Alice-Miranda noticed that Sloane was limping. ‘Are you all right?’

Sloane shook her head and stumbled as she tried to keep up with the rest of the group. ‘My feet hurt.’

At the head of the line, Professor Winterbottom, the headmaster of Fayle, and Mr Grump, Miss Grimm’s husband, were maintaining a brisk pace on their way to the hotel from Notre Dame.

‘I’ve got a blister,’ Sloane complained, then suddenly knelt down in the middle of the path to inspect it. Ophelia Grimm, who was marching along behind and looking at the scenery, almost tripped over her.

‘Sloane! Don’t just stop like that. It’s dangerous,’ the headmistress admonished. She straightened herself up and studied Sloane’s silver sandals. ‘Perhaps you should have thought about wearing more sensible shoes. I warned you that we’d be walking quite a distance today. It’s the best way to orientate yourself in a new city.’

Deidre Winterbottom stopped beside Sloane. ‘Now let me take a look, dear.’ The headmaster’s wife examined Sloane’s feet before reaching into her giant backpack and producing an astonishing array of bandaids. ‘Good gracious, it’s a miracle you could walk at all with the size of that monster,’ Mrs Winterbottom noted.

Within a few seconds, Sloane’s left heel was sporting a large plaster and her right had a smaller covering.

‘Thank you, Mrs Winterbottom,’ Sloane said.

‘That must feel better already,’ said Alice-Miranda, as she reached out to hold Sloane’s hand.

‘I don’t know why we couldn’t have taken the bus back,’ the older girl grouched as she limped along. She wished she’d worn her own footwear instead of borrowing brand new shoes from Jacinta.

‘It’s not much further now,’ the headmistress confirmed. ‘Just around the corner.’

Sloane looked worried. Miss Grimm’s ‘just around the corner’ was usually at least another mile, but this time she was pleasantly surprised. Professor Winterbottom turned onto a narrow road and there in front of them was l’Hôtel Lulu.

To the right of the front door, a delicate pair of ornate iron gates led into a courtyard. Professor Winterbottom guided the children inside, where they quickly sat on the wooden benches lining the enclosure. The small space was beautifully decorated with a lion’s head wall fountain and rows of red geraniums. Miss Grimm and Mrs Winterbottom headed into reception to sort out the rooms and keys.

Sloane took off her shoes as soon as she was seated.

‘Does anyone know what we’re having for dinner tonight?’ called Rufus Pemberley.

‘Yeah, I could eat a horse,’ Figgy added.

‘Be careful what you wish for,’ Sep grinned. ‘The French eat horses, you know.’

‘Really?’ Figgy grimaced. ‘Then again, I suppose it’s just like eating a cow.’

Jacinta shuddered. ‘Oh, disgusting. I’m sure that’s not true.’

‘It is, Jacinta,’ Alice-Miranda replied. ‘Lots of people around the world eat horses. I can’t imagine it, though – I’d just see Bony staring up at me from the plate, or Rockstar or Chops. I couldn’t do it, I’m afraid, and I’ve eaten quite a lot of unusual things.’

‘We’ll be walking to a restaurant not far from here,’ Mr Grump informed the children. ‘We’ll meet back here at six thirty, once you’ve settled into your rooms.’

‘Not more walking,’ Sloane whined.

‘What sort of food are we really having?’ Jacinta asked tentatively, hoping Sep had been kidding about the horses.

‘Just the usual French delicacies. You know, snails, frogs’ legs, that sort of thing,’ said Mr Grump. He laughed as the children squirmed.

Sloane pulled a face. ‘I’m not eating any of that.’

‘Me neither,’ Jacinta agreed.

‘Frogs’ legs are delicious, Jacinta,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘They taste a bit like chicken. And snails are not as rubbery as you might think.’

‘Count me out for both. I’m not eating Kermit and I’d rather chew on a rubber band than eat a snail,’ Sloane quipped.

‘I’ll try snails.’ Figgy was now pretending to put his finger up his nose. ‘They probably taste like snot, Jacinta, and I’m sure you know what that’s like. Mmm, salty.’ He licked his lips.

‘You are disgusting,’ Sloane wailed.

‘Figworth, you can stop that nonsense right now,’ said Professor Winterbottom, glaring at the lad. Sometimes he wondered if the boy had a brain at all inside that boofy head of his. Who would have guessed that Fayle’s star second rower, a veritable giant of a lad, had the voice of an angel?

‘It’s all right, Jacinta. There will be plenty of regular food on the menu too,’ said Mr Grump. He’d decided he had better not upset the children too much. He didn’t want to get into trouble with his wife.

It wasn’t long before Miss Grimm and Mrs Winterbottom reappeared holding a handful of plastic hotel keys.

‘Can I have everyone’s attention, please?’ called Miss Grimm. ‘Children, you will be sharing two to a room. Each of you will have your own key. Please don’t lose them. Girls will be on the second and third floors and boys on the fourth and fifth with teachers interspersed throughout. I will give you a list of room numbers for the teachers, who will be available should you need anything. I don’t expect to find girls on the boys’ floors or vice versa. Is that understood?’ Miss Grimm smiled at her young charges.

‘Yes, Miss Grimm,’ the children chorused.

‘The rooms have been allocated at random. I know that some are larger than others but I have no idea which is which. It’s simply the luck of the draw.’ Miss Grimm scanned the list in her hand. ‘Alice-Miranda, you’re sharing with Millie in room 201 . . . Jacinta, you and Sloane are together in room 202 . . .’

The girls stepped forward to receive their keys. Mr Grump and Mr Plumpton showed them to the storeroom to collect their luggage and with military precision Miss Grimm had everyone in their rooms within fifteen minutes.

‘I wonder if there’s a view,’ said Millie. She pulled back the curtains to reveal a wall. ‘Ahh, no, not unless you’re a fan of old bricks.’

‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Alice-Miranda as she opened her suitcase. ‘I’m sure we won’t be here very much anyway. It sounds like Miss Grimm has a busy schedule arranged.’

The room was tiny, with two single beds, a chest of drawers and a bathroom that just fitted a shower, toilet and basin. The minute window opened only a fraction and there was barely enough room for the girls to drag their suitcases around the floor.

‘Sloane will be whining her head off if their room is the same as ours,’ Millie said.

There was a loud knock on the door.

Alice-Miranda opened it and Sloane and Jacinta rushed into the room, tripping over Alice-Miranda’s suitcase and sprawling side by side onto her bed.

The girls laughed as Jacinta performed a dainty forward roll only to find herself wedged between the two beds.

She propped herself up on her elbows, looking like an otter with its head poking out of the sea.

‘So, this is your room?’ Sloane said, as she and Jacinta traded broad smiles.

‘Yes. It’s small, but perfectly formed,’ Alice-Miranda replied.

‘Seriously? It’s just small, Alice-Miranda,’ Jacinta scoffed.

‘Why? What’s your room like?’ Millie asked.

‘It’s a mansion compared to this one,’ said Sloane smugly.

‘Come on then, let’s see.’ Millie grabbed Jacinta’s hand to help her out of the tight spot and the girls charged off across the hallway.

Sloane swiped the key and opened the door to reveal a huge sitting room complete with two lounge chairs, a small coffee table and a fireplace. Through another doorway was a double bedroom, with not one but two double beds and a bathroom with a large spa.

Millie was gobsmacked. ‘Wow! This is ridiculous.’

‘It’s lovely,’ Alice-Miranda said.

Both rooms had views of the street too.

‘I suppose I can’t complain about being in a broom cupboard now, can I?’ Sloane said. ‘Although you two could.’

‘You wouldn’t want to. Miss Grimm would soon find you one.’ Millie giggled. ‘Her room’s probably not nearly as good as this. Don’t let her in or she might want to swap.’

Alice-Miranda shook her head. ‘Miss Grimm wouldn’t do that. Well, not unless we suggest it.’ She winked at Millie.

‘What?’ Sloane’s mouth gaped open. ‘I always thought you were the only truly nice person I’d ever met Alice-Miranda.’

‘Hey! What about us?’ Millie looked at Jacinta and the two of them glared at Sloane.

‘You know what I mean,’ Sloane replied. ‘Alice-Miranda’s, like, weirdly nice. You’re just normal nice.’

Alice-Miranda grinned. ‘I wouldn’t really tell. Anyway, Miss Grimm said it was just the luck of the draw whoever got the best rooms, and I think you two won the lottery this time.’