Alice-Miranda to the Rescue (15 page)

Alice-Miranda leaned forward and patted the pony's head. ‘That was brave, going after him.'

‘More like stupid, especially now that I know about the munitions base,' Millie said, grinning. ‘I clearly missed all those signs on the road.'

The girls continued along the lane, where the overhanging trees created patterns of dappled sunlight. They reached the entrance to Chesterfield Downs and turned into the driveway, just as a sparkling black four-wheel drive with tinted windows roared past.

Alice-Miranda turned her head. ‘That's odd,' she said. ‘That looked just like Major Foxley's car.'

‘Maybe he decided to see Mrs Finchley himself,' Millie said.

‘Perhaps,' Alice-Miranda replied. ‘It's just that he said he'd be on the other side of the country today. Of course, his plans could have changed.' The child shrugged and thought no more of it.

Roberta Dankworth put down the telephone and squealed like a pen full of piglets. ‘Barry!' she screeched. ‘Barry! Where are you?'

Her husband was at the other end of the house, locked in the study and up to his neck in paperwork. At the sound of his wife's voice, he leapt from the chair, flung open the door and ran down the hallway to the kitchen, where Roberta was jumping up and down on the spot. ‘What's the matter? What's happened?' he gasped.

‘They're coming at the end of the week!' she said, blinking back tears.

‘Who's coming?'

‘
Dog Days
! They've decided they don't want to do a one-off special on the Poochie Palace, they want to devote
three
entire episodes to me and my babies.' Roberta smiled as a huge tear wobbled from her eye, splashing onto the top of her cheek.

‘But what about Chudleigh's?' the man said. ‘You need to stay focused, darling.'

‘They're going to film that too,' Roberta replied.

‘Are you sure you want a camera crew traipsing around after you in the lead-up to the show?' He looked at his wife, unsure whether she was crying tears of joy or devastation.

‘Of course I do! Citrine's already firmed as favourite to take out Best in Show again. Can't you just see the look on everyone's faces when they find out the cameras are there for
me
?' Roberta pushed her hair behind her ear. ‘You'll need to make up the bed in the spare room right away.'

Barry frowned. ‘Why?'

‘Well, the crew are going to stay in their campervan but we can hardly expect Darius Loveday to rough it now, can we?' Roberta pulled some lip gloss
from her jacket pocket and began to apply a liberal slathering.

Barry's eyes widened. ‘What's Darius Loveday got to do with this?'

‘He's the new host,' Roberta said.

‘But he does all those serious current-affairs shows,' Barry said. ‘Has he been demoted?'

Roberta's mouth dropped open. ‘Don't you think my babies are serious news?'

‘I didn't mean it like that,' Barry said quickly. ‘It's just that he's a well-respected journalist, that's all, and you could hardly put him and that ditzy Penny Bell in the same basket.'

‘She was lovely and so pretty,' Roberta said, ‘but they've obviously decided they need someone with a more impressive pedigree.'

‘So Loveday's staying here? With us?' Barry asked.

‘Yes, until Chudleigh's is finished.' Roberta fluttered her eyelashes as she caught sight of her reflection in the huge mirror overhanging the fireplace.

‘Why can't he find his own accommodation?' Barry mumbled to himself. He had a bad feeling about all of this. It was one thing for
Dog Days
to do a one-off special on the Poochie Palace, but having
the crew follow Roberta around for the next week didn't seem like the best idea. Describing the lead-up to the show as stressful didn't cover half of it, not to mention the fallout if Citrine didn't win.

‘I don't know what you're upset about, Barry,' Roberta snapped. ‘Your business is going to get loads of publicity too. Anyway, don't just stand there. This place has to be spotless from top to bottom.' She pointed at two boxes in the sitting room. ‘All that mess there needs to be sorted out. I'll be in the Poochie Palace. Sapphire needs a full hair treatment and I'm going to give her some highlights. Her coat's been very lacklustre lately. And look at you, Farrah – my goodness, what is that you've got on yourself?'

‘Roberta, take it easy. You're not showing Sapphire and I'm sure that no one will notice if Farrah's got a couple of dirty smudges,' Barry said.

‘How can you say that, Barry?' Roberta gasped. She beckoned Farrah to her, and the little poodle leapt into her arms. ‘Daddy didn't mean it, baby girl. He knows you hate it when you don't look your best.'

‘I'll give Farrah a bath later,' Barry offered. ‘Why don't we work together to get the rest of the house unpacked and then I can help you with the dogs?'

Roberta raised her pointer finger in the air to shush him. ‘Don't interfere, Barry. You know this is a very tense time for me.'

The woman turned on her heel and flounced out the back door, leaving her husband in the kitchen rubbing his temples. Talk about
Dog Days
, he was having one himself.

Vera Bird held Siggy's lead in her left hand and together they pranced through the centre of Becca's dog kennel like a pair of consummate professionals.

‘Mrs Bird, that was fabulous,' Becca said, clapping from the other end of the building. ‘You look as if you've done this a thousand times before.'

‘You're a natural,' Daniel agreed.

The old woman turned and smiled. ‘I think it's got more to do with Siggy than me, dear. She's wonderfully obedient and not the least bit overexcitable, which can cause all sorts of problems in my experience … from watching my sister showing her dogs years ago.'

Becca and Mrs Bird had been practising for over an hour. Daniel was there too. He had been
different the past couple of days. He'd told her about meeting Alice-Miranda and her friend and the dogs Millie thought she'd heard on the defence land. Becca had immediately telephoned Constable Derby the next morning and, true to her word, Alice-Miranda had spoken to him too, but the man assured Becca that they'd searched all over the neighbouring properties for her dogs and there was no evidence of them there or anywhere else close by. Although she and Daniel were both disappointed, working towards this year's Chudleigh's had lifted their spirits.

Inside the shed was a large central area designed as a practice show ring, with oversized kennels lining the walls on either side. There was a separate grooming room too. The set-up was far from plush but it served its purpose and had cost a considerable amount nonetheless.

‘Now, Daniel,' Vera said, ‘how about you pretend to be a judge? I'll get Siggy to stand and you can come and inspect her.'

Becca smiled. For someone who claimed to know very little about dog shows, Vera Bird was remarkably in tune with things. She wheeled herself to the side while Daniel made his way to the centre of
the ring. He waited for Vera to run past, then watched her stop and put Siggy into position with her legs spaced apart and her head up. Daniel walked over and studied the dog's face and then ran his hands down her legs and along her back, examining the creature for bone structure. He went on to check her coat, ears, mouth and eyes too.

Daniel didn't say a word, just as the judges never did either. He looked at Mrs Bird and nodded, which was her signal to move on.

‘Well, that was perfect,' Vera said.

Daniel grinned. ‘Remember that Siggy has known me since she was born. Let's hope she performs as well with the judges.'

Vera Bird patted the dog and removed her lead.

‘I can't imagine after all this time away that we'll get anywhere near the winner's podium,' Becca said, coming to join them, ‘but goodness me, Siggy, you're looking fabulous.' The dog walked over to her and she gave her a pat.

‘I think we should go in with our hopes held high,' Vera said. ‘Wouldn't it be lovely to win? I'm sure that would make many people extremely happy.'

Becca pulled a face. ‘Perhaps not everyone.'

‘Is the show scene very competitive these days?' Vera asked.

Becca laughed. ‘I take it you've never met a woman called Roberta Dankworth then.'

‘She's horrible,' Daniel groaned. ‘She's this big show-off who always dresses like her dogs.'

‘She wouldn't be the first to do that, dear,' Vera said, chuckling. ‘I remember a fellow called Lexington Smythe. He had a black standard poodle called Pelican and you could barely tell them apart in the show ring. They used to prance about and the entire audience would fall all over themselves laughing.'

‘Oh, I remember him,' Becca said, her eyes lighting up.

Vera's face froze. ‘Really?'

‘Well, not personally but I remember my husband telling me about him from when he was a boy,' Becca said.

‘Did your husband tell you lots of stories?' Vera asked quietly.

‘Only the funny ones,' Becca said with a sad smile. She missed Sandon so desperately, her chest ached at the very mention of him. ‘Now, I think we should have some supper. Would you like to stay and join us, Mrs Bird?'

‘I should be getting home,' the woman said.

‘Are you sure? I've got what I hope's a half-respectable stew on the stove and Daniel was going to warm up some rolls too,' Becca said.

‘Thank you, dear, but I'd best be off,' Vera said. She had a car full of things she needed to unpack and there was a new vacuum that was coming on the market this evening.

‘Where do you live, Mrs Bird?' Daniel asked. ‘I know it's down the road somewhere but how far is it?'

‘Quite a way,' the woman said, gathering her things.

Daniel frowned. ‘I've never seen your house when I've been out running.'

‘It's much too far,' the woman said. She picked up her handbag from the chair inside the door. ‘I'll be up first thing tomorrow. I think we need some more practice on the obedience testing.'

‘But I haven't entered her in that category,' Becca said.

Vera's shoulders sagged. ‘What a pity. I wonder if we could get a late pass. Never mind, we can work that out tomorrow. Goodbye, Siggy, my darling girl.' Vera bent down and kissed the dog's snout, then dashed out the door.

‘Do you think it's a bit strange that Mrs Bird hasn't invited us to her place?' Daniel asked.

Becca shrugged. ‘Some people don't like having guests. All I know is, she's wonderful with Siggy and I'm excited about the show. Have you thought whether you'll help me present the Finchley Award?'

Becca had telephoned Alistair Foxley, who had been most apologetic about his lack of contact. He'd said that the Chudleigh's committee wanted to honour her husband and father-in-law and he hoped that she would agree.

Daniel nodded. ‘I know that's what Dad would have wanted.'

Becca's eyes brimmed with tears. ‘He'd be so proud of you,' she said, hugging him around the middle.

‘I just wish he were here,' Daniel replied.

‘Oh, sweetheart, you and me both,' Becca said, and kissed her son's cheek.

Jacinta hopped off the school minibus that had brought the older girls over from Caledonia Manor for their choir practice.

‘Hey,' Lucas called, jogging towards her. ‘How was your day?'

The girl turned and smiled. ‘Busy. I can't believe how much stuff we've been given to do for the dog show on top of all our lessons and homework, and I still have to train every afternoon too.'

Lucas nodded. ‘It's crazy at Fayle as well.
Mrs Parker's been over every afternoon bossing the professor around. We've been building portable enclosures this week because Nosey says we need extra accommodation for the dogs. She's even talked him into handing over the dormitories,' Lucas said.

‘Where are you going to sleep on the weekend?' Jacinta asked.

‘We're putting up tents on the oval. At least Professor Winterbottom said that he'd make it count towards the next level of the Queen's Colours,' the boy replied with a grin.

Millie, Alice-Miranda and Sloane caught up to the pair, and Sep hurried up the driveway with George Figworth.

‘So I gather your puppy's gone?' Sep asked.

Millie shook her head. ‘No, he's still here. Miss Grimm let us keep him in the boarding house last night.'

‘I bet Howie wasn't too thrilled about that,' the boy said, his eyes twinkling.

‘She complained and moaned and said that she had too many things to do without having to look after a puppy as well, but when we were having our cocoa, he climbed up on her lap and just sat there looking at her with those adorable big eyes. We're
keeping him for sure,' Millie added. ‘Why did you think he was gone?'

‘The posters have disappeared,' the boy said.

Millie looked at Alice-Miranda and Sloane. ‘Did you take them down?'

Both girls shook their heads.

‘I bet Mrs Parker did. She wasn't happy about them going up in the first place,' Sloane said.

‘Sep and I did see a guy jump out of a white van and grab one when we were walking to Ambrosia's last weekend,' Lucas said.

‘Yeah, we thought he might have been the owner,' Sep added. ‘I forgot about that.'

Millie frowned. ‘The ponies and I were nearly mown down by a white van when we were out visiting Mrs Finchley, but I suppose white vans aren't exactly rare.'

‘This one was pretty beaten up,' Sep said.

Alice-Miranda bit her lip. ‘Sloane and I saw a white van too, when we were putting the signs up in the village. A young fellow seemed really interested in the pup but then he said he had no idea who owned it. That van was really banged up as well. Seems strange that they'd take the posters but not come for the puppy.'

‘Daniel said that van we saw near the Finchleys's belonged to two young guys and they were always tearing up and down the road,' Millie said. ‘I didn't see where they went but I heard dogs going crazy in the woods. It was weird.'

‘Constable Derby said they'd searched up there and found nothing.' Alice-Miranda shrugged. ‘Maybe the dogs were miles away. Sound does travel.' Despite a niggling feeling, she trusted what the man said.

‘I suppose so,' Millie agreed.

The children walked into the music room.

‘Speaking of weird, has anyone got some sunglasses?' Sloane shaded her eyes as she caught sight of Mr Lipp. Renowned for his colourful outfits, today's offering was no disappointment. It consisted of a canary-yellow jacket and navy pants with a bright red bow tie.

Millie shook her head. ‘That's hideous.'

‘I think Mr Lipp is brave,' Alice-Miranda said. ‘We should applaud a man who knows what he likes.'

Millie grimaced. ‘Well, I know what I like and it's definitely
not
that.'

Harold Lipp clapped his hands and ordered the children into their positions. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, we haven't got all night. In addition to the other
songs we've been rehearsing, Mr Plumpton has made a special request for the wedding and I want it to be perfect. Caprice, have you learned your part?'

The girl nodded. ‘Yes, sir,' she replied softly.

‘She's been so strange since the fire,' Millie whispered to Jacinta, who was standing right behind her.

‘If I didn't know better, I'd say she might actually be really sorry,' the girl whispered back.

Cornelius Trout's fingers danced across the piano keys.

Sloane burst out laughing. ‘Is this a joke, sir?'

Harold Lipp shook his head. ‘No, this is what Mr Plumpton requested, and who are we to question the man's taste in music?' he said pointedly.

The children glanced at one another and giggled.

‘Who's singing the other main part?' Figgy asked. ‘

I thought you might like to have a go at it,' the teacher replied.

The boy sighed. ‘I'll do it, but you know they're both boys in the movie.'

‘Yes, I'm well aware of that,' Mr Lipp said, passing out musical scores along the front row. ‘Now, is everyone ready?'