‘Bag o’ sand, grand.’

‘Love it!’

‘But you should go and check out your mum’s attic and see what’s survived.’

Helena sighed, feeling suddenly overwhelmed by the whole thing. Amy had such faith in her; her wonderful mentor, Julia Coombs, had had such faith in her; this was her chance to show them she was up to it.

Helena hadn’t thought to ring her mother before she went up to visit the attic and tell her the news about the show, but her car was there so it was slightly surprising to find the back door locked. Helena used her key and let herself into the house.

‘Mum?’ she called but the kitchen had that empty feel that indicated no one was home. Ulysses the cat got up from the chair he was snoozing on and came over to say hello. ‘So where is she, Uly?’ Helena asked. ‘I’d better ring her.’

She dialled. ‘Mum? Where are you? I’m at the house and I want to go into the attic.’

‘Oh, hello, darling!’ said Gilly.

She sounded a bit awkward, Helena thought. ‘Are you OK, Mum?’

‘Of course, I’m perfectly all right. I’m with a friend.’

Helena got the impression she wasn’t with a close friend and wasn’t entirely happy about it either, so although she knew her mother hadn’t been kidnapped she felt obliged to ask: ‘You haven’t been taken anywhere against your will, have you? Say Ulysses if you have.’

Her mother’s laugh was rather brittle. ‘Don’t be silly and be careful going into the attic if you’re on your own. The ladder isn’t very secure. Promise?’

‘Is that you, darling?’ Gilly called.

‘Yup,’ said Jago, appearing in the hall with a large plastic box in his arms.

Gilly laughed. ‘Is my daughter with you? Or are you burgling me?’

Helena appeared with a slightly smaller box in her arms.

‘Is that the family silver in there?’ asked Gilly.

‘No. It’s all that silk yarn you’ve been keeping for me in the attic and that small loom,’ said Helena. ‘Did I tell you? I’m going to start weaving in silk!’

‘But I thought you were working flat out for World of Wool?’

‘I’m doing something quite different now!’ She looked at her watch. ‘We must go – Jago has to be somewhere – but I’ll ring you and tell you all about it. It’s all Amy’s fault!’ She followed Jago out of the back door. ‘And thank you so much for keeping everything in those boxes,’ she added. ‘It’s completely saved me!’