Free Alice-Miranda at Sea by Jacqueline Harvey Page B

champagne flute aloft.
    â€˜Before we partake of this most tantalising meal, I’d like to let you know a little about the route we’ll be taking this week. The Octavia has this afternoon been sailing along the French Riviera. We will be continu- ing onto the Italian Riviera and the Amalfi Coast before travelling up the Adriatic Sea to our point of disembarkation in the magical city of Venice. Although there are some glorious ports along the way, I’m sure you can appreciate that it is Charlotte and Lawrence’s wish that we remain on board until the end of the cruise and so, while we will admire from afar, we won’t be stopping in. Buzzing helicopters and long lenses are not something any of us want to attract to this celebration.’
    A titter of laughter rang around the deck.
    â€˜So, may I propose a toast? Will you please be upstanding? To our happy couple, Charlotte and Lawrence.’
    The chorus reverberated around the deck. ‘Charlotte and Lawrence.’
    â€˜I hope you all enjoy your meal and I look forward to meeting many of you on the dance floor a little later in the evening.’
    The tempting smell of barbecued meat and salty air wafted across the deck as a conga line of wait staff began depositing plates of food in front of the eager diners.
    â€˜Look, there’s Chef Vladimir.’ Alice-Miranda spied a giant in a tall white hat presiding over the chefs. Standing beside him was a raven-haired beauty. Her bejewelled kaftan caught the lantern glow from above, sending shards of soft light across her pretty face. Millie nudged Alice-Miranda.
    Jacinta swivelled her head to see what Millie and Alice-Miranda were looking at. Just as quickly, she spun back around and gave her fullest concentration to the fillet of beef on the plate in front of her.
    â€˜Jacinta, isn’t that your mother?’ Millie pointed at the woman. Although Millie had never met her in person she’d seen enough photographs of Ambrosia Headlington-Bear to know that it had to be her.
    â€˜Yes, I suspect it is.’ Jacinta ploughed into her potato.
    In a second, Alice-Miranda was out of her seat and charging towards the woman.
    â€˜Good evening, Chef Vladimir,’ Alice-Miranda smiled at the head chef. ‘It’s lovely to see you again and this barbecue smells delicious.’
    â€˜Of courze it doez,’ he sneered.
    â€˜Excuse me, but are you Mrs Headlington-Bear?’ she asked.
    â€˜Yes, of course I’m Ambrosia Headlington-Bear,’ the woman replied.
    â€˜Oh, thank goodness,’ said Alice-Miranda. ‘I was wondering if you were really on board the ship at all.’
    The woman stared blankly at Alice-Miranda.
    â€˜I am sorry. I haven’t even introduced myself. My name is Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones and I’m so very pleased to finally meet you.’ Alice-Miranda thrust her tiny hand in Ambrosia’s direction.
    â€˜Oh.’ Ambrosia studied the child for a moment before taking her hand into her limp grip. ‘Oh!’ she said again, a tiny flicker of recognition igniting on her face.
    â€˜My mummy and daddy invited you. Well, Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Lawrence actually insisted that you be invited,’ Alice-Miranda continued. ‘Jacinta is one of my best friends.’
    â€˜What’s Jacinta got to do with all this?’ Ambrosia attempted to furrow her brow, but it steadfastly refused to budge.
    â€˜Well, Mummy and Daddy thought it would be lovely if I could have Jacinta and Millie along on the cruise and then Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Lawrence said that it would be great to meet their parents and that’s how you and Mr Headlington-Bear and Millie’s mother and father came to be asked too.’
    â€˜But I was invited because I always get invited to these things,’ Ambrosia said, puzzled.
    â€˜Well, I imagine that you do get invited to loads of things, but this time you really do have Jacinta to