She’d stood up, closed her eyes for a second, then took an almighty run up and grabbed the rope. For a moment she’d felt like she was flying.

“Let go!” Francis called, and she released the rope and hurtled into her brother on the other side, knocking the wind out of his chest and sending the apple tart flying into the grass.

“Are you all right, Frances?” Edwin said. “You looked like you were miles away for a second.”

“Err, yes – I was just thinking about the wolf trap,” she said quickly. “Come on. Let’s get back to the house and sketch some plans before Cora gets back.”

Chapter 13: Luella

LUELLA

In the parlour, Prue and Edwin used Edwin’s sketchpad to draw a plan for their trap. Prue instructed him on the design, until at one point, Agapantha gave a little cough and asked them if they minded, and she made a few adjustments to the calculations for the counter balance and rope lengths.

“That’s brilliant, Ag. Yes, I think that will work better,” said Prue, impressed.

They decided the quietest day at the Guild would be Sunday, so it would be easiest to sneak around and get equipment to set the trap then.

When they finished planning, Prue put the drawing in her bag and they went into the dining room for tea.

Afterwards, Agapantha and Edwin went upstairs and Prue sought out Liddy in the parlour to ask for some notepaper and an envelope to write to her parents.

“When you’re done, you can go to the messenger tower at the factorium, and one of the personifates will deliver it. It’s the quickest way to send letters these days. Take someone with you if it’s after sunset.”

The parlour was busy with an older group of apprentices, so Prue went upstairs to write. Agapantha was sitting on the smallest bed in the room, and on the large bed nearest the window, where Agapantha had slept the previous night, sat Cora Duval.

“What are you doing?” Prue asked.

“This is my room too,” Cora laughed.

“That’s Agapantha’s bed,” said Prue hotly.

“It didn’t have her name on it.”

Agapantha stood up behind Prue. “I don’t mind.”

“There, see, she doesn’t mind,” said Cora.

“I mind,” said Prue. “It’s the principle of it.”

“Would you like me to move?” Cora said to Agapantha, with her eyes wide and a sickly smile.

Agapantha shook her head.