Alice-Miranda at the Palace 11 by Jacqueline Harvey

Author:Jacqueline Harvey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Australia
Published: 2015-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

After spending forever in the bathroom fixing her hair, Caprice disappeared to collect the belongings she’d left in her mother’s office. By the time the girl returned with bag in hand, there was a foldaway bed complete with matching daffodil-patterned sheets and white duvet waiting for her.

‘We should get going,’ Alice-Miranda called to Caprice, who was busy preening herself for the second time.

The girl wandered out of the bathroom, sighing. ‘I wish I didn’t have to sleep on the foldaway bed,’ she whined.

‘And I wish you weren’t sleeping here at all,’ Millie grumbled.

Alice-Miranda smiled and led the way. ‘It’s just for one night,’ she whispered, trying to console her friend.

Lawrence, Hugh, Sep and Lucas were all waiting at the top of the landing. Jacinta and Sloane exited their room at almost the same time and joined Millie, Alice-Miranda and Caprice.

‘Don’t you all look gorgeous?’ Lawrence Ridley said as the girls paraded down the hallway, showing off their beautiful gowns. ‘Not that you lads aren’t looking pretty dapper yourselves,’ he said, grinning at Sep and Lucas in their tuxedos.

Alice-Miranda wore a striking blue satin dress which sparkled with crystals, while Millie had chosen a teal frock with a full organza skirt and fitted bodice. Sloane loved the way her coffee-coloured dress swished as she walked and Caprice just couldn’t help herself, striking a model-like pose as she reached the gentlemen, who all remarked on how stunning she looked. Jacinta was still furious about what had happened earlier and stood at the back of the group.

‘I wish your mothers were as snappy at getting ready as you girls are,’ Hugh said.

The man pushed back his left sleeve and glanced at his watch.

Ambrosia Headlington-Bear emerged from her room wearing an exquisite gold gown with her glossy brunette locks pulled back into a high ponytail. A glittering choker of diamonds adorned her neck.

‘Ambrosia, you look amazing,’ Sloane complimented the woman.

‘Thank you, sweetheart. The dress is on loan from Christian Fontaine,’ Ambrosia replied. ‘I can no longer afford to buy anything like this, but at least the jewels are mine – a certain someone wasn’t getting these back in the divorce settlement.’

Ambrosia studied the girls and quickly realised that something wasn’t right.

‘Jacinta, why aren’t you wearing your dress?’ she asked, confused as to why Caprice was wearing it instead. She had specifically chosen the frock to complement her own.

Seeing Jacinta’s face fall, Alice-Miranda decided it was best to step in. ‘Mummy had the exact same dress as a spare and offered it to Caprice without knowing what Jacinta was wearing,’ the child explained. ‘And Jacinta was kind enough to choose another gown for the ball.’

‘Well, after the shock you’ve had this afternoon, Caprice, I’m very glad that my daughter has been so thoughtful,’ Ambrosia said graciously, giving Jacinta a nod and a wink.

But Jacinta was still fuming. She hated that Caprice looked incredible in her dress. The girl’s copper-coloured hair matched the gold accents perfectly, and Caprice’s already luminous skin looked even more flawless than usual.

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