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“I just wanted to thank her for looking after Mum, that’s all,” Frances said, more defensively than she intended.

“And remind me again, why has she been doing that?”

Frances narrowed her eyes and ignored her question. “If Mum wakes — ”

“I will call you immediately.”

“She is sleeping better at the moment, but I worry the fireworks might disturb her.”

Mara nodded.

“Make yourself at home, won’t you?” Frances said, pulling on her coat.

Two knocks at the door made her jump. She opened the door to a beaming Lucie, whose smile faded almost instantly when she saw that they weren’t alone.

“Mara! Hi.” Lucie’s gaze flicked between the two of them. “What’s going on?”

“Mara’s staying here in case Mum wakes.”

“And where are we going?” Lucie asked, the brightness returning to her eyes.

“You and I are going ice-skating,” Frances said, tucking her scarf into her coat and pulling her hat on.

“Oh, great.” Lucie beamed.

After further reassurances from Mara that she could manage, Frances checked her phone was turned up, hooked her bag over her shoulder and joined Lucie outside. They crossed the courtyard and entered the hall. She was determined to enjoy the next couple of hours with this captivating elf she couldn’t seem to shake and, deep down, didn’t want to. Her company felt like an escape into another world.

“I didn’t know you were a keen ice skater,” Lucie said, as they made their way down the corridor towards the inner courtyard.

“I’m not. Well, I haven’t skated since I was a kid, but surely it’s like riding a bike.”

“Let’s hope so, eh? For the sake of your ankles,” Lucie said, giving her a playful nudge. “I assume you can actually ride a bike. You didn’t have a butler or a nanny to do those kinds of things for you, did you?”

Frances narrowed her eyes. “Oh, very funny.”

“Why are we ice-skating at all?”

“I thought it would be nice to spend some time together... alone.”

“It is. Very.”

The smile that followed made something fizz inside Frances.

“I’ve been dying to have a go on the rink since they installed it,” she said, “and it will be gone in a few days. There is no better time than when no one else is around.”

“No one but me?” Lucie prompted.

“I think I can cope with your amusement if I fall over. Which I might, so be prepared.”

“Thanks for the advance warning. I shall ready my cheeks for excessive laughing.”

“Try not to laugh too hard. You might fall yourself,” Frances said dryly. “Or I might push you.”

Lucie pressed her lips together, struggling to keep her amusement from breaking through. “Noted.”

They reached the door to the inner courtyard just as a member of staff was locking up.

“Leave it open, please,” Frances requested. “I’ll lock it when I’m finished.”