Mika looked at Jamie, whose clenched jaw and ashen face were the only outward signs of the horror and despair he had to be feeling. He’d been so afraid of this, of the moment when the truth would come out and Lillian’s will would have to be honoured.

Everything they’d all been afraid of had happened.

They were going to lose the children.

“The three of you need to stay right here,” Jamie said. “Don’t go in the shed. Don’t leave this exact patch of grass. Don’t do anything. We’ll be back in a minute.”

Mika followed him into the house. As soon as the front door shut behind them, the sound of distressed whispers drifted out from the kitchen. Jamie leaned back against the door, like he couldn’t stand on his own two feet anymore, and Mika saw that his hands were unsteady.

“I don’t suppose”—his voice cracked—“I don’t suppose your confuddling potion can fix this?”

“No,” Mika said softly, regretfully. “It was supposed to help us convince him that Lillian’s safe and well in South America. It can’t undo everything that’s just happened.” The look on his face was almost too much for her to bear. She reached tentatively for him, and his hands settled on her waist, a whole shudder going through his body. “I’m so sorry.”

There was a clatter of footsteps as the others, obviously hearing them, rushed in from the kitchen.

“Mika!” Ian’s smile was wobbly and voice was choked. “You came back. Oh, my dear, dear girl.”

Lucie burst into tears. “We should never have lied to you! We’re so, so sorry!”

“Lucie, no! It’s forgotten, honestly. We have bigger things to worry about now!”

Ken and Ian both put their arms around her. “It’s so good to see you,” Ken whispered. Ian’s shoulders shook.

“We should go back outside,” Jamie said, his voice hollow. “The kids are waiting.”

So they joined the girls and Circe in the garden, the shed casting a long shadow over them. The sun was pale and white, the light cold, and Mika rubbed her arms to keep the cold and heartbreak at bay.

“We need to decide the best way to deal with this,” Ken said quietly. “We can’t leave Edward in the shed forever.”

“I recommend we murder him,” said Ian.

“I second that,” said Terracotta.

As everyone was quite certain they were at least semiserious, Lucie and Ken had to state in the plainest terms that Edward’s murder was not on the table.

Ian huffed. “Then I’ll go in there and speak to him.”

“Absolutely not,” said Ken and Jamie at the same time.

“I’ll go,” said Mika.