Read Online Alice-Miranda at the Palace 11 by Jacqueline Harvey - Free Book Online

small basin of water that smelt powerfully of antiseptic. She reached up and gently dabbed at the scratches on Braxton’s face.
    The man flinched. ‘I know I’m not supposed to come past the gate. I promise not to tell anyone, butjust so you know, I’m Braxton Balfour and I’m one of Her Majesty’s butlers.’ For a fleeting moment, their eyes locked and Braxton realised something. ‘Lydie?’ The name floated from his lips on the softest of breaths.
    She looked at him like a lost child.
    â€˜Is your name Lydie?’ he asked again.
    She nodded.
    â€˜Don’t you remember me?’ Braxton frowned, his eyes searching her face for a glimmer of recognition.
    She shook her head.
    The way she stared at him, Braxton felt as if he were a ghost. There were so many questions. ‘What happened to you?’ he asked.
    â€˜Please go,’ she whispered. ‘I don’t know you.’
    â€˜I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you,’ Braxton said, backing away.
    The moment he opened the front door, the raven flew past him into the hallway, where it perched on the woman’s shoulder. Bewildered, Braxton stumbled down the path, past the basket and its spilled contents, and didn’t once look back.
    Lydie stood in the doorway, staring out. ‘Who is he, Lucien?’ she said, stroking the bird on her shoulder. ‘And why can’t I remember?’

The children took turns wheeling the babies around the garden and soon enough they forgot about Louis and Edgar. They concentrated on exploring as much as they could and even revisited the grotto. It turned out to be an artificial cave decorated with the most beautiful mosaics they’d ever seen. Several little bridges led the way over a moat to a central island with an ornate wooden table and chairs. The children had found it charming and not scary at all, and Millie thought it would make the perfect picnic spot on a warm day.
    Later on, while Jacinta, Sloane, Sep and Lucas were being introduced around by Ambrosia, Millie and Alice-Miranda took the babies for a final lap of the secret garden. As the pair rounded the end of the path they noticed Marjorie Plunkett disappearing into the grotto.
    â€˜What do you think she’s going in there for?’ Millie asked. ‘She seemed pretty worried about us taking a look earlier.’
    Alice-Miranda shrugged. ‘I imagine she’s just curious, like we were.’
    â€˜Perhaps she’s having a romantic rendezvous with her fiancé.’ Millie giggled.
    As the girls drew closer to the grotto they could hear voices.
    Millie stopped on the path to listen. ‘That doesn’t sound very romantic.’
    â€˜Come on, Millie,’ Alice-Miranda whispered. ‘It’s none of our business.’
    Millie knew that her friend was right but there was something about Marjorie Plunkett that intrigued her.
    â€˜Is there anything more to report?’ she heard Marjorie say. Although the woman spoke in hushed tones, the grotto walls amplified her voice. Shesounded anxious, not like someone who was having fun at a garden party.
    Millie lingered a moment longer while Alice-Miranda pushed the pram further down the path.
    â€˜I’ve just received this,’ a voice replied. ‘Delivered with the palace post, same as last time.’
    â€˜Is the perimeter secure?’ Marjorie asked.
    â€˜Yes, ma’am.’
    â€˜Thank you, uh, Bunyan. You know we can’t be too careful. I’ve made some arrangements of my own to monitor their whereabouts.’
    Millie’s ears pricked up, but she couldn’t hear what Marjorie said next. She raced to catch up with Alice-Miranda, glancing back to see if anyone had emerged. ‘I just heard Miss Plunkett say the strangest thing,’ Millie said.
    Alice-Miranda looked at her friend.
    â€˜I know, I know, I shouldn’t have been eavesdropping,’ Millie conceded. ‘But I heard