‘I think there is a lot of confusion right now.’ Her mother spoke in her usual sighing melody, only this time it was tinged with pain. ‘Perhaps we need –’

‘Why isn’t Jamie here?’ Ellie interrupted, determined not to let her mother’s hurt stop her from asking the questions she needed answered.

On speaking his name, Ellie could immediately picture Jamie, the bandages on his upper arm from the shallow knife wound he’d taken from Ingrid, the stony look on his face, suffering through everything, always for her and her family. It made her sick.

‘Jamie isn’t part of the immediate family, Eleanor.’ This time her grandmother answered.

Ellie stared pointedly at the painting above the fireplace again, wanting to make sure they all knew what she was talking about when she spoke her next words. ‘That’s never been a problem before.’

The silence that followed was music to her ears; her family couldn’t hide anything from her any more.

‘Excuse me, ma’am, if I may?’ Lottie’s clear, calm voice brought an embarrassed flush to Ellie’s face. She hadn’t meant to lose her temper. ‘Could we possibly take a moment’s recess while I talk to Ellie privately?’

Without waiting for permission, Lottie grabbed Ellie’s arm and led her out, their footsteps echoing in the silence of the great hall.

After the heavy doors had banged shut behind them, Lottie turned to her, her serene mask dropping to reveal a flood of worry. ‘Why did you do that?’

Ellie paused, taken aback. ‘Didn’t you see the looks on their faces? I want them to know they can’t hide anything from me.’

‘This isn’t a game, Ellie! We’re trying to get to the bottom of this before something terrible happens.’ Lottie’s voice was only a raised whisper but it made her feel guilty.

Ellie shook her head in frustration, running her fingers through her hair like she was trying to pull out all her awful feelings. ‘You shouldn’t have to worry about any of this. They’re the ones who are impossible to talk to. They don’t seem to want to solve anything, and now they’re going ahead with the Flower Festival next year. They’re completely unreasonable.’

‘Yes, you’re right. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep trying. I’m sure if I keep talking to them, eventually they’ll see they need to be open and honest.’

Ellie found herself once again in awe of how Lottie could always soothe her, always say the right thing, until she said exactly what Ellie absolutely didn’t want to hear.

‘Why don’t we tell them about Haru? I bet if we tell them we can all put our knowledge together to figure out what they want and why they keep targeting Jamie.’