Oto chanted louder, his voice rising on the wind while Kobangles took slow steps towards them. One tentacle held Miss Trotter by the neck, pinning her to the floor.

Sophie drew a breath and pressed her back against the trunk of the palm tree, her gaze flitting between the sprite and its weakening victim. "Please. Please let her go."

Kobangles ignored her and continued its advance. Pale lips peeled back, and it bared its sharp teeth at Oto.

The shaman faltered, fear dimming his chant to a desperate murmur. He swallowed. "I'm sorry, but this isn't working."

Behind him, Beatrice clutched his shoulder, her jaw clenched. "Don't give up now, Mr Oto. Keep chanting."

Westman edged closer to Sophie, ready to shield her if necessary. If Oto was right, they were out of options. Conventional weapons were no use against an ethereal entity, and he knew of no magical words that could stop its approach.

"Don't do this, please!" shouted Sophie.

The sprite's head snapped in her direction and a furious shriek issued from its jagged maw.

Startled, Sophie dropped her sketchbook and recoiled. "Do you think it understands me?"

"I'd say it makes little difference at this point." Westman's heart pounded under his ribs, his mind searching for a way out.

We could split up and run, he thought. But even if they avoided the sprite's tentacles, Miss Trotter was still doomed. Could he really run away like a coward and leave her to die? Never. Too many lives had already been lost. But what other choice did they have? The instruction to flee hovered on his tongue.

Sophie stared wide-eyed at the monster, her chest rising and falling fast. "Kobangles. I beg you, please forgive Miss Trotter. Forgive the men who brought you here. Please."

Instinctively, Westman wrapped an arm around her waist and dragged her to his side. "You need to run," he whispered harshly in her ear.

"Not without you and the others."

Kobangles closed the distance, looming over them. A cold aura blew the loose locks of hair from Sophie's cheeks, but she didn't cower.

"We're sorry," she cried. "We just want to help you return home. I don't know how it feels to be ripped away from your home, but I know what it's like to miss something you hold dear. Truly, I do. I know how it feels to be angry... to wish you could return to another time and place... a blissful time. A place where you felt safe... before your world was completely devastated. I understand!"

Westman looked at her while she spoke, surprised and saddened by the words flowing from her lips. Was she talking about the day she and her brothers became orphans? He knew all about that. Or the moment she'd been introduced to a dark world full of monsters last year? That had been his fault. Perhaps it was something else. Unshed tears shimmered in her eyes, and her body trembled in his arms. Whatever experience she drew upon, her words reached into the deepest recess of his being and rattled a box of memories – the one he always kept locked.

She took a steadying breath. "It's not too late. If you let Mr Oto help you, he can take you home."

Kobangles' gaze lowered to the sketchbook at its feet, and the sprite tilted its head. In the glow of its aura, pages flapped in the breeze, revealing Sophie's illustrations. The annotated pencil drawings of leaves, stems, trees, flowers; some painted in delicate watercolours. Kobangles closed its mouth and reached down, its thin, ghostly fingers stilling the pages. For a long moment, it stared at its own image, the Goliath Trap, somehow made less hideous by Sophie's hand. The sprite's gaze slithered from the book to Sophie's face, putting Westman on edge.

"Isn't that what you want? What you really want?" she asked the sprite. "To go home?"

Kobangles' fingertips brushed her sketch. Then it spoke without moving its lips, its voice a strange echo around them. "You care."

Sophie blinked, her mouth moving wordlessly before she recovered her voice. "Y-Yes."

The breeze died down, and Kobangles released Miss Trotter. The woman gasped for breath while the sprite withdrew. It took a step backward and looked at Oto.

"Take me home."

A collective sigh of relief filled the glasshouse, and Oto gave a respectful nod.

***

Dawn was still hours away when the group left the Palm House. With Kobangles subdued and bound to the seed, Princess Beatrice exchanged a few quiet words with Oto before looking over at the rest of the party.

"I suggest you all leave before the groundskeeper arrives. When the mess in the Palm House is discovered there will be quite a furor. We were never here, do you understand?"

Westman gave a clipped bow while Sophie offered a curtsy.

"Of course, your highness."

"Goodnight." Beatrice strode across the moonlit lawn, eventually merging with the shadowy trees.

Westman set his hands on his waist and arched his aching back. The cool summer night air was a blessed relief after the muggy heat in the glass building. From the rose garden, a pleasant scent wound around his senses, soothing him. God, what a horrible evening. Well, horrible except for the time he'd shared alone with Sophie. He couldn't deny, the more time he spent with her, the harder it became to think clearly, to speak eloquently.

Blinks appeared beside him with their bags. "I'll bring the carriage round, sir."

"Thank you, Blinks."

Sophie ruffled Jack's fur then watched the dog trot after the servant. Her smile followed them, and Westman stole a long look at her profile in the light of the moon. She seemed happy. Or perhaps simply relieved to be alive. Either way, her smile lifted his spirits. Aware of his soiled appearance, he smoothed down his hair and composed himself before approaching her.

"Nicely done, Sophie. Reasoning with the sprite, I mean. Astonishing."

She turned to him. "I'm as surprised as you. Honestly, I thought we were done for."

"As did I. But your fondness for botany saved Miss Trotter's life. I dare say all our lives."

She regarded him for a moment, her eyes twinkling. "There, you see, Mr Westman. The bookish hobbies of a bluestocking are not so bad after all."

"Indeed. You turned out to be useful." He held her gaze, allowing the corner of his mouth to curl. "I knew I kept you around for a reason."

She made an indignant sound and crossed her arms, but recognised the good humour in his teasing. Amused, her gaze wandered up and down his dishevelled clothing, then she stepped close and wiped a sticky smudge from his chin. "Look at you, Freddie."

"A mess, I know." Her coddling brought heat to his cheeks. "But a necessary price to save Jack."

She lowered her hand, but didn't move away. "You risked your life for Jack."

He nodded slowly. "I jumped without thinking."

"Where love is concerned, that's the natural response, is it not?"

This dratted love business caused all sorts of trouble. From jumping into carnivorous plants without a second thought, to turning a man's head soft with sentimental thoughts...

He swallowed. "Sophie?"

She lifted her chin and looked deeply into his eyes. "Yes?"

Just then, Miss Trotter joined them, her loud voice grating on Westman's nerves.

"Seven years travelling the world and I thought I'd seen it all! Lord how wrong I was." She rubbed her throat then extended her hand. "Miss Penderry, I believe I owe you my thanks."

Sophie looked at the sturdy hand in front of her, then shook it. "Not at all, Miss Trotter."

"Penelope, please. You know, I could use a good woman like you on my next expedition. What do you say?"

Sophie's eyes widened in surprise. "Well, I... That's a very kind offer. Thank you. I'll consider it."

"Mr Westman." Oto approached them. "I'm leaving for Africa in the morning, but before we part ways, I must tell you something. In private."

Westman obliged and allowed Oto to take him to one side. "Yes?"

"Do you recall what I said earlier? Back home, many young men have attempted the ritual Miss Trotter witnessed, to be consumed by the plant. Few manage to survive and emerge to receive Kobangles' blessing. But you did, Mr Westman. You entered the trap, survived, and escaped, completing the ritual. Kobangles will surely bless you now."

"Please tell Kobangles I'm honoured," he said dryly. "Now, it's been a long night, Mr Oto. Do excuse me. And travel safely, won't you?"

A peculiar smile stretched the shaman's lips. "Well, wait now, young man. Don't you wish to know what Kobangle's bestows on the worthy?"

Westman yielded with a sigh. "Alright. Please tell me."

He beckoned Westman to come lower so he could speak quietly, then whispered in his ear. At the sound of the words, the colour drained from Westman's face.

Oto drew back with a grin and clapped him heartily on the shoulder. "Congratulations. And good luck."

The old man left with a brazen chuckle, and Westman remained stooped, absorbing the disturbing news. After a moment, he regained his wits and looked around for Sophie. "Miss Penderry, it's time to leave."

He walked swiftly, hoping to put the whole evening behind him as fast as possible.

Sophie hurried to keep up with him. "Are you alright? What did Mr Oto say?"

"Nothing." He fiddled with his pocket-watch chain.

For once, he wished he could say he didn't believe in folklore and superstition, but he knew better.