“What a splendid outfit! I adore the shako, although I could never wear it. Goodness, Andevai, I shall have to ignore all your roostering about in the hope you will take me to a dressmaker and get me an entire new wardrobe, too. We are sister and brother now, are we not?”

He smiled. She smiled. A spark of connection flashed between them.

A server brought a bowl of porridge and a platter of bread as well as another pot of coffee. Rory plopped down, stifling a yawn, and waited for Bee to pour him coffee.

“Where are the others?” I asked as I dug into the porridge.

Bee said, “They have all left already for a meeting with the underground council of radical leaders. I’ll follow after I have said goodbye to you, dearest.”

Vai touched my hand. “We must go, love. I promised Lord Marius I would bring you to pour the wine at his midday dinner today.”

“Did you?” demanded Bee. “Were all those fine speeches false coin, Andevai, just to make sure she would go back with you like a trophy on a rope?”

He met her gaze with a flicker of annoyance. “No. And you know they weren’t, don’t you? Maybe you just don’t like that she is the center of people’s attention for once, instead of you.”

Rory looked up from his porridge. “I promise you, Cat, I will bite their heads off if they do not behave, for it is a sunny day today and I am in too good a mood to have it ruined by their jealous posturing.”

I laughed and, after a fraught pause, fortunately Bee and Vai did as well.

It was harder than I’d thought to leave Bee. Vai and Rory waited at the gate with the saddled horse and our gear.

“I wish I could come with you, dearest, as Rory can,” she said.

“Camjiata will never let you go if he gets hold of you again, nor will the mansa. I do believe Kehinde and Brennan would let you walk away if you choose to do so.”

“That is why I trust them.” She bent a frown on me. “You must not let Vai bully you.”

“He does not bully me.”

“No, it’s true, he doesn’t. He fondles you with those sultry eyes. You’re quite hopeless, Cat.”

I took her hands. “Yes, but you do like him, don’t you, Bee?”

“Gracious Melqart! What would you do if I said I did not?”

A quiver of fear made me cold, as if winter had kissed me.