‘If we do it,’ Blackthorn said, ‘it must be done with great care. It must be carried out exactly to my instructions. You don’t dabble with magic carelessly, even if you’re a prince. And you need to be fully aware of what this could mean for everyone concerned.’

‘Yes. Yes, of course.’

‘First, then, you must make peace with the lady. Be kinder to her; make believe you’ve accepted that she’s having a few difficulties, and that you’ve realised you should stop being so critical and help her through them. Don’t thaw too suddenly, though, or she’ll be suspicious. A smile here, a kind word there, no snubs or reprimands. Can you do that?’

My cheeks were hot with embarrassment. ‘I’ll do my best. Better than before.’

‘Good. Now I have a question for you, and you may not like it.’

‘Go on.’

She hesitated. ‘My lord, you and your betrothed – you have lain together already, yes?’

Now my face must be red as a strawberry. ‘Why would you ask that?’

‘Because Lady Flidais told me you had. And because the plan will not work if she is still untouched.’

‘We . . . well, yes, but . . . not since my aunt came to Winterfalls. You are not suggesting . . . ?’

‘That you do so again? Indeed not,’ Blackthorn said. ‘What you must do is convince her that should a good opportunity arise, you would not be averse to lying with her once more before you are hand-fasted.’

‘I don’t know if I . . .’ Shame overwhelmed me. How much had Flidais – the woman who was not really Flidais – told her? And who exactly had shared my bed on those nights of tangled passion? The beautiful, tantalising body had been that of my sweetheart; the fierce and determined person within had been Ciar. Gods, if only I could erase that time!

‘You must,’ Blackthorn said. ‘If you want Flidais back, you must do exactly as I say. Including this, difficult as it may be. Convince her, between now and the evening of your council, that you’ve realised you’ve been unfair to her. That you’ve judged her too harshly. That you still love and desire her, and that you’re eagerly awaiting the hand-fasting. I don’t care how you do it, but be subtle and be convincing.’

‘Very well. I will do my best.’

‘And one more thing,’ says Blackthorn. ‘She doesn’t know the story about the man and the pig. She doesn’t know this has happened before, or how the spell was undone. She has no reason to suspect Bramble was part of it. And she mustn’t find out. So you should treat Bramble just as you did before, my lord.’

‘I understand. The evening of the council, you said? We cannot do this any earlier? That would leave no time for a second attempt; we would be leaving for Cahercorcan the next day.’