After drying off, the children spent the rest of the afternoon playing board games and chatting in the sitting room downstairs. Aki taught them how to fold origami cranes too, and left the group with a lovely pile of pretty paper squares and instruction sheets for different animals. Millie made a bat, a butterfly and something that should have resembled a cat but looked more like a frog. The storm put paid to Hugh’s plans to visit the National Gardens. It lasted for hours and the inn took on an eerie quality in the dim light. Lucas entertained the girls with spooky stories about the old chapel over at Fayle School. The girls giggled at his impersonations of the teachers, especially Mr Lipp and Professor Winterbottom.

Jacinta looked at him dreamily. ‘You know, you should be an actor like your father.’

Lucas shrugged. ‘I guess it would be kind of fun. But I’d hate to have people staring at me all the time.’

‘What, like Jacinta does?’ Millie asked.

‘I do not,’ Jacinta snapped.

‘Uh, yeah, you do,’ Lucas said, grinning.

‘Well, I won’t any more,’ Jacinta fumed.

‘No, it’s okay. I don’t mind,’ said Lucas.

Millie rolled her eyes.

The group was interrupted by Cecelia, who had arrived back a little while earlier and been upstairs arranging outfits for the evening’s visit to the palace.

‘Hello darlings, time to get ready.’

Alice-Miranda began to pack up the game. ‘What do we have to wear?’

‘There’s a surprise or three in your room,’ Cecelia replied.

‘What about Lucas?’ Jacinta asked.

‘I’m afraid it’s just a boring old dinner suit for you,’ she told her nephew.

Alice-Miranda put the boxes back on the shelf while the others tidied up the cushions and origami paper before they went upstairs.

‘Let’s see what we have here,’ said Cecelia as she slid open the door to the girls’ room. Hanging on the wardrobe doors were three beautiful kimonos.

‘Oh my goodness, are they for us?’ Jacinta asked. She immediately recognised the lilac one as the same gorgeous garment she’d tried on the day before.

‘Yes, the kimono makers insisted on sending them for you all as a gift,’ Cecelia nodded.

‘They’re amazing,’ Millie gasped.

Ambrosia walked into the room. ‘Do you really like them?’

‘They’re beautiful,’ said Alice-Miranda. She rushed over and studied the intricate floral patterns.

‘How about we get you into them and then we can have a play around with your hair?’ Cecelia suggested.

‘What are you wearing, Mummy?’ Alice-Miranda asked. ‘Do you have a kimono too?’

‘No, darling. We wouldn’t want to overdo it.’

Ambrosia passed her daughter the lilac kimono and then handed Alice-Miranda the pink one. Millie’s was the most stunning shade of pale green.

Jacinta stroked the silk. ‘I love it.’

‘Anyone home?’ Charlotte asked as she slid open the screen and walked into the room. ‘How are my little geisha girls getting on?’

Alice-Miranda spun around. ‘You look gorgeous.’

Charlotte was wearing a stunning magenta-coloured empire-line gown, with long sleeves and a scoop neck.

‘I feel like a whale,’ Charlotte said as she patted her baby bump.

‘Well, you don’t look like one,’ Alice-Miranda said.

‘Thank you, sweetheart. I’m just so tired all the time. I can’t imagine being even more tired when these guys arrive.’

The girls slipped into their kimonos and Charlotte lined them up to do their hair, while Cecelia and Ambrosia ducked off to get dressed.

Half an hour later, Cecelia reappeared carrying three pairs of geta sandals, and little silk purses and hair ribbons to go with the girls’ kimonos.

‘I love your dress too, Cecelia,’ said Millie as she cast her eye over the woman’s striking blue gown.

Ambrosia was wearing an equally gorgeous emerald satin evening dress.

‘Daddy said that this was an informal evening,’ Alice-Miranda said thoughtfully. ‘And we’re all dressed as if we’re off to a ball.’

‘Your father telephoned Kenzo and asked what he meant by informal. Kenzo said he’d just be wearing his dinner suit, so we took that to mean informal was a step down from top hats and tails.’

‘I’m glad Daddy called,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘It would have been embarrassing to arrive underdressed.’

‘Or undressed,’ Millie giggled.

‘I couldn’t agree more, Millie,’ Cecelia said. The woman’s diamond earrings caught the light and sparkled as brightly as her smile. She glanced at her watch. ‘Oh heavens, it’s almost six. We’d better get downstairs.’

Lawrence stepped out of his room, followed by Lucas and Hugh. ‘Who are these gorgeous babes?’ he asked with a grin. ‘I hope they’re coming out with us.’

‘Oh, Uncle Lawrence,’ Alice-Miranda giggled. ‘Please behave yourself.’