I returned to the gardens of Merry Wood. Oh, this was ridiculous! How difficult was it to lose two famous six-foot-tall fashion models?

Baz was shifting from foot to foot. “Well?”

I started to say I hadn’t been able to find them when Ebony strode towards me. She raised one lacquered nail and pointed towards the house. “I think I know where they are.”

Relief swamped me. “Oh great! Where?”

Ebony nodded towards Merry Wood. “They’re in the house.”

My breath stilled. What?!

I swung round, my voice cracking with apprehension. What the hell were they doing inside the house? They knew they weren’t allowed in there!

No. They couldn’t be. None of us had a key. My nerves jangled.

“They aren’t allowed access to the house,” I gasped. “It was in the contract. We all agreed to it. There are bloody Portaloos over there if they have a call of nature.”

I followed the direction of Ebony’s pointing finger, hoping that she had been mistaken.

But sure enough, Esther and Dante were silhouetted in the kitchen window, their tongues stuck down each other’s throats.

“Leonie, I don’t think they’ve gone in there to spend a penny,” muttered Ebony.

“Shit!” I snarled to anyone that would listen, panic and resentment swilling around inside of me. “How dare they! I gave Lily my word.” I whirled back to Ebony. “Do you know how they got in?”

But I didn’t give Ebony time to answer. I was already picking up speed, trampling over the grass in wider strides. What would Lily think if she found out? I had made a solemn promise to her. She had trusted me.

White-hot fury burned brighter in my chest. What the hell did they think they were doing?

As I grew closer, I began to realise.

I reached the back door of Merry Wood, furious breath scalding the back of my throat. I had been so preoccupied with locating the pair of them, I failed to notice as I’d passed by the back door a few minutes ago that it had been prized open.

A cacophony of dismay, embarrassment, and guilt erupted inside of me. This was my fault.

What the hell was I going to say to Lily?

I eased myself through the gap in the half-open back door. The house was quiet, cold, and expectant. I moved through the retro-style kitchen, where Esther and Dante had been a few minutes ago. I shoved aside the dangling, multi-coloured beads at the kitchen entrance. They clattered and swung in my wake.

It was so strange being inside Merry Wood, rather than looking in through her giant, sleepy windows. It was like I had been gazing at a snow globe and now found myself inside. I just wished it was under different circumstances.