Free Alice-Miranda Takes the Lead by Jacqueline Harvey Page A

dust on the furniture and she could see her reflection in the gleaming timber floor.
    â€˜I know someone’s here. I’d really like to meet you,’ Alice-Miranda called as she walked around the room. She reached into the pram and examined one of the china dolls. Its brilliant blue eyes opened and closed slowly when Alice-Miranda picked her up. ‘I need to talk to you. I’m lost and I have to find my way back to school!’
    Alice-Miranda was sure she had seen with her own eyes the same figure dressed in black she’d spied earlier in the garden disappear into this room. Trouble was, there didn’t seem to be any other doors and there was certainly no one inside.
    She checked behind the chairs and near the doll’s house. The bookcase laden with hundreds of stories beckoned and Alice-Miranda read the titles on the leather-bound spines. Treasure Island and Alice in Wonderland stood alongside Moby Dick and Great Expectations and hundreds of other classics. Alice-Miranda walked along the length of glassed-in shelves before coming to an open section.
    Reaching up to take a closer look, she put her hand on the slim volume of Ali Baba and the FortyThieves and realised immediately that it wasn’t a real book at all. It was made of wood, as was every other one beside it. Alice-Miranda knew that could mean only one thing.
    She pushed and prodded every title along the line. It was only when she reached Pride and Prejudice , second from the last, that there was a loud click and the wall pivoted. It revealed a small windowless room containing a narrow single bed, dressing table and small sofa. A giant wardrobe stood against the far wall. Alice-Miranda could make out the sound of gentle weeping coming from inside.
    â€˜Please come out,’ Alice-Miranda soothed. ‘I really do need your help.’ She approached the wardrobe and turned the handle. As Alice-Miranda opened the door, there was a jagged scream and a tall figure within cowered, shielding its face.
    â€˜Please, don’t be afraid,’ Alice-Miranda begged.
    She stepped back to allow whoever was inside the cupboard to come out. It was clearly an elderly woman, dressed in black from head to toe. Her blouse, long skirt, tights and shoes – all black – gave her the appearance of a bent stick of liquorice. Atop her head was a black velvet bowler hat with a long black veil that reached down to her waist. Thewoman sniffed several times in quick sucession, then slowly stood up.
    â€˜Hello,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘My name’s Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones and I’m very pleased to meet you, Miss …’ Alice-Miranda extended her small hand.
    The woman kept her head bowed and managed to stumble from the cupboard, steadying herself on Alice-Miranda’s outstretched arm.
    â€˜Do you have a name?’ Alice-Miranda asked. ‘I’m so sorry if I startled you. I really just need some help. Why don’t you come along with me and I’ll make us both a nice cup of tea.’
    And with that, Alice-Miranda hurried away to the kitchen and busied herself finding the necessary ingredients to put the pot on. She was already pouring two cups of strong black tea when finally the woman appeared in the doorway.
    â€˜Oh, there you are.’ Alice-Miranda set the cups down at the kitchen table. ‘Please sit down. You still haven’t told me your name though, miss, and I’d so like to know with whom I’m about to have tea.’
    The woman manoeuvred her crooked frame into one of the antique timber chairs without a sound.
    â€˜I simply adore your house,’ Alice-Miranda continued. ‘It’s terribly big and very beautiful, although I see perhaps you haven’t had any help in the garden for a while. It’s hard to keep such a huge place in check, isn’t it? My mummy has an army of help and she still spends hours each week making sure things are just so. Do you