Read Online Alice-Miranda Shows the Way by Jacqueline Harvey - Free Book Online

strange feelings, Millie. Maybe you’ve caught it from me. I’ve found that there’s usually an explanation for these things. Perhaps Mr Boots just needs someone to give him a chance.’
    Millie nodded but she wasn’t convinced.
    â€˜Come on.’ Alice-Miranda clicked her tongue and Bonaparte began to canter. ‘Or Mr Walt will think we’re not coming.’
    Miles and miles of hedgerows shielded much of Chesterfield Downs from view. The lane was bordered on the low side by a grove of alders, ash and beech trees, their leaves creating a pretty palette of green. Dappled sunlight lit the girls’ way until they came to a pair of ancient limestone gateposts.
    On the left a brass nameplate announced the property and on the right a small coat of arms and the letters HRH indicated that the farm was indeed owned by Her Royal Highness, Aunty Gee. An imposing set of iron gates stood open.
    The brick-edged driveway seemed to go on forever, with emerald paddocks dotted with oak trees on either side and several horses grazing on the lush meadow grass.
    As the girls rounded a bend in the road, a magnificent Georgian house came into view. It was three storeys through the centre with identical octagonal double-storey wings on either end. In the front of the property was a perfectly formed lake and a magnificent formal rose garden.
    â€˜Wow!’ Millie exclaimed. ‘What a beautiful house.’
    â€˜And garden. It’s lovely,’ Alice-Miranda agreed. ‘I can’t imagine why Aunty Gee doesn’t come down here more often.’
    â€˜She probably has about ten houses just like this one,’ Millie scoffed.
    â€˜I suppose so,’ said Alice-Miranda. ‘It does seem a little more than anyone needs. I wonder if she’s ever thought to allow people who are down on their luck to stay here while they get back on their feet?’
    â€˜Are you thinking of Billy Boots?’ Millie asked with a grin. ‘Really? Aunty Gee is good fun but I can’t imagine this place full of hobos.’
    The girls spent another couple of minutes studying the house, and spotted a sign marked ‘Stables’ pointing towards the rear. They rode on and at the crest of the hill both girls gasped. The land flattened out and to the right an enormous stable complex dominated the landscape. It had a small clock tower in the centre and a row of dormer windows in the roof. A vast pair of timber doors stood open at the end. There was a small holding yard beside the building, and beyond yet another hedge was a full-sized racetrack. A whitewashed cottage sat amid a pretty garden just below the stables.
    Millie’s eyes were on stalks as she took it all in. ‘What an amazing place.’
    Alice-Miranda dismounted and pulled the reins over Bony’s head. Millie did the same and then the two girls walked towards a hitching rail beside the stables and tied the ponies up side by side.
    â€˜Now, you two behave yourselves,’ Alice-Miranda instructed.
    There didn’t seem to be anyone around. The girls walked towards the stables and peered inside.
    Through the double row of stalls, at least a dozen down either side, the girls could just make out a group of people huddled at the other end of the building.
    â€˜Hello,’ Alice-Miranda called out. ‘May we come in?’ She squinted as her eyes adjusted to the low light.
    The group turned and looked at her.
    â€˜Hello Miss Alice-Miranda, Miss Millie,’ Wally Whitstable called, beckoning them to enter.
    The girls could hear a low murmuring as Wally explained to the others that these were the visitors he was expecting from Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale.
    As she and Millie approached the group, Alice-Miranda noticed that they were all staring at something in the end stall.
    â€˜Good afternoon, ladies. I’d like to introduce you to Dick Wigglesworth, my boss,’ said Wally.
    A stocky man with thick grey