Alice-Miranda at Sea (22 page)
A
rthur Prendergast returned to prison for a very long time, convicted of armed robbery, kidnapping and attempted murder of the Queen â but he wouldn't own up to bringing the prawns on board. His brother Whitley spent a few days in hospital recovering from his ordeal and returned to work to a rousing welcome. Henderson was given a stern talking-to from the admiral but was relieved to keep his job.
Upon reaching their destination in Venice, Dr Lush and Alex invited Alice-Miranda to go ashore with them. The tiny child stood in silence on the Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal as the two men scattered their beloved mother Maria Bella to the wind, just as she had wanted.
Mr Winterstone took Alice-Miranda's advice and decided that he would try to inject some fun into his life. The first thing he did was take a spin on the new jet boat with Her Majesty, Granny Valentina and a very attentive Dalton.
Sloane Sykes turned over a new leaf. She promised to write to Alice-Miranda and secretly hoped she might convince her father to allow her to go back to Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale.
Neville had been wrong about the butterfly in the frame. It hadn't belonged to his grandfather at all. It was his father's. It seemed Leonard loved butterflies as much as the President.
Neville Nordstrom and President Grayson became firm friends. With their shared love of butterflies, together they saved the Euchloe Bazae and its habitat. The land's owner, Smedley Sykes, didn't take too much convincing to find a new location for his next villa project. As he saw it, there were plenty of good sites in Spain and the new owner had paid him a handsome return on his investment. The property was turned over to the local government under the provision that it remain open parkland forever. Neville's discovery was written up in
Scientific Scientist
and he was hailed as a hero. His parents couldn't have been more proud.
The Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones household
Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones
Only child, seven and three-quarter years of age
Cecelia Highton-Smith
Alice-Miranda's doting mother
Hugh Kennington-Jones
Alice-Miranda's doting father
Granny Valentina Highton-Smith
Maternal grandmother
Aunt Charlotte Highton-Smith
Cecelia's younger sister
Lawrence Ridley
Famous movie actor and Aunt Charlotte's fiancé
Dolly Oliver
Family cook, part-time food technology scientist
Mrs Shillingsworth
Head housekeeper
Granny Bert (Albertine Rumble)
Former housekeeper, lives on the property in Rose Cottage
Daisy Rumble
Granddaughter of Granny Bert â lives with her in Rose Cottage and works as a maid at Highton Hall
Friends and family of the Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones family
Aunty Gee
Granny Highton-Smith's best friend and Cecelia's Godmother (among other things!)
Lady Sarah Adams
Cecelia and Charlotte's cousin
Lord Robert Adams
Lady Sarah's husband
Annie Adams
Eldest daughter of Sarah and Robert
Poppy Adams
Youngest daughter of Sarah and Robert
Millicent Jane McLoughlin-McTavish-McNoughton-McGill
Alice-Miranda's best friend and room mate
Jacinta Headlington-Bear
Talented gymnast, school's former second-best tantrum-thrower and a friend
Lucas Nixon
Lawrence Ridley's son and soon to be Alice-Miranda's cousin
Septimus Sykes
Lucas's best friend and brother of Sloane
Sloane Sykes
Ex-student at Winchesterfield- Downsfordvale
Crew of the Octavia
Admiral Teddy Harding
Commander of the
Octavia
Whitley Prendergast
First Officer
Henderson
Steward
Winterstone
Steward
Dr Nicholas Lush
Ship's doctor
Alexander Lushkov
Band member
Others
September Sykes
Mother of Sloane and Septimus
Smedley Sykes
Father of Sloane and Septimus
Neville Nordstrom
Young lad
Leonard and Sylvia Nordstrom
Neville's parents
J
acqueline Harvey has spent her working life teaching in girls' boarding schools. She's never cruised aboard the
Octavia
but she has come across quite a few girls who remind her a little of Alice-Miranda.
Jacqueline has published six novels for young readers. Her first picture book,
The Sound of the Sea
, was awarded Honour Book in the 2006 CBC Awards. She is currently working on Alice-Miranda's next adventure.
For more about Jacqueline and Alice-Miranda, go to:
and
