‘No,’ Mrs Fontana said. She looked at Lauren, her blue eyes wise but sad. ‘Lauren, I cannot be helped by unicorn magic. I am ill because I’m old. That is all. There is nothing you can do to help.’

Lauren stared at her. ‘We must be able to.’

Mrs Fontana came over and took her hands. ‘Not this time. Time passes. People get older.’ Her voice softened. ‘That’s just the way things are, Lauren. You must use Twilight’s magic to help people and animals who really need your help, not waste it fighting a battle that can’t be won.’

Lauren looked at her. She couldn’t believe she and Twilight couldn’t help Mrs Fontana feel better.

Mrs Fontana squeezed her hands. ‘I have something for you. Wait here.’

She walked slowly into the storeroom and a few minutes later returned with a wooden box. Its edges were trimmed with faded gold and it had a lock with a small golden key in it. Lauren looked at it in surprise.

‘This is for you.’ Mrs Fontana placed it in Lauren’s hands. As she did so, the lock seemed to click faintly. Curiously, Lauren went to turn the key. What was inside?

‘No, my dear!’ Mrs Fontana said quickly. ‘Don’t open it yet.’

‘You mean to wait until I get home?’ Lauren said, puzzled.

Mrs Fontana shook her head, and for a moment her blue eyes seemed to twinkle with the same sparkle they always had. ‘You must open it when the time is right,’ she said mysteriously.

‘But when will that be?’ Lauren asked.

‘You will know, my dear. You’ll know,’ Mrs Fontana replied. She looked at the box. ‘Look after it for me,’ she said softly.

Lauren glanced down. The box was heavy. She was longing to know what was inside it.

‘Now,’ Mrs Fontana said, her voice becoming brisk. ‘You said you want a book for your cousin? This is the one who likes horses, is it?’

Lauren nodded and for the next five minutes, Mrs Fontana showed her different books. Lauren had just chosen one on preparing horses for shows, when the shop door opened and Mrs Foster came in.

‘Hello,’ she smiled as she walked towards them. ‘How are you, Mrs Fontana?’

‘Not too bad, thank you,’ the old lady replied.

‘Have you chosen a book, Lauren?’ Mrs Foster asked.

‘Yes, this one.’ Lauren picked up the book and the chest.

‘What have you got there?’ Mrs Foster asked, looking curiously at the chest.

‘It’s just something I’ve given her,’ Mrs Fontana put in quickly. ‘There are a few bits and pieces inside I think she might like.’

‘Well, that’s very kind of you, Mrs Fontana,’ Mrs Foster said.

Mrs Fontana smiled at Lauren. ‘My pleasure. I’m sure I’m putting them in the right hands.’ She walked slowly over to the till and rang up the book.

Just then the door opened and a woman in her thirties came in. She had short brown hair and a slightly anxious expression. When she saw Mrs Fontana at the till, she frowned and hurried over.