I shut the book and set it aside. “Don’t apologize for him, Mr. Vesper. Although I suppose I will have to prove my salt, then, won’t I? On the new moon.”

“Why would you have to prove yourself?”

“Because I think your brother believes I’m destined to be a bad partner for you.” I waited for Phelan to make a remark, but when he remained quiet, I added, “Why didn’t you and your brother become partners? Surely the two of you would make a strong team?”

“On the contrary,” Phelan was swift to respond. “I don’t like working with him. We have fought together a few times before, and I hated every moment of it.”

“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that,” I said.

Phelan paced the drawing room and eventually returned to the foyer, where he retrieved his top hat and cloak from the rack.

“Are you going somewhere?” I asked, standing.

“Yes, I’m afraid something unexpected has come up and I must attend to it.” He knotted the cloak draws at his neck and looked at me. “Will you stay here, Miss Neven? In case a request to record a nightmare comes in the post? With the new moon so close . . . sometimes the dam breaks and the dreams swarm.”

I laced my fingers behind my back and nodded.

“Thank you,” Phelan said, his voice soft with relief.

I watched him depart, felt the draft of crisp morning float into the house with his leaving.

And I sat back down for a moment, to gather my thoughts. A slight tremble racked my hands, and I stared at the inner curl of my fingers, wondering what I should do.

Because I knew why Phelan had left.

He was searching for my father and me.

19

I fetched a few nightmares, but the remainder of the day proved to be a boring Monday. Phelan was still gone by the time evening arrived, and I took great care with my stealth charm as I traveled to my mother’s town house for my first night off.

Imonie’s cooking greeted me in the foyer, and I all but groaned as I shed my cloak and followed the smells into the kitchen. My mother was setting the table, and Imonie was stirring a bubbling pot of stew. The warm air smelled of fresh bread and rosemary, and I drew it in deeply.

“Ah, there you are,” Mama said, rushing to me as if I had been gone for weeks and not a mere day. She framed my face and studied me closely, and I almost blushed beneath her attentiveness. “I presume Phelan offered you a room?”

“Yes,” I said. “My plan has gone off without a hitch.”

“Take care, Clem,” Imonie said, waving a wooden spoon my way. “Pride always sets a snare.”