Sparks feigned interest in the sight of King George graciously interacting with his admirers with a politician’s skill while she tried to listen to the conversation behind her. It was in Greek, and she strained to pick up the words.

“Shall I translate for you?” said Kat sweetly.

“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about, and shush, please,” muttered Sparks.

Pou einai i allilografía? Where is the—the what? she thought. Correspondence! The letters? Den gnorizo. I don’t know. That was a phrase she had used many times back in her school days, and Torgos’s companion was repeating it over and over. Torgos mentioned something—

“Tell me more about this reception,” asked Sparks. “Anything I could crash? Cadge a few shots of ouzo from some handsome olive-skinned men? They need some experienced party girls, don’t they?”

“Come with me right now,” ordered Kat. “Don’t make a scene, or I’ll make one for you and you won’t be happy about it.”

Her tone was soft but her expression was anything but. She took Sparks firmly by the arm and guided her away.

“I was under the impression that you left the Service when the war ended,” she said when they were on the sidewalk, safely out of earshot.

“Officially, I have,” said Sparks, arching one eyebrow.

“Oh, stop being mysterious,” said Kat. “I’m not one of your impressionable young men. What are you doing here? Why the interest in Torgos?”

“Why are you interested in him?” responded Sparks. “And what makes you think he was the one I’m looking for?”

“Only your entire course of conduct from the moment I saw you,” said Kat.

“Who was the good-looking chap he was dressing down?”

“No,” said Kat. “You don’t get anything from me until I know what you’re up to. Who were you planning on meeting here?”

“He appears to have stood me up. Tell me about the party.”

“You’re not invited.”

“That rarely stops me from attending. You know that.”

“This one is by invitation only, and they will be checking.”

“So get me an invitation. I’ll wear a nice frock and everything.”

“No. I don’t know what you’re up to, and I’m not about to jeopardise—”

She stopped abruptly.

“Jeopardise what?” asked Sparks. “What are you working on, Kat?”

“Nothing that concerns you. Stay away. Stay away from the reception, and stay away from me. And Sparks?”

“Yes?”

“Stay away from Torgos, in particular. He’s in with a bad lot, funneling support to the White Terror groups. They say he’s not above continuing the war on British soil.”

“Was that what was going on with the other chap?”

“We’re done. It was good to see you, Sparks. We’ll have to catch up again sometime. Someplace less holy, I should think.”

She turned and walked away. Sparks peeked back at the gatherings in front of the cathedral, but both Torgos and the other man were gone.

But they would be at that reception the next evening. She had heard that much.