Whenever her grandmother‘s parties ran late, Astrid wouldnormally opt to spend the night at Tyersall Park. She preferrednot to wake Cassian if he was sleeping soundly, and she wouldhead for the bedroom (just opposite from Nick‘s) that had beenset aside for her frequent visits since she was a little girl. Heradoring grandmother had created an enchanted emporium forher, commissioning whimsical hand-carved furniture fromItaly and walls painted with scenes from her favorite fairy tale,
"The Twelve Dancing Princesses." Astrid still loved the occa-sional night spent in this childhood bedroom, cosseted by themost fantastical dolls, stuffed animals, and tea sets that moneycould buy.