‘You told her what to put in it.’
‘Yep.’
‘But you only know what’s in vamp spray because it’s popular in the future.’
‘Yep.’
‘So who actually invented vamp spray?’
I shrugged. Hester cackled. ‘Daisy invented it!’
In a manner of speaking, I guess I did. I giggled. This vamp-killing venture hadn’t been a complete write-off after all.
Within minutes, Tracey had sold all her stock and a lot of people who hadn’t been able to snag any vamp spray were looking very upset. ‘Same time tomorrow folks!’ she trilled. ‘I’ll replenish my supplies overnight.’
The grumbling crowd started to disperse. Tracey glanced up, caught my eye and let out a thrilled squeal before rushing forward to give me a tight hug. ‘You’re fine! I knew all along you would be! I hope you don’t mind but I made up more of that potion.’ She beamed. ‘It’s selling like hotcakes! Everyone wants some.’ She pulled back and thrust a wad of notes into my hand. ‘Here, this is your cut.’
My cheeks flushed and I shoved the notes back at her. ‘I’m the one who owes you money,’ I said with a flash of guilt. ‘The police won’t give me the reward. I’m so sorry, Tracey.’
‘Don’t be sorry! Didn’t you see all those people? I’m onto a winner here! This could be exactly what I need to get myself off the streets.’ She hugged me again. ‘I can’t thank you enough. You have to take your share.’
I opened my mouth to protest further, then caught Otis and Hester glaring at me. I dropped my head, took the money and mumbled, ‘Thanks, Tracey.’
Her eyes were shining. ‘I’m taking off – I need to make another batch. I should come up with a name for this stuff as well.’
‘Vamp Spray,’ Otis and Hester chorused.
Tracey looked at me. ‘Sounds good to me,’ I said. ‘It’s best to stick to an obvious name so people know what it is.’
‘Then Vamp Spray it is. Do you want to help me sell it tomorrow? We can make a killing, especially now that we know it works.’
I looked at the crumpled notes in my hand.I finally had what I needed. I was in a position to do what Gordon had intended all along. ‘That’s a kind offer, but there’s somewhere I need to be. There’s an elven woman who needs my help.’
‘She’ll be lucky to have it. You’re amazing, Daisy.’
I bit my lip. I genuinely doubted I was amazing enough to alter history and save Lady Rose – but I would certainly give it my best shot.
Chapter
Seventeen
Thanks to Tracey’s success at raising money, I could not only afford a cheap B&B, where I could clean myself up and get a decent night’s sleep, but also the services of a spider’s silk dealer. The relief I felt at replenishing my supplies was almost as good as my eight hours’ sleep; the gnawing fear that I’d end up in withdrawal had been nibbling away at me, and it had been getting exhausting.
There was enough money left over to pay for a set of clothes from a charity shop and for my travel the following morning. I was both renewed and refreshed; I no longer smelled like a marsh and I no longer felt like a grubby marsh monster. My mood was so buoyant that I felt I could take on the whole world, regardless of what year it was. I tried to ignore the fact that the shaking in my hands kept recurring, and the heart palpitations, tinnitus and cold sweats continued to flare up when I least wanted them.
The train route was unchanged from what I knew it would be in the future. Finally I hopped off at a vaguely familiar platform and glanced around. Pemberville Castle, Hugo’s familyseat, was less than four miles away; the Assigney mansion was roughly the same distance, albeit in the opposite direction.
Hester cracked her knuckles. ‘I am ready for our next heroic encounter,’ she declared. ‘Let’s save Lady Rose!’
I turned to the right and started walking. ‘Um, Daisy? Lady Rose’s house is the other way,’ Otis murmured.
‘We’ll go to Hugo’s place first,’ I said firmly.
He was astonished. ‘Why would we do that? If he’s there, he’ll only be a baby. He won’t be much use.’
Actually, in 1994 Hugo would be two years old, still in nappies but no longer a babe in arms. ‘We can’t just rock up at Lady Rose’s house, knock on the door and tell her she’s in danger. We need to establish the lay of the land. Hugo’s parents are Lady Rose’s immediate neighbours, and we know that they tried to speak to Rose several times before she vanished. If we talk to them first, we might learn more about what’s going on.’
Hester sniffed. ‘We might also interrupt them in the middle of sawing Lady Rose’s body into bits before burying them in their vegetable garden.’
