“He didn’t. But no matter. I’ll tend to things here while he’s away.” I granted her and Deacon a smile, but it was weak, and they saw through it.

“Oh, and you received a letter.” Mrs. Stirling reached into her apron pocket to extend an envelope to me.

I accepted it, immediately recognizing the duke’s crest.

“Let us know if you need anything, Miss Neven,” the housekeeper said as she herded her grandson from the library.

I scowled as I opened the duke’s letter. I was not surprised by his message, succinctly written:

Miss Neven,

I surmise that the new moon was a success. Please send me a detailed description of the man in question, as soon as possible.

Lord Ivor Deryn

Duke of Bardyllis

I held the duke’s letter over a candle flame and watched it burn. I was not ready to expose my father. And yet I didn’t know what I was waiting for, either.

I stared at the clothes box, but refrained from opening it. I quickly gathered my cloak and departed, heading to the town house that Olivette and Nura shared a few streets over.

They were sitting in the dining room still wrapped in their robes, eating a late brunch. I was suddenly overcome with strife, wondering if Phelan had revealed my deceit to them. . . .

“Anna!” Olivette greeted me warmly. “Come join us! There’s plenty.”

Her vibrant response was a relief. But Nura sensed my distress, even as I sought to hide it. She set down her teacup and bluntly said, “What’s wrong?”

I hesitated on the threshold. “I was wondering if you two had seen Phelan today. Perhaps he dropped by this morning?”

“Phelan?” Olivette echoed, glancing to Nura. “No, he hasn’t.”

“And he hasn’t sent a letter in the post to you?”

“No,” Nura said, rising. “Did something happen?”

“Yes,” I breathed. “We got in an argument.”

“During the new moon?”

“No, afterward. He left and I haven’t seen him and I don’t know where to find him.” What was wrong with me? I sounded desperate. If I didn’t know better, one would think I had feelings for him, and I cleared my throat, embarrassed.

You are afraid he will expose you, I told myself. And there was a kernel of truth in that statement. He now held something over me, and I was uncertain what to expect from him. If he would use it against me. If I should go ahead and reveal myself before he did.

Nura reached out to gently take my arm. “Here. Sit and eat. Things always feel worse on an empty stomach.”

I sat. My shoulders were sore; my knees ached. I drank a cup of tea and relented to eat a few bites of egg and steak, Olivette watching me with obvious concern.

“Do you want to tell us what you quarreled about?” she whispered.