‘OK. You look in here. I’ll look in Mother’s room. If we don’t find it in either of those, I’ll have to look in the attic. And if I don’t find it up there, we’ll have to look downstairs.’

It was a struggle to speak without crying. My body seemed to have frozen, making my movements stiff and jerky. I knew it was because I was back inside the cottage. Back in the dark. Back outside Mother’s bedroom.

She nodded and I left her kneeling in Emma’s room rummaging through the drawers of the little white desk, looking as though she might faint at any moment.

I paused, took a breath and wiped sweat from my forehead. I didn’t want to be in the cottage again. I definitely didn’t want to go back inside Mother’s most private place. A place that could contain more horrific displays of craziness that would stay in my head for the rest of my life.

‘Hurry!’ Olivia’s voice was quiet but urgent.

I jumped, exhaled a shivery breath and entered the room.

Chapter 51

I tried not to breathe in the scent of her, but the smell found a way in. Orange-blossom soaked into my skin, drifted into my eyes and oozed up my nose. It was like a toxic mist with a mind of its own. I could taste her, feel her presence in the room even though she wasn’t there.

I dry-heaved then dropped to my knees, lay on my front and edged as close to the bed as possible. With trembling fingers I lifted the valance and peered underneath. Unlike before, I took my time and scanned every part of the space. When darkness prevented me from seeing further, I crawled around to the side of the bed and checked under there. I moved to the back of the bed and there, tucked right at the back against the wall, was a small box. I couldn’t believe my luck. I lay on my front again and stretched my arm under. My fingers hit the edge of the box, but I was too far away to pull it towards me. I turned my face and pressed my cheek to the carpet. Like that, I could wriggle under and get hold of the box.

Dust matted the carpet. I sneezed and wriggled my upper body underneath. My hand connected with the box and I managed to pull it closer. I wriggled back out and pulled the box with me.

Hot from the effort, I swiped my brow, sat cross-legged and tried to open the box, which was made of bronze and very simple with no markings or decoration at all. At first, the lid seemed glued on, but after a few moments, I managed to use my nails to prise it open.