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the air. Her flight path made everything in the room rattle and even more sugar and paper scattered across the table and floor.
    â€œOh, and before I forget, your father telephoned to say he is coming down to London this evening for dinner. I have some questions to ask him about aether conductors.” He beamed at her. “I never knew how much fun inventions were. I would have given up my position on the Council years ago had I known. I thought that binding my warlock power would be difficult, but this is fun.”
    â€œOh, Marsh, you didn’t invite my father, did you? We are supposed to be going to the opera with Lady Mandeville and her daughters tonight. I cancelled a charter especially so I could go.” Elle closed her eyes in frustration.
    â€œThat’s no bother. You go with the ladies and I’ll stay here with Adele and your father. Mrs. Hinges will look after us.”
    â€œWhat makes you think that I want to go to the opera with the Mandevilles by myself? I only accepted the invitation for your sake and because we had no option but to say yes. Did you not think to ask me first?”
    Marsh pulled the wires out of the spark tank and the sparks that were emanating from the umbrella stopped. He walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “You weren’t here to ask. You, my dear, were too busy stealing airships from other pilots while I, your poor husband, was left alone to my own devices.”
    Just then the doors of the library burst open and Professor Charles Chance, followed closely by the housekeeper, Mrs. Hinges, burst into the room. “Ah, Eleanor! There you are, my girl. Couldn’t sleep, so I took the early train. Hope you don’t mind. Thought I’d catch one of those moving pictures at the cinema theatre while I’m here.” He kissed the top of her head as he walked past. “Oh, what a display of supra-kinetic energy. I say, old chap, you and the little green one have been hard at work.”
    â€œPapa …” Elle started to say, but the professor had already pushed past her and was staring at the paper balls, which Adele had now managed to suspend in the air in a pattern that resembled a solar system.
    â€œWonderful, dear boy. Simply wonderful,” the professor said to Marsh as he shook his hand.
    â€œGood heavens! Look at the mess. It’s like the gates of the underworld have opened up in here,” Mrs. Hinges exclaimed.
    â€œMrs. Hinges—” Elle started saying, but Mrs. Hinges also pushed past her and started waving her arms at Adele. “Put those papers down, you little green minx. Don]t make me fetch the broom!”
    In response, Adele screeched and started aiming the paper balls at Mrs. Hinges like missiles. Mrs. Hinges, unused to random aerial attacks by absinthe fairies, let out a most undignified squeal of surprise before setting off after the fairy while waving her hands in the air, but Adele simply darted up and perched on the chandelier, out of harm’s way.
    Mrs. Hinges stopped before Elle, slightly out of breath. “Eleanor, my dear, we really need to talk about …” She stared pointedly at Marsh. “It’s too much for the staff to take. And my nerves cannot take it. They cannot, I say. Very soon, no one will want to work here and you will find yourself without staff.”
    â€œI know, Mrs. Hinges—” Elle started to say, but just then Adele dashed off to one side, knocking a vase of flowers and the row of bric-a-brac from the mantelpiece. The whole lot came crashing to the floor in a cloud of papers and grains of sugar and dust.
    And all the while, the professor and Marsh continued their discussion on the umbrella carcass, utterly oblivious to the pandemonium that was unfurling around them.
    â€œ Enough !” Elle shouted at the top of her voice.
    Everyone stopped and stared at her. In the silence, a small porcelain dog, the last ornament standing, slid