The street itself looked different. Across the street there were only houses. Tess was sure across the street there’d been another hotel. A little bigger than theirs. She remembered its name. It was called The Splendid, and she and Aunt Evie had discussed going there one day for tea when her mother arrived. A girls’ day. But right now, there were only houses. And a few cars. They didn’t look the least bit modern. And she could hear the distant sound of hoofbeats as “the person who used to be Max” seemed to be riding away in the carriage.

Suddenly she felt a hand on her elbow. She looked up to see Mr. Cortland. “I was wondering when you were going to find your way out,” he said. “We have to hurry.”

He lifted Tess into the front seat next to him in his carriage that was parked at the curb. “Go on, Comet. Go on,” he said to the horse, impatiently clicking his tongue the way he had, except he was also brandishing a tiny whip, which he gave the horse a sharp tap with, and expertly handled the reins to turn the horse and the carriage around. “Faster, Comet. Faster. Run like you’re dancing in the sky.”

Tess held onto the seat as Comet was racing so quickly the carriage itself was almost rocking from side to side. And then—Tess swore that this was true—it was as if Comet was able to, levitate would be the right word, or simply fly just off the ground, carrying the carriage behind her through mid-air, cold air, spectacularly dotted with snow which was falling like petals all around them.

They could barely see through the snow. Mr. Cortland leaned over to Tess and echoed what he’d said when they’d first met. “Don’t worry about Comet. She knows the way.”

The way to where, Tess wondered. She could no longer see in front of her the carriage that “the person who used to be Max” had stepped in to. There was just a blanket of snow all around them.

“Don’t worry. She’s got a nose on her,” he said reassuringly. “Don’t you Comet?”

Comet shook her mane as if she was answering. And took a right turn in the sky without even being led to. As below her, off in the distance, Tess could see what she thought was the carriage that was ferrying “the person who used to be Max” to wherever he was going. At least she hoped that was the carriage she could see below her in the distance . . .

• • •