‘I could hardly have parted with it at any rate, sir,’ Rosa said, trying to make her smile seem genuine. ‘Who would give up the chance to experience the supper booths in a garden such as this?’

It was wondrous and extraordinary, yet her heart was a stone as she watched a few of the other guests try to coax over one of the remaining rabbits. She had barely set foot in the garden, and already she feared that it would provide stiff competition for her own.

The cold air rippled around her like a length of chilled silk as she ventured further into the maze. She could see why the lighting was kept so soft, since practically everything in the garden was best viewed in the dark.

She marvelled at a fairy ring of violet mushrooms glowing brightly, immediately recalling childhood stories of how such a ring was supposed to mark the place where fairies had danced, or grew over the spot where one of their underground towns was to be found. When she located the mushrooms in her guidebook, it confirmed that they did indeed grow above fairy villages, and that these mushrooms were particularly attracted to music:

The fairy ring marks the spot where the fairies have their music hall. Step into the ring, and the mushrooms will allow you to hear the strains of fairy harps far below your feet.

Rosa saw that the path went straight through the middle of the mushroom ring rather than around it. With mounting curiosity, she stepped inside and almost dropped the rabbit teacup. Part of her had not truly believed it was possible, yet the moment she was within the ring, the fairy harp music surged up through the ground and washed over her in waves and waves.

This was harp music as Rosa had never heard it before, filled with wild abandon and carefree joy. Not only could she hear it clearly, but the music seemed to assail all her other senses too. She could taste luscious fairy fruits upon her tongue, feel cool dew between her toes, glimpse the glittering lights of a fairy hall and smell the smoky scent of their peat fires.

It was so enchanting that she could barely breathe and her entire body trembled. For long minutes she stood transfixed, not wanting ever to leave the circle. It was only the other guests crowding impatiently behind her that finally made her move away. As soon as she stepped outside the ring, the harp music was abruptly lost, and the snow-covered quiet seemed to echo strangely inside her head.