Queen Zipfarah, still floored over the knowledge that Emma hadn’t done anything to speed up or initiate her recovery, called out for Pintel, and when he arrived, she asked that he bring some tea for her guests. The latter bowed and hurried away.

“It is not really necessary. I am not in the mood for tea.” Emma rattled on, her cheeks coloring the next second when Zipfarah and Prescott burst into a fit of laughter.

‘Please don’t tell me that I had been so obvious.’ She thought, darting her eyes between the queen and the squirrel.

“Don’t worry Emma, the poison hadn’t affected our tea stock. And our chefs hadn’t...