Filomena chuckles. “No blood sacrifice,” she says, and Hero’s face drops so dramatically that Ben snorts with laughter. “But a ritual, certainly,” Filomena continues, and Hero hops delightedly from foot to foot. “We will honour our ancient Roman ancestors properly.” She glances around at the rest of us. “I hope you will all be there.”

“If it means rain, then I’m all for it,” Ursula says.

“Me too,” Klaus says.

“What do we have to do?” I ask suspiciously.

“Leave it to me.” Filomena is enigmatic. “You may await my instructions.” She turns. “Come, Hero; we have much to organize.”

“Why does that sound ominous?” Ben asks as we all watch Hero hurrying off after her future stepmother.

Chapter Twenty-Two

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Later that night I am sitting in front of the mirror. I can’t stop thinking about the moment I shared with Ben in the garden. What would have happened, I wonder, if Hero and Filomena hadn’t interrupted us? Would Ben have kissed me?

The reflection before me shows my eyes wide and shining, and I can’t seem to stay still.

My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on my door and I open it to find Hero, beaming and clutching a pile of bed linen to her chest.

“What have you got there?” I ask.

“It’s your costume, of course,” she says, stepping over the threshold.

“My what?”

Hero drops the sheets on to the bed and I realize that she is wearing what can only be described as a white toga.

“Oh no,” I say quickly, holding my hands up in front of me. “I’m not wearing one of those.”

“You don’t have any choice,” Hero says, giggling evilly. “It’s all part of the ritual.” I eye the sheets uneasily. “I’ll dress you – Filomena taught me how to do it,” she insists. “I think you’ll look lovely, Bea, like a Roman goddess. Please let me; everyone else is.”

“This is ridiculous.” I sigh, but I’m no match for Hero’s pleading face. “Go on then,” I say reluctantly.

“Take off your clothes,” Hero orders as she snatches up a large white sheet victoriously.

I stand in my underwear and let Hero wind the sheet around me, moving the white cotton this way and that, her face screwed up in concentration.

“Ow!” I exclaim as she jabs me with a pin.

“Sorry, sorry,” she mutters. “It looked much easier when Filomena did it.”

“I can’t believe I’m letting you get away with this,” I say. “And I can’t believe Ursula did either.”

“Not just Ursula.” Hero smirks. “Klaus looks very fetching in a sheet.”

“Don’t tell me Fil’s got the boys to agree to this as well?”

“Mmm-hmmm.” Hero nods, a frown of concentration on her face as she fiddles with the sheet at my shoulder. “OK.” She smiles, standing back and looking at me proudly. “All done.”