s forty and I know Aunt Charlotte is quite a lot younger than her.…” Alice-Miranda thought for a moment. “She must be turning thirty—that’s it!”
    Mr. Greening frowned and looked as if he’d just been caught with his hand in Mrs. Oliver’s biscuit tin.
    “That’s it, isn’t it?” Alice-Miranda exclaimed. “There’s a big party!” She was very pleased with herself for working it out.
    “Well, I didn’t tell you anything.” Mr. Greening shook his head. “And I will not confirm or deny—but don’t you go saying anything to your mother or father.” He wagged his right forefinger at her. “It’s a surprise.”
    “It’s okay. I won’t tell,” she promised. “I’m very good at secrets. But what about a present?” Alice-Miranda thought out loud. “I haven’t got her anything, and if I’m not supposed to know then I can hardly ask Mummy and Daddy to help me arrange one.