‘Neither have I!’ she shot back. ‘I’m just trying to think.’

‘Well think faster. It must be nearly morning by now.’

‘Children, children,’ said the queen. ‘Why are you bickering? This is a party! Come, have a glass of wine.’

‘We’re eleven,’ said Shane. ‘We don’t drink wine.’

The queen laughed. ‘Foolish mortal talk. You live with us now and you will soon find things are different here.’

She reached for the jug of wine and found it empty. ‘Oh dear,’ she tutted. ‘All out. Where is that girl?’

She clicked her long, delicate fingers and suddenly Nancy appeared before her as if she had been conjured out of thin air. In her arms she balanced a tray filled with glasses and a jug of rich red wine. She bobbed into a curtsy before filling both the king and queen’s goblets to the brim.

‘And some for our new friends,’ said the queen.

‘Of course, Your Majesty,’ said Nancy and made her way over to Cat and Shane.

She handed Cat a glass and, quietly as possible, she whispered, ‘Is she looking?’

Cat checked, but found the queen turned toward the king, laughing over some story he was telling. She shook her head.

‘Mikey and Jenny are safe,’ Nancy said. ‘I found them wandering the hallways and stashed them in the broom cupboard. I warned them not to make a peep and they’ll stay there until you get to them, but you have to move fast. You remember the way?’

‘I think so,’ said Shane. ‘But we can’t get off this stage. The queen’s holding us here somehow.’

‘Leave that to me,’ Nancy said, pretending to pour a splash of wine into Cat’s glass and doing the same for Shane. ‘I’m going to cause a distraction. You won’t have long, but it should give you a head start. As soon as you get the signal you run as fast as you can and don’t stop for anything. Once you reach the broom cupboard you grab the children and keep going. Take every right turn you see until you reach the top.’

‘Why are you helping us?’ Cat asked. ‘You said it yourself, it’s dangerous for you.’

Nancy finally met her gaze. ‘Because it’s the right thing to do. Be ready.’

Cat nodded. ‘Thank you.’

‘How will we know when it’s time to run?’ asked Shane.

‘Oh, you’ll know.’

Long minutes passed and nothing happened. The king left to join the crowd of dancing fairies, but the queen sat resolutely on her throne, smiling serenely down at her subjects. There was no sign of Nancy and no indication the queen’s hold over them had grown lax. Just when Cat had gotten so tense, she feared she would snap like an overstretched rubber band, the queen clicked her fingers again, calling for more wine. She held out her goblet and, once again, Nancy filled it to the top. As she did, she shot the briefest of glances in Cat’s direction. It must be time. She nudged Shane.