‘No,’ says Blackthorn. ‘If you want answers in one turning of the moon, you need both of us. I didn’t solve the puzzle of Ness’s disappearance on my own. Besides, we need to talk to the men of the household too, in particular the guards who rode here with Lady Flidais. That’s best done in casual conversation, and they’re more likely to talk to Grim than to me.’ She looks at me. ‘You can still go and work on the cottage some of the time. And it’s not as if we’ve had no offers of help.’

‘Niall has one of the farm cottages vacant,’ the prince says. ‘That would allow you some privacy.’

That’s good. A cottage to ourselves means we can shut the door on the prince’s folk when we’ve had enough.

‘I must clarify,’ he goes on. ‘Flidais and I will be expected to travel to court at least seven days before the hand-fasting, perhaps earlier. So we have something less than a full turning of the moon. After that it would be too late to . . . to change the plan.’

‘Just as long as you understand,’ says Blackthorn, ‘that the answers we give you might not be the ones you want.’

‘I accept that,’ he says, getting to his feet. ‘I know you’ll do your best.’

‘About the offer of a cottage to stay in,’ Blackthorn says. ‘That won’t do. With so little time to solve the problem, I’ll need to be sleeping in the women’s quarters. And Grim will have to be somewhere he can talk to the guards when they’re off duty.’

Wish she wasn’t right, but she is. If we want to hear secrets we have to get in there next to the prince’s folk. Make friends of them. Blackthorn’s going to love that. It’s Fraoch’s place all over again, only with ten times more people and no getting away.

‘Of course,’ says the prince, putting Bramble down. ‘You can be accommodated; I’ll have a word to Aedan. It’s understood, is it not, that what we have just discussed will not be aired before anyone else? That includes not only my household but the wider community. And my family.’

‘It’s understood,’ Blackthorn says. ‘Though I might come close once or twice. To get answers, sometimes you have to take risks. Especially when time’s short, my lord.’

‘Very well. I appreciate your discretion. You’ll be wanting to go and collect your belongings from the smithy. Let me know if you need assistance. When you return, ask for Aedan.’

There’s been no more sign of Donagan. Seems his job was to go and fetch us then make himself scarce. Wonder if he’s been let into the secret, and if not why not.

Blackthorn looks at me. ‘Grim needs to work on the cottage today, to take advantage of the weather. And I must gather herbs in the wood. We’ll move here after supper. There’s nothing much to bring.’