Alice-Miranda in Paris 7 Read Free Page B

usually at least another mile, but this time she was pleasantly surprised. Professor Winterbottom turned onto a narrow road and there in front of them was l’Hôtel Lulu.
    To the right of the front door, a delicate pair of ornate iron gates led into a courtyard. Professor Winterbottom guided the children inside, where they quickly sat on the wooden benches lining the enclosure. The small space was beautifully decorated with a lion’s head wall fountain and rows of red geraniums. Miss Grimm and Mrs Winterbottom headed into reception to sort out the rooms and keys.
    Sloane took off her shoes as soon as she was seated.
    ‘Does anyone know what we’re having for dinner tonight?’ called Rufus Pemberley.
    ‘Yeah, I could eat a horse,’ Figgy added.
    ‘Be careful what you wish for,’ Sep grinned. ‘The French eat horses, you know.’
    ‘Really?’ Figgy grimaced. ‘Then again, I suppose it’s just like eating a cow.’
    Jacinta shuddered. ‘Oh, disgusting. I’m sure that’s not true.’
    ‘It is, Jacinta,’ Alice-Miranda replied. ‘Lots of people around the world eat horses. I can’t imagine it, though – I’d just see Bony staring up at me from the plate, or Rockstar or Chops. I couldn’t do it, I’m afraid, and I’ve eaten quite a lot of unusual things.’
    ‘We’ll be walking to a restaurant not far from here,’ Mr Grump informed the children. ‘We’ll meet back here at six thirty, once you’ve settled into your rooms.’
    ‘Not
more
walking,’ Sloane whined.
    ‘What sort of food are we really having?’ Jacinta asked tentatively, hoping Sep had been kidding about the horses.
    ‘Just the usual French delicacies. You know, snails, frogs’ legs, that sort of thing,’ said Mr Grump. He laughed as the children squirmed.
    Sloane pulled a face. ‘I’m not eating any of that.’
    ‘Me neither,’ Jacinta agreed.
    ‘Frogs’ legs are delicious, Jacinta,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘They taste a bit like chicken. And snails are not as rubbery as you might think.’
    ‘Count me out for both. I’m not eating Kermit and I’d rather chew on a rubber band than eat a snail,’ Sloane quipped.
    ‘I’ll try snails.’ Figgy was now pretending to put his finger up his nose. ‘They probably taste like snot, Jacinta, and I’m sure you know what that’s like. Mmm, salty.’ He licked his lips.
    ‘You are
disgusting
,’ Sloane wailed.
    ‘Figworth, you can stop that nonsense right now,’ said Professor Winterbottom, glaring at the lad. Sometimes he wondered if the boy had a brain at all inside that boofy head of his. Who would have guessed that Fayle’s star second rower, a veritable giant of a lad, had the voice of an angel?
    ‘It’s all right, Jacinta. There will be plenty of regular food on the menu too,’ said Mr Grump. He’d decided he had better not upset the children too much. He didn’t want to get into trouble with his wife.
    It wasn’t long before Miss Grimm and Mrs Winterbottom reappeared holding a handful of plastic hotel keys.
    ‘Can I have everyone’s attention, please?’ called Miss Grimm. ‘Children, you will be sharing two to a room. Each of you will have your own key. Please don’t lose them. Girls will be on the second and third floors and boys on the fourth and fifth with teachers interspersed throughout. I will give you a list of room numbers for the teachers, who will be available should you need anything. I
don’t
expect to find girls on the boys’ floors or vice versa. Is that understood?’ Miss Grimm smiled at her young charges.
    ‘Yes, Miss Grimm,’ the children chorused.
    ‘The rooms have been allocated at random. I know that some are larger than others but I have no idea which is which. It’s simply the luck of the draw.’ Miss Grimm scanned the list in her hand. ‘Alice-Miranda, you’re sharing with Millie in room 201 . . . Jacinta, you and Sloane are together in room 202 . . .’
    The girls stepped forward to receive their keys. Mr Grump and Mr