Read Online Alice-Miranda in the Alps by Jacqueline Harvey - Free Book Online Page B

‘I didn’t say anything.’
    â€˜Yes, you did.’ Millie nudged the boy.
    Lucas blushed and pressed his finger to his lips.
    Millie nodded. ‘Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me, sappy pants.’
    Alice-Miranda was still wiping the snow out of her goggles when a ski instructor in his instantly recognisable red parka whizzed past. ‘Snowplough, snowplough,’ he called to the two children following him.
    â€˜Hey, that’s Sep!’ Lucas said, sitting up.
    â€˜And Sloane. Look how well they’re doing.’ Alice-Miranda picked up her poles. ‘Come on, let’s join them.’
    The threesome traversed the slope back and forth until Sloane and Sep stopped beside their instructor. Alice-Miranda sped towards them.
    â€˜Hi there,’ she said with a wave.
    â€˜Oh, hi,’ Sloane said. Her grin couldn’t have been any wider.
    â€˜Did you see us?’ Sep said, beaming. ‘We rode the chairlift up and neither of us has crashed at all.’
    Hugh had a quick word with their instructor, whose name was Gunter. An older man, his tanned face was lined from years of winter sun.
    â€˜These two are very impressive,’ he said, nodding at the Sykes children. ‘If they continue with their lessons, I think they might even be able to conquer one of the black trails before they leave.’
    Sep’s eyes widened. ‘Did you guys hear that?’ he gasped. ‘A black run at St Moritz – awesome!’
    â€˜Alice-Miranda, weren’t you keen to have some lessons too?’ Hugh asked.
    The girl nodded. ‘Could we all go together? I don’t think we’re that much better than Sloane and Sep and then we can help each other.’
    Gunter nodded. ‘I don’t mind and these two won’t hold you back. I think Sloane is a lot better and braver than she gives herself credit for, and Sep is already a star.’
    Sloane and Sep were positively glowing.
    â€˜Why don’t you all have a run now so Gunter can let us know if that would work?’ Hugh suggested.
    â€˜Come on, kids. Show me what you’re made of,’ Gunter called, whizzing off down the mountain. He stopped to watch the children as they followed in his tracks. He then led them to a series of little jumps.
    â€˜You can do it, Sloane,’ Millie called to the girl, who was the last to come down the course.
    â€˜Here goes nothing,’ Sloane yelled as she let rip. She hit the jump and leaned forward the way Gunter had taught them. For a few seconds Sloane felt as if she were flying.
    â€˜Wow, she’s awesome,’ Lucas said.
    The kids held their breath as Sloane sailed through the air. She nailed the landing but soon began to wobble. She was balancing on her left ski, then on her right, unable to get them both on the ground at the same time.
    â€˜Look out!’ she cried, before collecting the back of Millie’s skis and sending the line of children toppling like dominoes. Gunter managed to leap out of the way just in time. The children were all in fits of giggles and completely covered in snow.
    â€˜Is everyone all right?’ Gunter called, skating over to them.
    â€˜Good one, Sloane,’ Sep said, giving his sister a push.
    â€˜I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry,’ she said, dusting herself off and getting back up onto her feet.
    â€˜That was nothing,’ Gunter reassured her. ‘Are you hurt?’
    Sloane shook her head.
    â€˜Are you scared?’ he asked.
    Sloane shook her head again.
    â€˜Do you want to show that jump what you’re made of?’
    Sloane nodded.
    â€˜Okay, kids, let’s ski down and do it all over again.’ Gunter pointed his stock towards the chairlift.
    The children took off after him, shrieking as they raced each other to the bottom of the slope.

Delphine Doerflinger sat in the lounge sipping her tea. From her vantage point in a high wingback chair, she could