“Ah,” Gordon said, his face clouding, “now that I do not know. As you can imagine, there aren’t many catering companies who specialise in events like this, but I was assured every person working tonight was discreet and had experience. I’ve had someone trying to get through to the planner, but no luck so far.”

Valkyrie shrugged at Skulduggery. “I have been unable to find a clue.”

“You’re a wonderful detective,” he sighed. “Are you ready for Round Two? There are still plenty of people who want to meet you.”

“There’s more?” she whined. “But my face is tired from smiling.”

“I never said you had to smile. I never smile.”

“You’re a skeleton. You’re always smiling.”

“Not inside. Inside it’s a scowl. I think there are also one or two young men who would like to ask you to dance. And now that you’re not with Fletcher any more…”

She narrowed her eyes. “What young men?”

“You were talking to both of them a few minutes ago. Hidalgo Bolt and Geraint Mizzle.”

“Really? Hidalgo? He’s kind of cute, I suppose. And when you say young men… what ages are they?”

“Hidalgo is, I don’t know… He might be in his fifties.”

She stepped back. “Oh gross!”

Skulduggery’s head tilted. “Charming. Geraint’s younger, if that’s any use to you. He’s in his twenties.”

“That the lanky guy with the frizzy hair? He didn’t exactly come across as overly confident, did he? Or co-ordinated. How’d he get an invitation?”

“He didn’t. His mother brought him. She wants me to help set you up with him.”

Valkyrie glared. “Don’t you dare.”

“I happen to think that you’d get on very well with Geraint. I doubt he’d speak much, which would suit you down to the ground because then you can just talk without fear of interruption.”

“Oh, I’m not denying that, on paper, he sounds like my perfect man, but there is no way in hell that’s going to happen. Tell his mummy no.”

“She’ll be heartbroken.”

“I don’t care.”

“She had such high hopes for you two.”

“Stop joking about this, I swear to God.”

“Gordon, what do you think? You think she should at least dance with Geraint?”

“What harm could it do?” Gordon asked.

“Great harm,” Valkyrie said. “Huge harm. Let’s face it, if he dances with me when I’m wearing this dress and looking like this, he’s going to fall in love with me.”

Gordon laughed, and clapped his hands. “Yes, he is, my dear.”

“I don’t mean to be cocky,” she said, “but it’s inevitable, right?”

Skulduggery nodded. “Can’t argue with you there.”