“If he does, you should agree to it. This mansion would fall down round our ears without him.”

Ignoring that, Morgan pointed. “You’re covered in ink, Mage Lindin. What have you been doing?”

She stared at her blotched fingertips. “Oh. Nothing. Scribbling. Thinking aloud. Are you free now, Morgan? Can we go back to the attic?”

“We can, if you’d like. Or we can pause for a moment, and take a wander through the woods. I know I could use a breath of fresh air.”

She leapt up. “Councillor, that is an excellent idea. And while we’re walking I’ll tell you about an incant I’ve thought of. A way to combine silk, gold and topaz into a new kind of fabric!”

Heart aching, he followed her out of the library.

Justice save me, she is glorious.

And because he could not have her, could almost wish they’d never met.

Orwin Martain stared more loudly than any man ever born.

Abandoning her cup of tea, Venette sat back in her chair. “What?”

“My dear, you know perfectly well,” Orwin said, infuriatingly placid on the other side of the solar’s breakfast table. “You should stop sulking and go to see him.”

“I am not sulking. I am giving Morgan time alone with his father… and a chance to reconsider his rash behaviour.”

Orwin pursed his lips. “You’ve given him nearly three weeks. Which, I confess, is longer than I expected. But you’re fretting, my dear. Don’t pretend you’re not.”

“Maris is fretting,” she retorted. “She’s not heard a whisper from him. But I am perfectly indifferent.”

“Venette.” Orwin reached across the table and covered her hand with his. “Don’t be silly.”

A lifetime of affection in that gentle reproof. Furious, she felt her eyes prick with tears. “He’s going to spoil everything, Orwin. Maris Garrick is perfect for him. Even if he can’t see that, I can, and he has no business not trusting my judgement. I found the right matches for my nephews, didn’t I?”

Orwin interlaced his fingers with hers. “You did, my dear.”

“And as for baiting Sallis like that. How could he be so foolish? How could he not see that the rejecting of his incants was a trap? Now Sallis is insufferable. He and Shari have convinced themselves that Morgan is all but dismissed. And I fear they’re right. Brice won’t hear of recalling him, certainly not before Greve—”

She couldn’t finish the thought. Greve was far from her favourite person, but even so…