Lily heard the voice of the queen’s lady-in-waiting. “Fawn Deere is the last fairy to compete in the fancy-dress party,” she said, checking her list, “as Amanda Townley has informed me that Lily Bell will not be—”

Lily burst out of her hiding place. “Here I am!” she cried, this time with her eyes wide open. “Lily Crystal Bell, Princess of the Night, flying for Sheepskerry Island and Queen Mab!”

Gone was the hideous witch the fairies were expecting. Before them flew a glorious princess in deepest shades of midnight with a cape festooned with autumn leaves and a coronet of white roses.

Lily fluttered before Queen Titania’s throne. “Lily Bell of Sheepskerry,” said the queen in her deep voice. “Is this your idea of a princess?”

“It is, Your Majesty.” Lily rubbed her nose with her sleeve, hoping she’d taken off all the green make-up. “I am a dark princess and a good princess.”

“That is quite an original idea,” said Queen Titania. She leaned close to Lily. “You may not know this, but I was a princess of the night myself. A dark princess. And a good princess. Like you.” Then she added in a whisper, “Ask Queen Mab about it. We grew up together, you know.”

Lily beamed.

“Fairies,” said Queen Titania, “who will our costume winner be tonight?”

Avery was the first to cheer. “Lily!” she cried. “It should be Lily Bell!”

The fairy princesses were quiet for a moment. Then Fawn Deere’s applause joined Avery’s. Soon all the fairies were cheering. “Hooray! Hooray for Lily!”

“Stop it!” cried Claudine Townley.

“Stop it at once!” shouted Amanda. But no one paid them any attention.

“Li-ly!” the fairies cried. “Li-ly! LI-LY! LI-LY!” All the fairies – with the exception of two – were calling Lily’s name.

Lily curtsied low before Queen Titania (and she noticed, out of the corner of her eye, that Queen Titania did not have so much as a stitch of pink in her sumptuous gown). The fairies continued their cheers.

“Lily Bell of Sheepskerry,” said Queen Titania, “the fairies have declared you the clear winner. And not even a queen would disagree with them.”

Queen Titania’s enchanted black cat brought in the prize – a golden medal on a ribbon of purple velvet, which matched Lily’s outfit perfectly.

“I like your mussel shells,” said Queen Titania in a whisper. Then she declared, “This is for you, Lily Bell, and for all of Sheepskerry. Take it with my blessing.” She turned to the other fairies. “And now, fairy princesses, it is time to celebrate all your achievements at our fancy-dress party.”

“May the festivities commence!” cried the queen’s lady-in-waiting.

The party lasted deep into the night and Lily was the belle of the ball.