She sat thinking and dreaming, clutching the tiny bottle in her hands. Eventually … of course! She’d already thought of the first move, it was just the way of bringing it about that was wrong. With a shrug of contempt for her own silliness, she tossed the phial over the wall into the adjoining field. She was done with stupid spells! She needn’t even have bothered to pinch that grubby old book.

Nell was going to work at the Hall, even if it was only in the garden. Mum already worked there and, though she went only to clean and help out, the Stellions knew who she was and noticed her efforts. Uncle Tom had long worked there as the gardener, of course. So Gina was already well placed to bag the next job that came up. Secure a position at Grindle Hall and the rest would surely follow.

Oh, but how long would it be before a vacancy arose? Life was passing her by, and she couldn’t wait even a day longer than she had to. And what if there was a job, but someone else was recommended to Mr Stellion? The other people working there must have family who would be interested, and possibly favoured over herself.

Nell had been chosen ahead of her this time, after all. No one had even mentioned the gardening job to her! She felt another surge of anger about that, but her rising temper muddied her thinking and she closed her eyes and breathed deeply until she was calm again.

Eventually she rose stiffly to her feet, rubbing her spine where the uneven stones of the wall had pressed in. She pulled back her shoulders and lifted her head. Her mind was made up, her plan was beginning to form, and she knew exactly what her first move was to be.

CHAPTER TWO

‘MUM SAID I’D probably find you here. Thank you for recommending me for this job, Uncle Tom.’ Ellen hovered in the doorway of the ornate greenhouse.

The garden at Grindle Hall was huge – or at least it seemed so to Ellen, when compared to the neat little plot behind Highview Cottage. Grindle Hall’s garden was divided up by hedges and walls with doors or gates in them, and each part was dedicated to growing different plants or seemed to have a different purpose. Ellen had arrived in good time to have a sneaky look round before anyone but her uncle was likely to be found outside.