Free Alice-Miranda at the Palace 11 by Jacqueline Harvey

like that for?’ Marjorie asked.
    â€˜It’s a beautiful day, darling, and I’m engaged to an even more beautiful woman. Aren’t I allowed to look happy?’
    â€˜Of course,’ Marjorie said as Lloyd leaned across and kissed her cheek.
    Alice-Miranda looked at the pair, who were standing a little way to the group’s left. ‘They’re such a lovely couple,’ she said.
    â€˜She’s gorgeous,’ Ambrosia commented.
    â€˜Yes, who’d have thought Lloyd would ever end up with a woman like that?’ Hugh Kennington-Jones said.
    â€˜Daddy, that’s not very nice,’ Alice-Miranda chided. ‘We met Lord Lancaster-Brown earlier and he seemed perfectly charming.’
    â€˜No, darling, that’s not what I meant. Lloyd’s love life has always been a bit of a mystery. I just wonder how they met, that’s all,’ Hugh clarified.
    â€˜You know he had the most beautiful sister,’ Cecelia said.
    â€˜Really?’ Hugh frowned. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever met her.’
    â€˜No,’ Cecelia said. ‘And you won’t.’
    â€˜Why not, Mummy?’ Alice-Miranda asked.
    â€˜There was some sort of terrible accident years ago, and not long afterwards she disappeared. No one’s seen her for almost two decades,’ Cecelia explained. ‘I think it broke Lloyd’s heart to lose her. She was a few years older than him and they’d been very close.’
    â€˜That’s awful.’ Alice-Miranda looked over at Lloyd Lancaster-Brown. It was hard to imagine such a terrible thing as losing a sister.
    â€˜Do you know anything about Marjorie?’ Ambrosia asked.
    â€˜I bet she’s a movie star,’ Millie said.
    Lawrence shook his head. ‘I don’t think so.’
    â€˜She’s Aunty Gee’s milliner,’ Cecelia said. ‘Mummy reminded me earlier when we were ogling her outfit.’
    â€˜Miller what?’ Millie asked.
    â€˜Milliner,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘She makes hats.’
    â€˜Beautiful ones at that,’ Cecelia added. ‘Aunty Gee always has gorgeous headwear. I absolutely adore that blue one she’s wearing now.’
    â€˜Maybe I could interview Marjorie,’ Ambrosia mused.
    These days, Ambrosia was writing for Highton’s in-house magazine and various publications under the pseudonym Rosie Hunter, and was earning quite the reputation as a journalist. Jacinta couldn’t have been prouder of her mother, who had gone from serious socialite, whose only goal was to get herself in the social pages, to a woman with a career and little concern about being an ‘it girl’ anymore. Most people who knew her couldn’t believe the transformation.
    â€˜We’d run the story, of course,’ Cecelia said. ‘But I don’t think she’s ever given an interview and I don’t even know where her salon is. Come to think of it, I remember Mummy once telling me that she works exclusively for Aunty Gee.’
    â€˜Her Majesty must pay handsomely,’ Ambrosia said.
    Hugh finished his last sip of champagne and placed the glass on a nearby waiter’s tray. ‘Time to get going. We don’t want to be late for Aunty Gee’s games – she takes them very seriously, you know.’
    â€˜I wonder who’ll be on her team,’ Millie said.
    â€˜She’ll stack it with all the best players because, although we don’t like to say it out loud, someone isvery competitive.’ Hugh grinned cheekily.
    â€˜What was that, Hugh?’ Queen Georgiana asked, appearing behind them.
    Hugh grimaced. ‘I’m getting myself into lots of trouble today. I was just saying that I hope I’m on your team for the games this afternoon.’
    Aunty Gee shook her head. ‘Not after last time, when you belted the croquet ball out of the park. I think I need some new blood.’ She pointed at Lawrence and Jacinta. ‘I