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“Like if my father sees a juggler or a clown he’s likely to push them into the nearest water feature,” Jem said.

Ellie snorted. “Did I specify jugglers and clowns?”

“No,” Jem said, starting to feel slightly defensive. “But you did say entertainers.”

“Of which there are many kinds.”

“Like what?”

Ellie breathed in and Jem got a whiff of her perfume. “Like acrobats, for example.”

“Ah,” said Jem. “Great. The circus is coming to town.”

Ellie looked about ready to slap her, but the porter who had been showing them to the co-ordinator’s office finally turned back and cleared his throat. “Ladies?”

Jem grinned. “Coming right along.” She heard Ellie growl behind her back.

“AND WE WOULD expect the wallpaper to be replaced, obviously,” Jem said.

The events co-ordinator coughed slightly. “I think you’ll find that that’s original William Morris,” he said faintly.

Jem, who had known that, smiled. “Nevertheless…”

“What are you doing?” Ellie hissed as the co-ordinator led them out of the dining room.

“Pa hates green,” Jem said airily.

They followed the co-ordinator into a pleasantly lit smaller room. “And this is our secondary dining room,” he said.

“Oh no,” said Jem. “Far too dingy.” She peered around. “And where would we put the stage?”

“The stage?” asked the man.

“We’re thinking a full band,” Jem said. “Maybe two. That way we’ll have live music all night, well, until two or three, I expect most people will have left by then.”

“Two or three?” said the man, sounding faint again.

Jem marched out into the corridor, the co-ordinator and Ellie now following her as she went back into the foyer. “We’d need a full cleaning team in,” she was saying as she walked.

“The Walthambridge is perfectly clean,” the co-ordinator said indignantly.

“Jem,” hissed Ellie again. But Jem ignored her.

“And we’ll need to discuss use of your kitchens.”

“Kitchens?” said the co-ordinator.

Jem stopped at the reception desk. “Oh, and we’ll need you to prevent the public from entering through the main doors here, we’ll need the foyer as a grand opening to the party.”

“Close the hotel’s main doors?” The co-ordinator had turned a funny shade of pale green. He coughed again. “Um, when exactly is this event?”

Ellie scowled at Jem who ignored her. “These are the dates,” she said, passing an itinerary to the co-ordinator.

His face cleared and he even smiled a little. “I am terribly sorry, but the Walthambridge will be unable to accommodate you on those dates.” He gave a brief nod to them both. “Ladies.” And he walked away.

Jem, who had been holding her breath, let it go. Missionaccomplished. If this had been the perfect location, she’d blown it, something that was bound to get Ellie into trouble. On the off chance that her father didn’t fire Ellie for blowing the best event location, well, maybe Ellie would be irritated enough with Jem herself that she’d just quit.

“What the hell was all that about?”