Ilay on one side of the bed, Hugo lay on the other. We were facing each other, our hands and feet touching.
‘I love you, Lady Daisy Carter Assigney.’
‘I love you too, Lord Snoot-Face Pemberville.’
His eyes danced. ‘Say that again. Go on. I dare you.’
I smirked but before I could risk repeating my words, the bedroom door opened a fraction.
‘You have to knock first, Hester!’ Otis said.
‘He’s right!’ Eloise agreed. ‘Horace, you have to wait until you’re granted admittance! Manners cost nothing!’
I rolled my eyes at the intrusion. ‘We ought to send you lot to minion finishing school,’ I told them.
‘I’d like to see you try,’ Hester snorted. She flew over to the bed and hovered between us. Horace was practically glued to her side. ‘Are you going to stay in bed all day?’
‘It’s not the worst idea in the world,’ Hugo murmured.
‘You won’t say that when you see what’s happening on the news,’ she said ominously.
I sat up straight. ‘What?’ I asked. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘You’ve worried her now.’ Otis scowled at his sister before also flying over. ‘It’s nothing. You and Hugo should stay hereand enjoy yourselves. There are no problems and there is nothing whatsoever to be concerned about.’ Unsurprisingly, his words only ratcheted up my anxiety.
‘Tell us what’s going on,’ Hugo said.
Eloise bit her lip. ‘It’s better if you see it for yourselves.’
Hugo and I exchanged glances then we sprang out of bed and bolted downstairs. The television in the lounge was already on and all the Primes were grouped around it. They started guiltily when we entered. Even Miriam looked nervous. ‘Hello dears,’ she said, then she looked away.
‘What’s going on?’ Hugo asked.
‘It’s nothing,’ Becky chirped.
‘Absolutely nothing,’ Rizwan agreed.
Slim was already nodding. ‘Nothing whatsoever.’
Uh-huh. I folded my arms across my chest. Hugo glowered. ‘If anyone else says the word nothing I’m going to rescind our wedding invitations with immediate effect.’
‘I’m glad you mentioned your upcoming nuptials,’ Slim said. ‘There are some details that I’d like to go over with you concerning the flowers. The wedding planner is already in the ballroom setting up the first of the table arrangements, but I’m not sure about the roses she’s selected for the ceremony.’
‘And the hair stylist called,’ Becky said. ‘She wanted to confirm the time with you. She’s planning to be here from eight o’clock tomorrow morning.’
Mmm. I drummed my fingers against my arms. ‘Back away from the television.’
Hugo tapped his right foot. ‘Do what she said.’
They glanced at each other then they moved away. Hugo took the remote control from Mark and turned up the volume.
The news anchor smiled out from the screen. ‘And so we come to our final news item of the day concerning Amy Aurum, a teenager from Hammerwich in Staffordshire, who’s recentlymade an extraordinary discovery. Our reporter, Edward Dixon has been catching up with her. She’s not in Hammerwich right now, is she, Edward?’
The camera cut to a windswept man. ‘She certainly isn’t,’ he said. He gestured to the wide-open landscape around him.
‘I recognise that place,’ I said.
Hugo’s eyes narrowed. ‘Me too.’
