‘This is a much more adventurous approach to the garden,’ Braxton Balfour said as he led the children through a tightly woven tunnel of trees. ‘I just discovered it recently myself.’
‘Have you been here long, Mr Balfour?’ Alice-Miranda asked the man.
‘A couple of months. I was previously a footman at Brackenhurst before I was promoted to the role of under butler here at Evesbury.’
‘Congratulations!’ Alice-Miranda smiled at him. ‘Do you think you might be in charge one day?’
‘Well, you never know. I suppose that’s what I’m hoping for.’ The man looked a little sheepish. ‘Better not tell Mr Langley, though. I don’t think he’s ready to retire just yet.’
Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘Don’t worry, Mr Balfour, I won’t say a word.’
The man grinned.
‘Wow!’ Jacinta exclaimed as the group emerged onto a viewing platform that overlooked an enormous sunken garden.
Large expanses of lawn were framed and crisscrossed by hedge-lined paths dotted with exquisite marble statues. In the centre of it all, a giant fountain guarded by four marble lions spouted water high into the blue sky. At the opposite end, a Palladian summer house was swarming with guests and waiters in black tail coats, carrying trays of drinks and delicious treats.
Braxton Balfour caught sight of Mr Langley glaring at him from down below. ‘I should leave you now. Have a lovely afternoon, children.’
‘Thank you for bringing us, Mr Balfour,’ Alice-Miranda said.
‘It was my pleasure.’ The man gave a bow before he turned and walked back up the path.
The children stared out into the crowd. Alice-Miranda spotted her parents talking to Ambrosia Headlington-Bear, and waved.
‘It’s all so beautiful,’ Sloane sighed happily.
Jacinta pointed to a woman’s hat. ‘Is that an umbrella on her head?’
‘Jacinta!’ Alice-Miranda chided, giggling.
‘You have to admit it will come in very handy if it starts to rain,’ Jacinta teased. ‘I think we could all fit under there.’
Millie raised her camera and clicked away at the men dressed in top hats and tails, and the women in a kaleidoscope of pretty dresses, hats and gloves. The child paused and glanced down at her own mint-green ensemble, wondering if it was up to scratch.
‘I love your dress, Millie,’ Alice-Miranda commented, noticing her friend’s hesitation. ‘It’s perfect.’
‘Do you really think so?’ Millie asked.
Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘Of course.’
Her own dress was the palest of pinks with a delicate floral pattern. Jacinta was in powder-blue, and Sloane had decided on a yellow outfit. Together, they looked like a rainbow of pastels.
‘I don’t know about everyone else but I’m starving,’ Sep said as he spied a plate of food circulating just below them. He led the way towards one of the two sets of stairs that fanned out from either side of the platform.
Sep and Lucas made a beeline for the waiter.
‘You have to try these,’ Lucas said to the girls while munching on a miniature pie. ‘They’re amazing.’
The children all reached in and the waiter handed each of them a tiny white napkin that bore the initials ‘GR’ in gold.
‘Mmm.’ Millie smacked her lips together. ‘These are delicious.’
The group wandered further into the garden with Lucas charging ahead, eager to explore every inch of it.
‘Hey, look at this,’ he called out. In the middle of one of the outer walls, Lucas had found an opening to what looked like a cave. He could hear the sound of running water coming from within.
The children ran to catch up. Just as they were heading for the entrance, a statuesque woman in a white lace dress stepped out from a side path to block their way. She wore a wide-brimmed hat trimmed with the same delicate fabric and was on the arm of a tall, handsome man.
‘You’re not going in there, are you?’ she barked.
Alice-Miranda and her friends looked at the woman, startled.
‘It’s just that it might not be safe,’ the woman said, her voice softening.
‘Marjorie, leave the poor children alone,’ the man said, frowning at her. ‘I’m sure there’s nothing to be afraid of.’
Alice-Miranda smiled at the couple and held out her hand towards the man. ‘Hello, I’m Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones.’
‘Oh, you’re Hugh and Cee’s little girl.’ The man reached out and took her tiny hand into his. ‘I’m Lloyd Lancaster-Brown and this is my worrywart fiancée, Marjorie Plunkett.’
‘It’s lovely to meet you both.’ Alice-Miranda was thrilled to meet a member of the Lancaster-Brown family, and introduced her friends to the couple.
‘Charmed,’ Marjorie said stiffly. She turned to Lucas. ‘You’re Lawrence Ridley’s son, aren’t you?’
The boy nodded, wondering how she knew that since he and his father didn’t share the same surname. ‘How do you know Her Majesty?’ he asked.
‘Oh, I’m just a distant relative,’ Lloyd replied.
‘Hardly distant, darling,’ Marjorie leapt in. ‘Lloyd’s a cousin of Queen Georgiana’s. His grandfather and Her Majesty’s father were brothers.’
Alice-Miranda’s eyes grew wide. ‘Was King George your grandfather?’
‘Yes,’ the man said with surprise, ‘but how on earth would you know that?’
‘I was reading something in the library recently about King George and how he abdicated to marry your grandmother Evelyn,’ the child explained.
‘Why did he do that?’ Millie asked.
‘Marry my grandmother?’ Lloyd said with a cheeky grin. ‘Oh, the old girl wasn’t that bad. Then again, come to think of it …’
Millie laughed, shaking her head. ‘No, why did he have to abdicate to marry her?’
Sloane frowned. ‘I’m confused. What’s abdicate mean?’
‘It’s when a king or queen stands aside and gives up their claim to the throne,’ Alice-Miranda explained.
Lloyd nodded. ‘Yes, that’s exactly right. My grandfather abdicated because my grandmother had been married before, and back then divorce was frowned upon,’ he said. ‘Grandmama Evelyn was the love of his life, although I always found her a little bit on the scary side.’
‘So if your grandfather hadn’t abdicated, would you be King now?’ Jacinta asked, trying to work out the royal line in her head.
Marjorie nodded. ‘Lloyd’s father was the eldest son and he passed away some time ago, so you’re right – Lloyd would have been King.’
‘Cool,’ Lucas said.
Lloyd grimaced. ‘All those visits to factories and hospitals are not my thing at all. I’d much rather leave it to Cousin Gee.’
‘At least you know exactly the right things to say and do at these parties,’ Millie said.
‘Oh, not at all.’ Lloyd chuckled, shaking his head. ‘Even after all these years I never know what to talk about or who I might offend. It’s a bit of a minefield.’
Millie smiled with relief. ‘I’m glad I’m not the only one who gets confused. I think there should be a guide to curtsying. I accidentally curtsied to one of the maids before, but she didn’t seem to mind.’
‘Perhaps you can give me some lessons in curtsying,’ Lloyd teased. ‘I’m horrible at it. I wobble hopelessly.’
Millie giggled.
‘Don’t be so silly, Lloyd,’ Marjorie rebuked. ‘Of course you enjoy these parties. Who wouldn’t?’
‘It is fun to get dressed up,’ Alice-Miranda agreed.
‘How long are you staying at the palace?’ Lloyd asked the group.
‘Just until tomorrow,’ Alice-Miranda said.
‘I wish we could stay all week,’ Millie added.
Marjorie smiled at the girls. ‘Oh, well, you never know …’
‘I would love to see the hunting tower,’ Lucas admitted.
Sloane nodded. ‘And everything else. I bet there are secret places all over the estate.’
Marjorie frowned. That very same thought had begun to dawn on her too.
‘I used to play in the tower as a boy,’ Lloyd said, staring into the distance. ‘But it’s been abandoned for years. I haven’t been back there since …’
Marjorie looked at her fiancé. ‘Since when?’
Lloyd shook his head, as if banishing a memory. ‘It doesn’t matter, dear.’
Marjorie wished he’d say something. It was awfully hard pretending she didn’t know things sometimes.
‘I don’t think we’re going to have much time to go exploring,’ Alice-Miranda said.
Lloyd nodded. ‘Perhaps on another visit, then.’
‘There probably won’t be another one, so we should make the most of being here now,’ Millie said, brightening up. She pulled her camera out of the little handbag that was slung across her shoulder. ‘Would you mind taking a picture of us?’
‘Oh, that’s a lovely camera, Millie,’ Marjorie said. She’d hoped that one of the children would have one.
Lloyd reached out to take it from Millie but Marjorie intercepted him. ‘Darling, you know you’re terrible at taking photographs,’ she scolded. ‘I can do it.’
The children organised themselves into a huddle and smiled as the woman snapped away.
‘Hang on, it’s a bit glary,’ Marjorie said, checking the screen. ‘I’ll just make sure they’re as good as I think they are.’
She turned away from the others and, quick as a flash, pulled a small silver object from her handbag. She popped open the battery case and within seconds had replaced the original battery with the one from her bag. She swivelled back to the children and passed the camera to Millie.
‘They’re perfect,’ Marjorie said with a smile. She placed a hand on Lloyd’s arm. ‘Come along, darling. I’ve just spotted Lord Tavistock, and I’d like to ask him if he’d be emcee at the wedding.’
‘Tavistock? Really?’ Lloyd said, rolling his eyes. ‘I’d much rather stay here.’
The children giggled as Marjorie hustled him away.
‘Come and rescue me later,’ he whispered over his shoulder.
Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘We will.’
‘I wonder why Miss Plunkett was so worried about us going into the grotto,’ Sloane said, once the couple was out of earshot.
Millie and Jacinta shrugged. ‘She looks like she’s forgotten about it now,’ Jacinta said.
‘He seems like a great guy,’ Sep said.
‘And she’s gorgeous,’ Sloane added wistfully. ‘Mummy would hate her.’