Page 13 of Secrets of the Frostbound Cottage

‘Not just yet,’ I said finally when I knew my distress wouldn't sound in my voice. ‘I just wanted to ask you something. I’m on this magical case to do with elves. Do you know much about them?’

‘Elves?’ Her tone dropped slightly. I couldn’t tell if it was disappointment in my answer or something else, but I didn’t have the headspace to unpick it.

‘Well, they’re sticklers for balance, that’s for sure, they believe chaos and order must exist in harmony. You know, yin and yang stuff,’ she said eventually. ‘We used to have a family in Witchlight Cove. They came … oh, twenty or thirty years ago now, wanting a change of pace, I think. Six of them, a lovely family, but I think it was the grandmother who got sick, or something like that, so they had to leave. They wanted to be back with the rest of their kin. If I remember correctly, they wouldn’t even try to use any of the local healers.’

‘So they have close-knit families?’ I asked, thinking of Orla.

‘Very close-knit,’ Yanni replied. ‘They liked to keep themselves to themselves. I think it was timidity more than anything. They were quite fearful of things, even in Witchlight Cove.’

Strong family unit. Fearful. That tallied with what I already knew about Orla. ‘What about their magic?’ I pressed. ‘I know it’s related to trees and plants.’

‘Oh yes, they have a wonderful link to nature. You should’ve seen the flowers they grew! Any season, winter or spring, it didn’t matter. I remember them growing bluebells in a field of snow once.’ Her voice was wistful as she recalled better times.

‘That must have been something.’ I was about to ask another question when I was interrupted by a high-pitched bark from my canine companion.

‘Is that a dog?’ Yanni said, a smile in her voice. ‘Have you got yourself a dog?’

‘It’s … complicated.’ I turned to shush the puppy but stopped short when I saw her little black nose pressed against the window as she stared at the fields beyond.

A field of bright pink orchids. Orchids. Outside. In England. In March.

‘Sorry, Yanni, I’ve got to go,’ I said quickly. ‘I think I’ve found something. Thank you for your help. Send Maddie my love.’

‘I will, but please ring her, Beatrix. She misses you so much.’

‘I will,’ I lied, guilt clawing at my chest.

Thankfully, the guilt and the heartbreaking memories were easier to push down when I was working. I was fully aware that it was wrong for a teeny part of me to be thankful that I currently had a case.

Because this one was a doozy.

Chapter Ten

Just because I’d never seen a field of orchids in England in March didn’t mean it wasn’t possible to grow them. I definitely wasn’t a horticulturalist; maybe I’d just been oblivious to their growth patterns and they were always around at this time of year.

A hasty internet search told me that wasn’t the case: orchids thrived in warmer climates, like in Asia, and even the hardiest couldn’t cope with a frost. If they’d been in a polytunnel or a greenhouse I’d have understood it, but these were out in anopen field,surrounded by leafless trees and brown grass. The entire scene looked unnatural, so how the hell were they growing there?

One word sprang to mind:magic.

I opened the car door, ready to see what I could find, but before I could climb out of Rosie the puppy leapt across my lap and scrambled out onto the grass. ‘Hey! What are you doing? You’re meant to stay in there!’ I called, pointing firmly to the car.

She turned her head to the side and gave me a withering look. A moment later, she relieved herself on the grass.

‘Oh,’ I said, feeling guilty. I’d not even thought about letting her out to have a pee and a poo, and I was grateful she hadn’t done it in the car. ‘Good point. I’m really sorry about that. I’ll do better in the future,’ I promised. ‘Right, now that you’re comfy, get back inside the car, please. I don’t want you getting into trouble while I’m trying to find these elves.’

I gestured towards the open door, assuming she’d helpfully jump back inside, but instead she started sniffing delightedly at the grass. She lifted a paw and batted at it, delighting in the crunchy sound it made.

Oh heck: she’d never been out of her cage. She raised her little head and sniffed the air, her tail wagging so vigorously there was a real risk it would wag right off. I watched the soft smile on her face as she looked in wonder at her surroundings.

Then she turned away and started trotting in the opposite direction.

The beautiful moment broke. ‘Oi! Dog!’ I called after her, a pang of annoyance striking me. Much as I loved her positive emotions, I wasn’t half as keen on the negative ones; if I’d wanted those, I’d have stayed in Witchlight Cove.

She ignored me; it seemed she didn’t like being called ‘Dog’. ‘I’m not naming you,’ I called after her, well aware what had caused her annoyance. ‘Owners name their dog and I amnotyour owner. We’re just companions for now.’

She glanced back at me with what looked alarmingly like a smirk and kept trotting away.

‘If you get yourself lost or injured or—’ I stopped mid-sentence. The puppy had stopped, too, on the edge of the orchid field next to a very narrow pathway. Though it hadn’t rained last night, the earth was damp and there were several clear footprints leading away from us.

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