Just as Cecelia finished explaining, Sep emerged from the doorway off the entrance hall dressed in full military uniform, including a ceremonial sword.

  Millie wolf-whistled then clamped her hands over her mouth. ‘Sorry.’

  ‘It’s okay, Millie,’ the boy said. ‘I’d agree – I look absolutely dashing.’

  Everyone laughed except Sloane, who pretended to throw up.

  Chessie, Sloane and Neville made up the audience, along with Cecelia, while the rest of the girls were getting changed in the room to the left of the hallway. Lucas was changing in the room to the right.

  Chessie looked gorgeous in a long lilac gown that looked like something from the 1800s, Sloane was wearing a chef’s uniform and Neville was dressed in tartan plus-fours with a matching vest and cap and looked ready to hit the golf course.

  ‘Is there enough for us to dress up as well?’ Millie asked.

  ‘There’s enough for half the village,’ Chessie said with a smile. She twirled the umbrella she was holding and tugged on her long white gloves.

  ‘Come on then,’ Millie said, and she and Alice-Miranda hurried off to join the others.

  ‘Myles, this isn’t funny,’ Ellie yelled as she ran down the hallway searching each room. It was such a tiny house, there weren’t many places he could hide. Her mother was due home soon and the last thing Ellie needed was to have lost her little brother.

  Ellie had fallen asleep for less than twenty minutes. Given she’d hardly slept a wink last night and spent most of the day entertaining Myles, she’d laid down for a second – at least, that’s what it felt like. When she woke up, he was gone. They’d played hide-and-seek twice during the afternoon, so she assumed he was just getting a head start on another game. But no amount of calling had lured him from his spot – not this time.

  All day she’d tried to forget about what was happening tonight. She was supposed to meet Hazel at her house in an hour. Last night, after she’d got a lift to the light ceremony with Mr Kennington-Jones, the girl had sought her out and made the arrangements. Ellie wanted to tell her that she was done – she couldn’t help them again – but the words wouldn’t come. Then, after she’d confessed to Alice-Miranda and Millie this morning, she had to go through with it now. It was a good plan, but who knew if it would work.

  ‘Myles – where are you? I’m coming,’ Ellie sang. She’d already opened every cupboard. She’d even looked in the fridge and the washing machine, but thankfully he was too big to get stuck in there these days. It had happened once before.

  He’d shown her his collection of Christmas decorations three times – painstakingly pulling out each piece and lining them up on the kitchen table before he told her where he got them. The shiny new bauble from last night held the greatest fascination, though. It always made Ellie smile the way Myles called them his ‘Christmas bubbles’. He said that the man who gave it to him promised he could have another. Obviously, Mr Turner didn’t know who he was dealing with. Myles wouldn’t forget that in a hurry.

  Ellie could feel her heart hammering. She pulled off her hoodie and threw it on the bed – beads of perspiration trickling down her neck.

  Myles had disappeared once before and it had been the worst three hours of her life. A lady at the ice-cream parlour had said he could come whenever he liked for a treat and he’d taken her at her word. Trouble was, he didn’t tell anyone, and he was four years old at the time. How he hadn’t been killed crossing the road was a complete mystery. He had the road sense of a baby otter and still did to this day.

  ‘Come on, Myles, where are you?’ Ellie could feel the tears welling. He might have been a pain sometimes, but she would literally die if anything happened to him.

  Outside, the snow had begun to fall. Surely, he wouldn’t have gone to see their mother at work. He didn’t do things like that.

  Ellie heard the key turn in the back door.

  ‘Hello, my darlings, I’m home,’ Juliette called. Ellie met her mother in the hallway.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ her mother asked, her brow furrowed.

  ‘I can’t find Myles,’ Ellie replied then began to sob.

  Hazel looked at her watch again.

  ‘So where’s Ellie?’ Liam asked. The group was sitting upstairs in Jake’s bedroom, having just devoured two family-sized pepperoni pizzas.

  ‘She’ll be here,’ Hazel replied. ‘Anyway, we don’t have to leave for ages.’

  ‘No – but we need to make some plans. We know the party kicks off at six,’ Kane said.

  ‘Won’t there be security?’ Liam asked.

  ‘Duh. That’s why we’re security too, remember, you moron,’ the young man said, shaking his head. ‘We discussed this already.’

  Liam sneered. He didn’t like being told off, least of all by Kane who always thought he was in charge of everything.

  One of Kane’s friends worked for the firm that was on duty tonight and he’d managed to procure enough jackets for them all to be in uniform. With plain black pants and a black T-shirt and jacket, no one would spot the difference.

  There was a knock on the door. ‘Can I come in?’

  ‘What do you want, Mum?’ Hazel called out.

  ‘That’s a lovely greeting, isn’t it?’ Keeley said as she poked her head around. ‘Has anyone heard from your father? He should be home by now.’

  Liam wolf-whistled and Keeley stepped into the room properly. She was wearing a gold gown – long to the floor with a slit up the thigh and a plunging neckline. Her long hair tumbled in curls halfway down her back and her makeup was perfect if not a little heavy.

  ‘Oi!’ Jake gave the boy a thump on the arm. ‘Inappropriate.’

  ‘Really, Jakey, darling – you think Mummy looks inappropriate? That’s the best compliment I’ve had in years,’ the woman replied.

  ‘I didn’t say that, Mum. I meant Liam shouldn’t be whistling at you – he’s a pimply teenage boy – it’s gross,’ Jake said.

  The woman smiled at her son, then gave Liam a sneaky wink.

  ‘Where are you going?’ Jake asked.

  ‘Party of the year. Mr Turner’s invited everyone who’s anyone from the village – and he knows your father’s a big deal in the transport business. But your father had better get here soon, or I’ll be heading there on my own – he won’t like that one bit and I won’t care,’ the woman said.

  ‘You’re going to Hoxton Manor?’ Liam asked, a quiver in his voice.

  ‘You never mentioned you were going to that party,’ Hazel said.

  ‘Well, the invitation only came the other afternoon, and I’d already accepted my Pilates Christmas party, but then I thought about it and there was no way I was going to pass this one up,’ Keeley explained. ‘The girls will be so jealous when I tell them about it. Though I think a couple of them might be invited too – the Pilates party numbers seemed way down when I phoned to say I couldn’t make it.’

  Hazel looked at Jake who looked at Liam who stared at Kane.

  ‘You’ll be the most gorgeous woman there,’ Liam said. ‘I mean that very respectfully of course, Mrs Hendrix.’

  The other three pulled faces at the lad.

  Downstairs, there was the sound of the back door opening.

  ‘Griff, is that you, darling?’ Keeley called. ‘You’d better hurry up and get changed. I’ve got your suit laid out in the bedroom. We’re due at the party at six.’

  And with that, she turned and hurried out of the room.

  ‘I hope you’ve got a plan B, boys,’ Hazel said.

  ‘Mum would be mortified,’ Jake said.

  Kane shook his head. ‘Dad wouldn’t care if he caught us – he hates that rich sod anyway. It just makes the whole thing a bit more fun really.’

  ‘Fine,’ Hazel replied. She glanced at her watch. ‘Ellie had better hurry up then – because I’m not going to be the only girl there.’

  With Cecelia having kept the children busy all day, it seemed that everyone had forgotten about last night’s robbery. Although Alice-Miranda certainly hadn’t and neither had Millie. They just weren’t reminding anyone about it.

  After their fashion spectacular, Cecelia suggested the group head into the garden and build some snow people, which ended up in a vigorous snowball fight, followed by lunch and a hilarious Christmas movie about some criminals who try to ruin a family’s Christmas – perhaps a little too much like art imitating life at the moment. There was also an impromptu dance lesson from Shilly and Mrs Oliver in the ballroom that had everyone up enjoying themselves – there would be dancing tonight and Caprice suggested they get in some practice.

  Jacinta and Lucas surprised the group with their cha-cha moves, while Sep asked Millie if she’d be his partner in a waltz. Alice-Miranda giggled when she realised that the girl’s face was about the same colour as her hair, but it was lovely to see the two enjoying themselves. When the clocks around the house echoed their four-thirty chimes, Shilly shooed the children off to get ready for the party – though the boys argued that they’d be changed in no time flat. The woman suggested they do some reading while they waited for the girls – and to get used to the fact that they’d spend a lot of time in the future doing exactly the same thing. Neville dissented, saying that he also took ages to get ready, these days – taming his hair into exactly the right style was something of a m-a-n-e event. That joke caused him to laugh out loud. Sloane just shook her head.

  Mr Greening was organised to take the children, Cecelia and Hugh in the minivan at quarter to six.

  ‘Don’t you all look gorgeous,’ Cecelia gasped as the children walked down the stairs into the entrance foyer. She’d asked Mr Greening to bring the van to the front of the house for a change. They almost always used the kitchen entrance and tonight she wanted to make things a little more special.

  The group was a kaleidoscope of colour from Chessie’s ballerina-length pale-pink gown with silver sparkles to Sloane’s silver A-line halter-neck with a faux fur stole. Jacinta was in a gorgeous cobalt-blue off-the-shoulder number while Britt had opted for white on white with sequins and a knitted shrug. Caprice drew a gasp in her fairytale princess dress with a full skirt in pale blue. Millie was in her favourite forest-green, in a gown that perfectly complemented her hair and eyes. Britt looked sweet in a feathered skirt and sequinned top in red.

  Alice-Miranda wore a calf-length tulle skirt in silver with a matching cashmere cardigan with pearl buttons. Her hair was pulled back off her face and she wore a jewelled headband.

  Cecelia was a picture herself in a navy floor-length gown with a deep V neckline and an attached cape. The dress was covered in sequinned stripes.

  ‘Mummy – you look so tall,’ Alice-Miranda said.

  The woman grinned. ‘Helped by heels and this dress.’

  ‘Yes, vertical stripes give the illusion of height,’ Britt said.

  ‘Look at you, you little fashionista,’ Caprice said.

  The boys looked smart in their tuxedos too. Lucas wore a cobalt-blue bow tie to match Jacinta’s dress, while Neville had added a natty tartan waistcoat to his ensemble and Sep was resplendent in mint-coloured accessories, including a lovely cashmere scarf.

  ‘Hugh!’ Cecelia called out.

  ‘Coming, darling,’ he said, though from the pinched look on his face, Alice-Miranda decided that there probably hadn’t been any good news since their visit this morning from Detective Inspector Freeman.

  ‘Don’t you all look festive,’ Hugh said. He was as handsome as always in his formal attire.

  ‘Well, have a wonderful evening,’ Dolly Oliver said, as she and Shilly snapped photographs of the group.

  ‘Shilly and I are going to put our feet up and watch a movie – before the rest of the family arrives tomorrow night.’

  ‘Don’t you wish you were coming?’ Jacinta asked.

  Shilly shook her head. ‘My dancing days are long gone, dear. My idea of a perfect Saturday night usually involves supper in front of the television, a movie and early to bed. I know – boring – but one day you’ll be old like us and you’ll understand what I’m talking about.’

  ‘I’m looking forward to seeing Mummy and Anthony,’ Chessie said. ‘I’m glad that they’re coming. Mummy says she’s been so busy with guests, they’ve hardly had time to think about Christmas. And I can’t believe I’ve been here since Wednesday and haven’t seen them yet.’

  Millie nudged Caprice. ‘Speaking of parents,’ she whispered. ‘Have you spoken to your mother?’

  The girl bit her lip. ‘Um, no, but I’ll call her from the party – then I won’t be able to talk to her for too long and she won’t be able to tell me off as much either,’ she replied.

  Millie grinned. That seemed like a good strategy.

  ‘Now, has everyone got everything?’ Shilly asked. ‘Handbags, handkerchiefs, ham sandwiches?’

  ‘What?’ the children chorused, followed by a staccato firing of, ‘Why would we need to take ham sandwiches?’

  ‘Just checking to see if you were all paying attention,’ the woman replied to guffaws of laughter.

  ‘Shilly – you’re in a cheeky mood,’ Hugh said. ‘But you did pack me one, didn’t you – in case the food’s ghastly?’

  Alice-Miranda’s jaw dropped. ‘Daddy! Now who’s being cheeky? The food will be amazing, I’m sure.’

  ‘Actually, I ran into Miss Wickham at the shops this morning and she mentioned that their chef is recuperating from a nasty appendicitis. I’m not sure who’ll be cooking, but I can’t imagine that Mr Turner will scrimp,’ Shilly said.

  ‘It’d be funny if it’s your mother, Caprice,’ Jacinta said. ‘Though surely you’d know that by now.’

  Caprice looked at Millie and swallowed hard.

  ‘Mr Turner said that he was visiting one of his staff members when I saw him at the hospital the other night. It sounds like poor Miss Wickham has had a lot on her plate too,’ Alice-Miranda said. The girl was carrying a clutch purse and inside it was the bottle and the letter she was hoping to show Miss Wickham tonight. She had a feeling it was important, but it was also Christmas and she wondered if now was the right time – especially if Miss Wickham was also dealing with a sick staff member on top of all her other worries. She didn’t want to upset anyone, so she’d decide what do to when she got there.

  ‘Well, off you go, you lot. Enjoy the evening,’ Dolly Oliver trilled.

  And with that, the group headed out the door to their waiting ride.

  ‘What’s the matter with you?’ Keeley asked her husband, who was pulling up his trousers and looked in a right old sulk.

  ‘I’ve got a few things on my mind,’ Griffin replied. ‘I don’t know why we’re going to this do – you know I can’t stand all those rich toffs.’

  Keeley handed him his shirt, which he shrugged on, then buttoned up. She grabbed the tie from the end of the bed and passed it to him.

  ‘We’re going because we were invited and it would be bad manners to say no – besides, I’ve wanted to get a look at Hoxton Manor for years. Everyone says it’s even more gorgeous than Highton Hall and that’s one of the most beautiful houses I’ve ever seen. At least the Highton-Smith-Kennington-Joneses have the good grace to host an annual garden party so us mere mortals can get a squiz,’ Keeley said.

  Griffin finished doing up his tie. To say he had a few things on his mind was an understatement. His star driver, Bobby, had been intercepted chatting to people he shouldn’t have been. Griffin didn’t know where they’d taken him, but he had a nasty feeling that Bobby was about to disappear for good. From the messages on his phone, the boss wasn’t very happy with Griffin either – given he was the one who gave the bloke the job. Griffin was in way over his head and he knew it.

  He wriggled the Windsor knot into position around his neck and raked a hand through his hair.

  ‘You look very handsome, darling,’ Keeley said. She looked at him with her hand on one hip. A moment later he realised that she was staring.

  ‘What?’ he asked.

  ‘You’re supposed to tell me what a knockout I am,’ Keeley harrumphed. ‘At least Liam thinks I’m hot.’

  ‘You are, Keeley – but you don’t want the likes of that greaseball teenager telling you so,’ Griffin said and rolled his eyes. ‘You’ll be the most gorgeous woman there – unless Venetia Baldini turns up, because she’s off the charts,’ he said with a smirk.

  ‘Thanks a lot,’ Keeley said and gave him a playful smack on the arm before grabbing her feathered coverlet from the back of the chair. ‘That’s not likely now, is it? She’s probably off in her villa in Italy getting ready for Christmas – like that show we watched about her family Christmas last year.’

  ‘Oh, yeah – you’re probably right. So you’ll be the most beautiful woman there, for sure,’ Griffin said, earning himself a peck on the cheek.

  Juliette Byers had checked under all the beds and in every cupboard.

  ‘I told you, Mum, he’s not here,’ Ellie said.

  The woman was pacing the hall. ‘Think, think, where would he go? Why would he go?’

  Ellie checked her brother’s room for the umpteenth time.

  ‘It’s gone,’ she called out, suddenly realising that her brother’s box of treasures was missing.

  Juliette raced to the door.

  ‘He told me last night that the man who gave him the bauble said he has something else for him,’ Ellie said.

  Juliette nodded. ‘He did. But that was Mr Turner from Hoxton Manor. It’s a long way from here and how would Myles even know how to get there?’

  Ellie raced into her room and pulled the hoodie over her head, then grabbed her coat from the end of the bed.

  ‘Myles has heard you telling us about Hoxton Manor. We never go past the place without you mentioning you had an aunt who worked there and you’ve said that it’s owned by Elliot Turner. Last night Myles said his name and where he lived. He’s gone there – to get his next trinket. I’m sure of it,’ Ellie shouted as she raced back into the hall.