She had given Hannah an antique topaz ring, which glowed golden on her finger like captured sunlight. ‘It comes from the Cairngorm Mountains, not far from here,’ Lady Wintersloe said. ‘Cairngorms drive away darkness and evil,’ Linnet said. ‘It’ll help keep you safe and well, my chick.’ Roz lifted up her eyes in silent exasperation. She was irritated by what she called superstitious nonsense, though she was too polite to let Linnet see. Roz had given Hannah a new winter coat, for her old raincoat was far too thin for the Scottish winter, and a book on the human body which showed all the nerves and muscles and bones. Hannah, who had wanted an electric guitar, took this as a sign her mother thought she was spending too much time reading fairy stories. She tried to look grateful, and thought she could always lend it to Max. He would adore it. Linnet had made Hannah a new strap for her guitar, embroidering it beautifully with flowers and leaves and thistledown heads.
