Francis’s hand appeared back in the window and beckoned her. Prue took a breath and climbed out. They edged along, Prue’s heart juddering like cart wheels over dry tracks as they passed the window of their parents’ room. They clambered up the roof tiles to sit atop the ridge of the roof, just as the first fireworks of Staplefield began. They were just distant pinpricks of sparkle in the night sky, but Prue knew to her and Francis they represented possibility.

A grey speck caught Prue’s eye; it was Luella flying towards her. She landed clumsily at Prue’s feet. “I’m sorry I’m so late with this letter. I had a lovely chat with your father about the barley harvest, and he showed me all the fascinating machines you and your brother had created.”

Agapantha looked over at Prue. Prue hoped Agapantha hadn’t heard and put the letter in her pocket for later.

Prue spoke quietly. “Wait, you chatted with my father?”

“Oops, well, he was making a rather interesting pie and I was curious about the ingredients – I thought I could pass it on to the personifate chefs at the factorium who cook for the masters, and I completely forgot myself and asked, then had to explain about being a personifate. He was very nice about it.”

A whirlpool of panic churned inside of Prue. “And he spoke about me and my brother … by name?”

There was a moment of awkward silence, then Luella said quietly. “Frances or Prudence, I can tell a good person when I meet one. I’m sure you have your reasons and it’s no business of mine. I shan’t be passing the knowledge on to anyone. You’re Apprentice Haywood to me.” She winked.

Prue smiled. “Thank you.”

“Your dad said that they had accepted that you need to follow your own path, although he said your mum has taken some convincing. And he told me about—” She paused. “I’m sorry about your brother.”

All Prue could do was nod, because if she dared to open up, she feared it would flood out of her like a burst dam. She was pleased that her dad had seen how amazing personifates were – she was certain he would love them. “Did you meet my mum too?” she asked tentatively.

“Your dad said she was busy in the fields.”

Prue sighed, but she wasn’t sure if it was relief or a slight disappointment – she was worried about her mum’s reaction, but also wanted her to see how amazing the personifates really were.

“I stopped off in Batterthwaite on the way back. It was rather strange; I felt a sensation which I can only describe as being pulled away, which was odd. It was like one minute I was there, then for a moment I wasn’t.”