The service continued through admonitions and prayers, hymns and appeals. They were collecting for a war memorial, which she donated to with a willing heart, but when it came time to receive Communion, she held back.

“Would you like me to hold Athanasios while you go up?” she offered Eleni.

“Oh, no,” said Eleni. “I like him to see this. Come with us!”

“I can’t, thanks,” said Sparks. “I’m a stranger here myself.”

The congregation queued up for the divine gifts. She was one of the few to remain in her seat, but there were enough similarly disinclined that she didn’t draw any undue attention. She kept her face down, pretending to read the hymnal, glancing up from under her hat.

The king didn’t assert any priority, she noted with approval. Torgos was also on the queue, behind his companion, still murmuring in his ear.

The service concluded, and the congregation was dismissed. Kat came back to where Sparks was sitting.

“Shall we go outside and listen to the gossip?” she asked.

“What’s the latest?” asked Sparks as they headed out.

“Mostly politics,” said Kat. “Does that sort of thing interest you?”

“I’m curious about everything.”

“Why are you here? Seriously?”

“I’m vetting a prospective groom for a client,” said Sparks. “Someone was going to meet me here so I could pump him for information, but it looks like he stood me up.”

“You go through all that for matchmaking?”

“Of course.”

“Sounds like Intelligence work.”

“It’s similar, but there’s much more at stake.”

“Well, at least nobody gets killed,” said Kat.

You have no idea, thought Sparks.

They emerged from the cathedral and stood on the top step, surveying the newly absolved crowd, which had split into several small groups.

“One could re-create the entire civil war in miniature with this lot,” said Kat. “That small noisy band on the left are the Communists, mostly ex-ELAS. There’s three or four Trotskyists—they’re the ones gesticulating a lot, but no one pays them much attention anymore. The Democratic Army supporters are that group in the front—they’re on the rise. The Royalists are the ones surrounding the king, of course, and the Anti-Royalists are over there, casting stern looks at the Royalists. And that—that’s just a group of young men flirting with young women while their mothers keep an eye on them.”

“That’s the group I should be handing cards to,” said Sparks.

She spotted Torgos and his companion, continuing their conversation near the Royalist group.

“Would you mind if I get a closer look at His Majesty?” she asked.

“What on earth for?”

“I’ve never seen a live king up close before. Come with me.”

“I’ve seen him.”

“Come on. Even a Kat may look at a king.”

“Oh dear.” Kat sighed. “Do you think you’re the first one ever to say that to me?”

Sparks slipped her hand through the other woman’s arm and nudged her towards them, taking care to keep Kat between her and Torgos. They took up position on the outside of the group circling the king, just in front of her target.