She really was like Matushka and Zivon. He fastened a grin into place. “Au revoir, Claire. Try not to break the heart of every young man left in the neighborhood.”

She slid the register drawer shut. Softly. “Au revoir, Zhenya. Try not to cut down any innocents in your path.”

“Oh, I think they are all safe. I have no magical sword, after all.” He would cling to levity, even if she had forgotten their script. He topped it with a wink and hurried out the door.

Suddenly, he was rather glad to be leaving Paris.

Lily stepped out of Charing Cross Hospital and made her way to Whitehall with a light step that went even lighter when she spotted Zivon’s familiar figure striding away from the OB. She’d planned to catch him later, after her afternoon shift back in her basement darkroom, when he’d be leaving for the day too. She came armed today with an official invitation to dinner on Sunday, which meant she had a Daddy-sanctioned reason for seeking him out.

She’d hoped to see him yesterday, the first day it would have been possible since Daddy had reluctantly agreed to loosen his restrictions. But she’d missed Zivon at every turn.

The same would not happen today. She dashed down the street faster than Mama would have liked. She wasn’t going to shout, but that meant she had to be quick if she wanted to catch up.

He was aimed for St. James’s Park, it seemed, which probably meant she should stop and turn around. Daddy had still put his foot down on promenades in the parks. But this wasn’t a promenade; it was simply an invitation-issuance. Completely different.

And she hadn’t set eyes on him in weeks. Eagerness fueled her, sent her onward. They hadn’t walked here as often as in Hyde Park, since the other was closer to Ivy’s school, but often enough that it felt familiar. He didn’t turn toward their usual path, though, which nearly threw her. She’d aimed that way without thought before she spotted him on another course. And he was walking at a quicker clip now too.

“Zivon! Wait!” She sucked in a breath and ran for him.

He turned. Hesitated, eyes going wide. Then he smiled, but it wasn’t quite right. Wasn’t the smile he usually gave her.

He wasn’t happy to see her.

She stumbled on a rock, arms flailing out, but pointlessly. There was nothing to grab on to, and when she stepped to the side to regain her balance, she found a puddle rather than solid ground.

“Lily!” At a speed she wouldn’t have thought possible had it been anyone else, he was at her side, steadying her. And he didn’t let go of her once she was back on her feet either. Which seemed a contradiction to the false smile he’d given her.