Proserpina

Without another thought, I threw down my hairbrush and raced after her, the maids goggling at me before following at a more sedate pace. They were used to our rather rambunctious games and took it to be another such boisterous round of catch. They had no clue how desperate I was.

Little Piers charged behind me, shouting, frantically, 'Mumma! Catch Ria! Piers want pink egg!!!'

I was dimly aware of the startled security men who could not believe that we were racing along the corridors on the second floor, whooping and screaming despite the strict injunctions of His Highness, Lucien Delano, I thought hysterically.

It was only when I...