The gold chair beside Prue creaked back slightly, then a cat jumped into it. The cat was grey and white, wearing a lace-trimmed red velvet dress with a gold piccadill collar, jewelled tiara and ruby necklace. The cat observed the table with piercing blue eyes, then waved her paw and said, “You may be seated.”

Prue marveled at the way the cat’s face moved with such precise detail, her voice graceful and polished.

“I trust you had a good rest, Queen Adelaide?” Lavender asked.

“One did,” the cat said.

Prue couldn’t help but let out a snigger. Queen Adelaide?

The cat glared at her.

“This is Frances, Agapantha and Cora – new apprentices,” said Lavender.

Queen Adelaide gave a nod.

Lavender instructed them to fill their plates as high as they liked, and Prue jumped at the chance, feeling famished from the journey and events of the day.

Cora proceeded to tell everyone all about her many talents in design, invention, mathematics, precision mechanics, how she had travelled far and wide – Prue thought it impossible that one person could really have done so much.

Lavender, who was sitting the other side of Prue, leant across and whispered. “Adelaide thinks she was a queen in her past life. Poor dear, we think there may have been a problem with her harnessing, addling her mind a bit. But she’s harmless, really, and it’s a bit of fun for the house. She was brought back as a companion a year ago but proved too demanding for the home she was assigned to.”

“Like a pet?” Prue whispered.

“Dear no, don’t let the personifates hear you say that. The term companion is much more acceptable.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“And you’re Larkin’s sister?” said Queen Adelaide to Cora. “Also, apparently a multi-talented apprentice. I daresay you will both be in the gold of a craftsman in record time.”

“Why don’t you tell Queen Adelaide about yourself, Agapantha?” said Lavender, looking across at her, but Agapantha’s face turned red and she pushed a piece of carrot around her plate. “Come on, dear, we’re all the best of friends here. No need to be shy.”

Prue took the opportunity to pile her plate with more buttery potatoes.

Agapantha spoke quietly. “My parents are from Medlock originally, but we moved to Gawthorpe. They tech-travel all over the world and they were at a meeting in Medlock when they met Master White, and they got talking about me. Master White visited me in Gawthorpe and the next thing I knew, here I am.”

“And your parents don’t mind leaving you here while they travel?”

“No, they’re just happy for the opportunity for me.”

“It’s not the same for those apprentices with family in Medlock who can pop back on a weekend.” Lavender gave Agapantha a little pat on her arm. “You and Frances are a long way from home.”