She thought of the breadcrumbs she’d left for the mouse. He’d find them. She was sure of that. She’d also dropped breadcrumbs all the way home too. She wasn’t even sure why, she just had nothing else to do with the bread she supposed. Bread had never really agreed with her, she just liked the smell of it baking. Gave her wind whenever she ate it.

She dozed a little and then, just as the fire began to die down, she roused herself and got up to close the curtains.

And there they were.

Two children.

‘Look! Look! This is where the bread leads!’

‘Is that fence made of chocolate?’

Giggles. Whispers.

She bent her back over, made herself look frail and prepared herself for visitors. She was happy. She peered out between the gap in the curtains. A boy and a girl. Not too young but not too old. And the little boy was decidedly chubby. She smiled and her mouth watered. She’d earned a good dinner.

THE END

Acknowledgements

Firstly a big thanks to Gillian Redfearn, my editor, and also thanks to Simon Spanton, Jon Weir and the rest of the Gollancz posse for all their hard work, and invariably, their drinking companionship.

This book would not be quite as magical without the illustrations and I am so proud to have the talented Les Edwards drawings gracing the page.

Thanks also, as ever, to my agent Veronique Baxter.

Also By Sarah Pinborough

Also By Sarah Pinborough from Gollancz:

Poison
Charm
Beauty