Alice-Miranda in the Alps Read Free

strings, the tune instantly recognisable as Pachelbel’s Canon.
    Another waiter walked up to their table and placed a large plate of bacon, fried eggs, hash browns, tomatoes and sausages in front of Otto.
    The hotelier patted his stomach with glee. ‘Thank you. This looks delicious.’
    A dour woman with pinched cheeks and a nose like a needlefish, Delphine eyed the plate withdisgust. ‘You eat too much bacon, Otto. It is no wonder I am having to arrange for your suits to be let out again.’
    Otto waved a hand in her direction and concentrated on his breakfast. Every now and then he passed a titbit to Gertie, who, despite her genteel appearance, wolfed it down like a starved hyena.
    Yet another waiter descended upon the table, depositing a latte and a plate of buttered toast in front of Delphine. ‘I took the liberty of having some toast made for you, Frau Doerflinger.’ The young man smiled tightly.
    â€˜That toast is burned and you have overfilled my coffee,’ Delphine spat, her tongue clearly as sharp as her nose. When the young man went to remove the offending items, she swatted his hand away. ‘What do you think you are doing now?’ she barked.
    â€˜Getting you some more toast and coffee?’ The fellow’s voice had risen from an alto to a soprano and he looked to be on the verge of tears.
    â€˜Leave them, you numbskull.’ Delphine turned her attention to the red folder she had brought with her. She flipped it open and ran her finger down the list of names. It was a ritual she performed every morning, making sure that she was familiar with anyVIPs or celebrities. ‘Interesting,’ she said, taking a sip of her coffee.
    Otto paused for a moment and picked up the salt shaker. ‘What is interesting?’
    â€˜We have some very important guests about to arrive,’ Delphine replied. ‘They have unfortunately chosen to bring young ones too. Urgh, how ghastly.’
    â€˜ All of our guests are important. That is why Fanger’s Palace Hotel is the best in the whole of Switzerland,’ Otto said. ‘I do love having children in the hotel. It makes me feel young again, and Gertie just adores them.’
    â€˜Yes, yes,’ Delphine muttered. Otto was a fool. She knew the value of ensuring that their very special guests were taken care of. The others, well, there would always be people with delusions of grandeur willing to part with their hard-earned money. But there were far weightier matters on her mind than the guest register. Delphine closed the file and looked at her husband. ‘Otto, I have been thinking about expansion,’ she said.
    â€˜Stop talking about my waistline, woman,’ Otto huffed, shovelling another forkful of food into his mouth. ‘I promise you I will go for a walk this afternoon.’
    â€˜I wasn’t talking about your gut this time,’ Delphine replied, arching a generously plucked eyebrow.
    â€˜Then you must have whatever you want, my dear. There is the plot of land to the side of the hotel. What are you thinking?’ he asked. ‘A helipad, perhaps?’
    â€˜Something a little more than that,’ she began.
    â€˜I don’t think we will be allowed to go up any higher,’ Otto said, shaking his head. ‘Besides, it would destroy the beautiful roofline of the building, and if we consider anything further down the hill we will have to supply our guests with canoes to get to their rooms.’
    â€˜I want to buy another hotel,’ Delphine said impatiently.
    â€˜Another hotel?’ Otto looked at her. ‘But you have enough to do just running this one and the chocolate factory. And you know there is only one other hotel in Switzerland that I have ever coveted and he will never sell.’
    A smug smile perched on Delphine’s lips. ‘What if I heard that he might?’
    Otto almost spat out his food. ‘Are you toying with