We talked some more, but didn’t really say anything. Just the normal, reassuring things you say when you’re afraid in the dark. And in the end we had to leave so I could go about my business. My whole family was depending on me, not just Molly. And I’ve always known my duty to my family. Damn them. I sent Molly down to the Armoury, to Uncle Jack. She could talk about the problem to him, in general terms, and see what he had to say.

And I . . . went to see my grandmother.

According to Harry, she was ill, too ill to see anybody, but that was an old trick where the Matriarch was concerned, and she just didn’t feel like talking to anybody. So I made my way up to her private suite on the top floor, and wasn’t all that surprised to discover two more of Harry’s overmuscled thugs standing guard outside the door. They took one look at me approaching and both of them armoured up immediately. It would seem word had already got around as to what I’d done to the other bullyboys. I strolled up to the two guards, armour down, doing my best to radiate casual unconcern. They both moved slightly but definitely to block my way.

“Sorry,” said the one on the left. “The Matriarch is not to be disturbed. We have our orders.”

“Not to be disturbed at all,” said the one on the right. “Under any circumstances.”

“I just said that, Jeffrey,” said the first guard.

“Well, I never get to say anything,” said the second. “You’re always leaving me out of things, Earnest.”

“Look,” said Earnest, “can we please talk about this later?”

“You never want to talk about anything, you.”

Earnest sighed loudly behind his golden mask. “You’re not still mad about that party, are you?”

“Party? What party?”

“You are; you’re still mad about it.”

“You went off and left me all on my own!” Jeffrey said hotly. “You knew I didn’t know anyone else there!”

“I’ve said I’m sorry, haven’t I? What else can I say?”

“You could let me do the threats. You never let me do the threats.”

“That’s because you’re no good at them,” Earnest said patiently.

“I could be! A bit of practice, and I could be very good at them!”

“All right! All right, then. You go ahead and do the threats. I’ll just stand here and watch. Maybe I’ll pick up a few tricks.”

“Excuse me,” I said.

Jeffrey turned to confront his partner. “You’re going to make remarks, aren’t you? Loud and sarcastic remarks.”

“No, I won’t!”

“Yes you will! You’re always criticising, you. You never let me do anything fun!”

“I’m letting you do the threats, aren’t I? Look; I’ll even let you hit him first. How about that?”