Read Online Alice-Miranda to the Rescue by Jacqueline Harvey - Free Book Online

want to go for a ride this afternoon?’ Alice-Miranda asked. ‘Mr Trout cancelled choir practice and I really want to give Miss Hephzibah and Miss Henrietta their chocolates from Switzerland.’
    â€˜Good idea,’ Millie said. ‘I don’t think they’ll last much longer sitting on the shelf in our bedroom – they’ll probably go off.’
    â€˜Or you’d eat them, more likely,’ Sloane teased.
    â€˜Do you want to come with us?’ Alice-Miranda asked. ‘We could walk if you’d rather not ride.’
    â€˜No, it’s fine,’ Sloane replied. ‘I have to finish that book, and you know me and horses are still not exactly the best of friends.’
    The girls hurried into the dining room, where a long queue of students had already formed at the servery. The smell of grilled cheese filled the air and it wasn’t long before everyone was seated and enjoying their afternoon tea.
    Millie looked around as she munched on her cheese toastie. ‘So where is Caprice?’
    â€˜See, I might be right,’ Sloane said. ‘Any minute Miss Grimm’s going to march her in here and she’ll make a full confession.’
    Millie shook her head. ‘No way.’
    Seconds later, Ophelia Grimm entered the dining room alone and glanced around.
    â€˜Told you,’ Millie said.
    But Alice-Miranda was curious as to where Caprice could be. It seemed as if everyone else was present – even Mrs Howard and Mr Charles were in the room. Mr Trout was there too, so Caprice couldn’t have been at another rehearsal.
    The headmistress walked to the podium and switched on the microphone. She’d looked everywhere for Miss Reedy and Mr Plumpton but hadn’t been able to locate either of them. The news couldn’t wait any longer; they’d just have to find out about the dog show at the same time as everyone else. ‘Good afternoon, girls and staff,’ she began. ‘I have some rather exciting news and I wanted to tell you all straight away. We’re going to have to form working groups immediately as time is of the essence.’
    There was a hush of whispers around the room while girls speculated about what this big announcement might be.
    â€˜Who likes dogs?’ Miss Grimm asked, and hands shot up all over the place. ‘Good, because in a couple of weeks’ time Winchesterfield is going to be hostingthe largest and most prestigious dog show in the country,’ the woman declared.
    Chatter erupted around the room.
    â€˜Cool,’ Sloane said. ‘I wonder if there’ll be some really weird ones, like those hairless Chinese.’
    â€˜I think they’re called Chinese crested,’ Alice-Miranda said with a smile.
    Millie’s eyes widened. ‘What about those huge Bernese mountain dogs, like the one we saw in Switzerland? They’re gorgeous.’
    â€˜Hopefully there’s none like Princess Gertie,’ Sloane said, wrinkling her nose.
    â€˜Can we enter our own dogs if our parents will bring them?’ a young girl called Ella asked.
    â€˜Everyone, please calm down,’ Miss Grimm ordered. ‘And no, Ella, this is a professional event. It’s a bit like,’ the woman hesitated, thinking about how she was going to put it.
    â€˜Miss Universe for dogs,’ Sloane called out. ‘Except that some of them are boys.’
    The girls laughed.
    Millie put up her hand. ‘Are we hosting Chudleigh’s Dog Show, Miss Grimm?’
    â€˜Not hosting – just helping – but, yes, that’s the event, Millie,’ the woman said with a nod.
    â€˜Wow, Chudleigh’s is big,’ Millie said. ‘I’ve been with my mother. She was one of the official vets a couple of years ago.’
    â€˜You might be able to give us some pointers then. All I know at this stage is that Mrs Parker, as President of the Winchesterfield Show Society, is in charge and she is enlisting as much