Read Online Alice-Miranda At School by Jacqueline Harvey - Free Book Online

Miss Grimm’s tea tray as though they were in charge of the Queen’s own supper. At one point Millie stumbled on a stone and for a second it looked as if the whole thing might topple into the garden.
    â€˜That was close,’ Alice-Miranda gasped as they regained control of the tray.
    As the girls neared the office Alice-Miranda wondered if Miss Higgins would be very cross. She hoped she mightn’t be too upset, seeing as thoughthey were saving her the bother of delivering Miss Grimm’s supper.
    The door to Miss Higgins’s office was closed. There was a sign hanging from the knob.
    ----
    Dear Girls and Staff,
    Â 
    I have been called away to attend to urgent business. If you require assistance please see Miss Reedy or Mr Plumpton in the Teachers’ Study. First door down the hallway to the left.
    Â 
    Kindest regards,
    Miss Louella Higgins
    Personal Secretary to the Headmistress
    Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies
----
    Alice-Miranda was intrigued. ‘I wonder what sort of family business Miss Higgins has been called to?’
    â€˜Alethea’s pillows probably need plumping or she’s run out of wardrobe space,’ Millie laughed.
    â€˜Surely not!’ Alice-Miranda exclaimed. ‘MissHiggins has far more important jobs than fussing over Alethea.’
    Millie raised an eyebrow. ‘I wouldn’t bet on it.’
    Alice-Miranda instructed Millie to set the tray down on the table outside Miss Higgins’s door. She clasped the brass knob and to her surprise found the door unlocked. Alice-Miranda dragged a chair over to prop open the door and the girls carefully picked up the tray and walked inside, setting it down again on the corner of Miss Higgins’s desk.
    â€˜I always wondered what it was like in here.’ Millie walked around inspecting this and that. She picked up a small brass elephant from the corner of Miss Higgins’s desk.
    â€˜We really shouldn’t touch anything,’ said Alice-Miranda. ‘I can’t believe you’ve never been in here. Miss Higgins is so lovely, and helpful too.’
    â€˜Well, I suppose I’ve just never really had any reason to come in here.’ Millie walked around, her forefinger skimming the desk as though she was a maid checking for dust.
    There was a sliver of light coming from under the door to Miss Grimm’s study.
    â€˜So is that where she is?’ whispered Millie, her face turning ghostly white.
    â€˜Who? Oh you mean Miss Grimm.’ Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘I’ll knock and see if she’s about. If she’s not in we can just leave the tray on her desk. She must be expecting it soon anyway.’
    â€˜Are you sure?’ Millie whispered. ‘Perhaps we could just leave the tray out here and push a note under the door.’
    â€˜Don’t be silly. I’d hate for Miss Grimm’s dinner to get cold. I can’t imagine she’d be very pleased with Mrs Oliver. There’s nothing to be afraid of, really,’ Alice-Miranda said reassuringly.
    She tapped gently on the door. There was no answer so she turned the handle and popped her head inside.
    â€˜Hello, Miss Grimm? Are you there?’
    She was greeted by silence.
    â€˜Come on, let’s just take the tray in and go,’ Millie urged from behind.
    â€˜Helloooo, Miss Grimm?’ Alice-Miranda took a few steps inside. Although it was summer, a fire danced in the hearth. The black marble mantle glinted darkly. Miss Grimm’s enormous desk sat proudly to the left of the double entrance doors. To the right were two dark green leather chesterfield lounges and a high-backed armchair in a sternnavy stripe. On the facing wall a solid mahogany bookcase filled with classic tales groaned under its weight of wisdom. It struck Alice-Miranda that the room quite resembled her father’s study. Even the curtains, though elegant in design, were heavy and dark.
    Alice-Miranda spied