The Case of the Stolen Crown by Paula Harrison

Author:Paula Harrison
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic UK
Published: 2017-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

He was the only one at the breakfast table who looked happy. Millie’s father, King James, was eating a pastry with a deep frown on his face.

Queen Belinda was pale and there were shadows under her eyes. She offered Millie some toast. “Amelia, would you set out the name cards on the banquet table before everyone arrives? I have so many other things to do!”

“Yes, I can do it!” Millie took the bundle of name cards and the toast.

“Oh, and Miss Parnell wants you to go straight to the hall after breakfast for one more dancing lesson,” added her mother.

Millie stifled a groan. She was about to ask if she could skip the dancing when Mr Larum came in, followed by Jess.

“I do apologize for appearing at breakfast dressed so oddly,” Mr Larum told the queen, pointing at his tweed slippers. “But one of my shoes has gone missing. It’s very strange indeed.”

Millie looked at Jess. She knew her friend was thinking the same: it was very suspicious that Mr Larum’s shoe had disappeared just when they wanted to measure it.

“I suppose there could be a shoe thief as well as a crown thief in our midst.” Mr Larum tried to laugh but stopped when he saw the queen’s serious face.

Jess whispered in Millie’s ear as she passed by with a tray, “You keep an eye on the Lord Chamberlain and I’ll follow Mr Larum.”

Millie nodded, her mouth full of toast. She finished her breakfast quickly. She hoped to set the name cards out on the banquet table and go looking for the Lord Chamberlain, but Miss Parnell pounced on her as soon as she reached the banquet hall.

“Princess Amelia, I hope you are ready to shine on the dance floor?” Miss Parnell arched one eyebrow. She was already wearing her party dress, which was made from peach-coloured silk, along with high-heeled shoes and white satin gloves.

Millie was suddenly aware how messy her hair was (because she hadn’t brushed it), and that she had jam on her dress from hugging Edward.

The Lord Chamberlain came in, leaning heavily on his stick, and began instructing some grooms from the stables about where to hang the streamers.

Millie tried to hear what he was saying. If the Lord Chamberlain had hidden the crown where would it be? It seemed wrong to suspect him when he was so old and so hard-working!

“Are you listening, Amelia?” Miss Parnell put her hands on her hips. “Remember to point your toes while you waltz. Show me your steps now, please, and then we must practise the foxtrot as well.” She clapped out a rhythm. “One, two, three, one, two, three…”

Millie began to twirl. She saw the Lord Chamberlain leave in the direction of the kitchen. Why was he going that way? Her mind whirled faster than her feet. If only Miss Parnell would let her go. She had a missing crown to find and she was running out of time.

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