“There’s a machine down that corridor. I’ll show you.” He and the other elves led the way to a smaller room. In one corner was a machine the size of an upright freezer. On the front of it was a plaque that read Shrinkometer.
“Once they’ve shrunk us, they dip us in silver gunk. Please will you take us back to Candlefield now?”
“Okay. Hold each other’s hands. You, grab mine.” They didn’t need telling twice. “Everyone ready?”
“Yes,” they chorused.
“Okay, here goes.” I didn’t have time to think where best to take them, so I plumped for Cuppy C.
Pearl gave me the strangest look. “Jill, where did all these elves come from?”
“Sorry, there’s no time to explain. Give them all a cup of sweet tea, would you? I think they need it.”
“But, Jill, what—?”
“Sorry, I have to go.”
I magicked myself back to the room with the Shrinkometer, and I was just about to make my way back to the front of the shop when I heard footsteps and voices.
“They’ve gone!” a male voice said. “All of them. Someone has forced the door.”
“That would be me,” I shouted.
Moments later, two rough-looking wizards came charging into the room.
“Who are you?” they demanded.
“My name is Jill. I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“What have you done with our elves?”
“I thought I’d save you some time by putting them in there.” I pointed to the machine.
They both walked over to the Shrinkometer and pulled open the doors. I sneaked up behind them and pushed them inside.
Then I pressed the big green START button.
Chapter 24
The next morning, Jack and I were fast asleep when suddenly the bedroom door crashed open and in skipped Florence in her Pretty Possum pyjamas. Before I knew what was happening, she’d jumped onto the bed and was bouncing up and down.
“Florence,” I said, still half asleep. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“It’s freaky day, Mummy. Time to get up.”
Jack checked the time on his phone. “It’s only half past six, Florence.”
“Come on, Daddy. Come on, Mummy. Please!”
“Why don’t you go back to bed for just a little longer, and let Mummy and Daddy sleep?” I said.
“I’m hungry. Can I have my breakfast, please? Buddy wants his, too.”
“I don’t think she’s going to give up on this.” Jack sighed.
“You’re right. Why don’t you take her downstairs and give her some breakfast while I see to things up here?”
“See to things?” He grinned. “You must think I’m stupid. As soon as we’re out of the door, you’ll roll over and go back to sleep. If I have to get up, so do you.”
“If you loved me, you’d let me have a lie in.”
“Emotional blackmail isn’t going to get you anywhere. Up you get!”
That husband of mine was so selfish sometimes.
As soon as I walked into the kitchen, Buddy started pawing at my bare feet. He would just have to wait.
“I quite fancy a fry-up this morning,” Jack said. “Jill? What about you?”
“Yeah, if you’re offering.”
“Florence, what would you like?”
“An egg and soldiers, please.”
While Jack started on the breakfast, Florence and I took a seat at the table.
“Florence, you haven’t forgotten that I’m taking you to Candlefield this morning, have you?”
“What will we do when we get there?”
“I thought we could go to Cuppy C first, to see the twins.”
“That’s a funny name for a shop.”
“I suppose it is.”
“Can I have a bun there?”
“If you’re a good girl. The twins have lots of yummy cakes to choose from.”
“Can I have a milkshake too? A strawberry one?”
“I would think so. When I told the twins that you were going over there, they said they’d bring their little girls into the shop to see you. Do you remember Lily and Lil?”
“I think so.”
“You were only three when they came over here. After we’ve been to Cuppy C, we’ll go to Aunt Lucy’s house. Do you know who lives with Aunt Lucy, Florence?”
“Is it her husband?”
“Well, yes, Uncle Lester lives there too, but Aunt Lucy also has a dog.”
“Like Buddy?”
“No, not really. He’s much bigger than Buddy.”
“He doesn’t growl, does he, Mummy? I don’t like dogs that growl.”
“No, Barry’s a big soft thing. I think you’ll like him.”
“That’s a funny name for a dog.”
“He isn’t the only animal that Aunt Lucy has at her house.”
“Does she have a cat too?”
“Not a cat. Can you think of an animal that has a shell?”
“A tortoise?”
“That’s right. She has a tortoise called Rhymes.”
“That’s a funny name too. Can I play with him?”
“Tortoises don’t really like you to play with them, but you can definitely talk to him.”
“When are we going to Candlefield?”
“I have to go out for a little while first, but as soon as I get back, we’ll go over there.”
“And then it will be freaky time, won’t it, Mummy?”
“This afternoon, yes.”
Jack’s fry-up certainly hit the mark. After I’d finished, I went upstairs to shower and get dressed.
“Right, you two, I won’t be long.” Buddy was practically climbing my legs now. “Jack, can you feed this dog. I think he might be hungry.”
“Will do. Be careful at Tweaking Manor.”
“I will. See you later.”
***
When I arrived at the manor house, Elizabeth Judge’s car was already parked in front of the house. It was she who greeted me at the door.
“Jill, come in, we’re in the dining room.”
The fire had been lit, so the room was much warmer than on my last visit. At the head of the table was Caroline, who looked much better than when I’d seen her the day before.
“How
