Page 65 of Fiendish Delights
‘But, yes,’ Miriam said. ‘I’ll do whatever I can to help her. We all will.’ She paused. ‘Although if you don’t come back, we’ll still have to worry about the fiends getting hold of that treasure.’
‘My plan will work.’ Hugo paused. ‘I’m almost certain of it.’
‘We can go with you?—’
‘No.’ His tone brooked no argument. ‘It’s too dangerous. I’m going alone.’
The floorboards creaked and I heard his footsteps. I could see his legs: he was walking towards the display cabinets. Suddenly I was sure I was about to throw up – and when I heard the faint squeak as the cabinet door opened, I tasted the bile in my mouth.
‘Where the fuck is the egg?’ Hugo spat.
I shrank further into myself.
‘It’s gone?’ Miriam asked, genuinely astonished. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes, I’m fucking sure.’ I heard a rustle of paper. ‘There’s a note in its place.Dear Hugo,’ he read aloud. ‘By the time you read this, I’ll already be in Wales. I am so sorry for taking your dragon’s egg. I will try and exchange it for the chess set so the set can be movedto the British Museum and kept safe. I hope that one day you will understand that this is the best course of action and safest for everyone and that you’ll be able to forgive me. We can’t risk more lives than is necessary.’He ground his teeth. ‘No prizes for guessing who wrote this.’
‘Daisy?’
Hugo exploded. ‘Of course it was bloody Daisy! Who else would be this fucking stupid? I’m going to kill her! Then I’m going to lock her up in the tower for the rest of her natural life! She needs saving from herself!’
I looked at the brownies. They looked at me.
‘She can’t have got that far unless she’s sprouted a pair of wings and is flying to Wales,’ he snarled. ‘She doesn’t have a car. Get everyone up and send them out to look for her! How the hell did she get past Duchess? Speak to that bloody troll and find out when she was here. Daisy can’t do this! We have to find her!’
Hester raised her eyebrows meaningfully whilst Otis waved his hands. I sighed silently before nodding a reluctant agreement. So much for my great plan.
I cleared my throat and opened my mouth. ‘Don’t get your panties in a twist, Hugo. And don’t wake everyone up. I’m right here.’ I unfurled my limbs and crawled awkwardly out from underneath the table before dusting myself off and standing up.
Miriam’s expression was mildly astonished; Hugo, on the other hand, looked furious.
‘Hi there,’ I said. I waved at them both before stuffing my hands in my pockets.
‘Hello, dear,’ Miriam said. Hugo glared at me. ‘I think,’ Miriam continued, already heading for the door, ‘I’ll put the kettle on and make a cup of tea. The two of you can talk this out on your own.’
Hester emerged in a flash. ‘Did you say tea?’
Otis zipped out. ‘Take us with you,’ he begged. ‘Don’t leave us here with them.’
She nodded and within five seconds, the three of them had vanished through the door, abandoning me to my fate.
Hugo and I were alone. And this wasn’t going to be pretty.
Chapter
Twenty-One
We stared at each other as the silence lengthened, a few uncomfortable seconds growing into one long minute. Then two. Hugo barely blinked. I twitched and shuffled and finally gave up. ‘At least I left a note,’ I said.
His hands curled into fists and he stepped towards me. ‘A note? A fuckingnote? You stole from me, Daisy! After everything we’ve been through together, this is how you repay me?’
‘Technically I’ve not stolen anything. I’ve removed nothing of yours from this room.’
‘Semantics!’ he snapped. ‘You’d have been across the border by now if you could have got away.’
True. ‘It’s for a good cause.’
‘You bloody idiot, Daisy!’
