Ambrosia and the girls were running late by the time they departed the kimono maker’s studio. The designer had insisted that the girls try on some of the beautiful garments which, unbeknown to them, she was planning to send to the inn as gifts. Ambrosia thought it would be a wonderful surprise.

‘Imagine how many silkworms it took to spin that delicate fabric,’ Alice-Miranda said.

‘Not to mention how long it takes to dye and then create the embroidery. I never realised it was such a complicated process,’ Millie said. ‘It’s awful to think that kimono making is a dying art.’

‘I loved them,’ Jacinta said. ‘But I suppose we wouldn’t really get to wear kimonos at home, unless there was a fancy dress party.’

As they arrived at Dolly’s hotel, Ambrosia paid the fare and Alice-Miranda dashed out of the taxi and into the marble and glass foyer with Millie and Jacinta hot on her heels.

Alice-Miranda scooted towards the concierge desk. ‘Sumimasen. Could you please tell us where the Invention and Innovation conference is taking place?’

The concierge, a young man with kind eyes, smiled and said, ‘Of course. It is in the Chrysanthemum Auditorium on the level below.’

‘Arigatou,’ the three girls called as Ambrosia caught up to them.

The woman glanced at her watch. It was a minute to two and they were meant to be there at least ten minutes ago. ‘Oh dear. I hope they let us in.’

The foursome raced towards the elevator. Alice-Miranda spotted a spiral staircase and decided that would be quicker. They ran down the stairs and across the foyer towards the double doors. Hugh was standing outside looking up and down and glancing at his watch. A security man was beside him.

‘Hello Daddy,’ Alice-Miranda called. ‘Sorry we’re late. We couldn’t get away – and it was such fun.’

‘Oh, thank goodness. They were about to close the doors.’

Hugh nodded at the fellow at the entrance, who ushered the group inside. Lawrence and Lucas were sitting in the back row with several empty seats beside them. The room was a large auditorium with tiered seating running down to the stage.

Ambrosia sat beside Lawrence with Jacinta and Millie next, then Alice-Miranda and her father at the end closest to the aisle. They’d just got settled when a tall man walked to the podium.

‘Konnichiwa,’ he said and bowed. ‘Watashi wa Nobu Taguchi desu.’

Jacinta leaned across Millie and whispered to Alice-Miranda, ‘Is this whole thing going to be in Japanese?’

‘I don’t think so. Mrs Oliver’s giving the speech,’ said Alice-Miranda. ‘As far as I know, she doesn’t speak a word.’

‘I would like to introduce our very special guest,’ Mr Taguchi said in English.

‘Oh, thank goodness,’ Jacinta said.

He gave a short introduction about Dolly and her inventions. There was some talk about her lack of formal training and how that hadn’t impeded her excellence and inventiveness, which was now world renowned. Then the man said the most peculiar thing.

‘I have been most impressed by Mrs Oliver’s grasp of the Japanese language. If I didn’t know better I would say that she converses as though it were her mother tongue.’

Alice-Miranda glanced up at her father, who was looking puzzled. ‘What’s he talking about, Daddy? I’ve never heard Mrs Oliver speak Japanese.’

‘No, me neither,’ he replied, shaking his head. ‘That’s a mystery to me.’

‘I welcome Mrs Dolly Oliver.’ The man bowed and Mrs Oliver walked across the stage. Alice-Miranda noticed that her face was red and even her trademark curls weren’t quite as helmet-like as usual.

‘Arigatou,’ Dolly mumbled and looked out at the audience. She placed a black folder onto the lectern and turned the first page. Dolly cleared her throat and began her speech. ‘Your excellency, the Grand Chamberlain, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen.’ She glanced up and spotted Alice-Miranda in the back row. ‘And boys and girls. It is an honour to be here today to speak to you about the development of JAW – which stands for Just Add Water.

‘Before I tell you about the technical aspects of the work, I’d like to say that none of this would have been possible without the support of my employers, Mr Hugh Kennington-Jones and his wife Cecelia Highton-Smith, who not only encourage me to spend my spare time dabbling, but have also built me an extraordinary laboratory in which to do my work. I like to think that’s because Mr Hugh recognised my potential, but perhaps it had more to do with the plumbing issues I was causing upstairs.’

There was a titter of laughter around the room. Hugh grinned and gave Dolly the thumbs up from the back row.

‘Is that true, Daddy?’ Alice-Miranda whispered.

‘You’d better believe it, darling. I once came downstairs to find Dolly covered in some goopy substance that was bubbling out of the kitchen drains and all over the floor.’

The audience sat enthralled by Dolly’s tales, although when she started to discuss the more technical elements, Jacinta began to yawn. Millie commenced a silent game of ‘Who threw the devon?’, in which she counted the number of men in the room sporting a large round bald spot on the back of their head.

‘It has been a pleasure to be here and I thank the Ministry for their very kind invitation to speak,’ Dolly finished. She stepped back from the podium and bowed.

There was an eruption of enthusiastic applause as Nobu took to the stage and asked the audience to once again thank Mrs Oliver for her incredible work. Dolly fiddled with the folder and began to walk towards the steps.

‘Not so quickly, Mrs Oliver. Please do not run away. Would you mind if we took some questions from the floor?’ Nobu asked.

Dolly’s lips formed a thin line.

‘Of course, if you would like to ask her in Japanese, I’m sure that will be fine too,’ the man said.

Dolly gulped. Small beads of perspiration appeared on her temples and a red rash crept up her neck.

Alice-Miranda leaned over to her father. ‘Daddy, is Mrs Oliver all right?’

‘I’m not sure, darling,’ Hugh replied.

A sea of hands shot up around the room.

‘May I have a glass of water?’ Dolly asked her host. She tugged at the collar on her blazer and wiped her brow.

‘Mrs Oliver?’ The man walked over and spoke quietly to her, then turned around and addressed the audience. ‘I’m afraid that Mrs Oliver is not feeling well, so if you could save your questions, we will ask her to join our final panel for the day. Of course, she will be with us for the rest of the conference too, so there will be many opportunities to chat with her.’

‘Thank you,’ Dolly mouthed. She disappeared off the side of the stage.

‘We will now break for afternoon tea. If I could ask you to stand while our official visitors leave first, then please join us in the upstairs foyer,’ the man directed.

A tall, particularly handsome Japanese man led the way, followed by two men in black suits.

He smiled and nodded at the delegates as he walked up the stairs towards the back of the auditorium. As he neared the top, he stopped.

‘Hugh?’ The man looked at Hugh Kennington-Jones and smiled widely.

‘Kenzo?’ Hugh frowned.

‘My goodness, I heard your name mentioned by Mrs Oliver but I had no idea that you would be here,’ the man replied. ‘Please, would you be my guest for afternoon tea?’

‘Oh, I’m afraid it’s not just me.’ Hugh motioned towards Alice-Miranda and the girls, Ambrosia, Lucas and Lawrence. ‘I brought along a cheer squad.’

Kenzo nodded at the group. ‘There will be an abundance of food.’

‘Well, as long we won’t be stopping you from mingling with the delegates?’ said Hugh.

Kenzo shook his head. ‘No. I have a private room. It will be very dull on my own. Please, come with me.’

Hugh grinned. ‘We’d be honoured.’