Me: Happy Valentine’s Day, Nell. Did you see the breakfast Lionel has made for us all?
Nell: Not yet.
Me: Fresh fruit, smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and lots of hot buttered toast.
Nell: I’m not really hungry.
Me: Sally is arriving at any moment so Dave is waiting for her with his favourite toy. Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy.
Nell: That’s nice for him.
Me: And Jim the Farm Dog serenaded Harriet in the rain with a huge bunch of daffodils he picked himself.
Nell: I expect Harriet was delighted.
Me: She was. As for Princess, Sir Roger Blubbery showered her with mackerel this morning.
Nell: Yes. I heard the clapping.
Me: It’s a seal thing.
Nell: Indeed.
Me: Did you receive anything? Only I thought you might have done.
Nell: I did, actually.
Me: Was it a text, or a phone call?
Nell: No. It was two red roses and a note left at the end of my bed.
Me: A note?
Nell: Yes.
Me: What did it say?
Nell: ‘All is not as it seems.’
Me: How intriguing. Was it signed?
Nell: No.
Me: I know Lionel bought you roses because I saw him put them next to your place at the breakfast table.
Nell: Most kind of him.
Me: But who left you that note?
Nell: I have no idea.
Me: Maybe Knitwear Wolf has come back?
Nell: He hasn’t. I would know if he had.
Me: Well, it’s a mystery.
Nell: Yes.
Me: I hope someone isn’t playing games with you.
Nell: I think we should keep this to ourselves.
Me: Really?
Nell: Yes. It was meant for my eyes alone. I shouldn’t have told you, but I had to tell someone.
Me: I won’t say anything.
Nell: You’ve just told your readers.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
