“We pay what the duke requires,” I said. And I thought of Mazarine and her trickle of coins, which had kept us afloat more times than I could count. “But this is a rural town, Mr. Lennox. This is not the pampered city life you know and are accustomed to. All of us work and pull our weight. Sometimes, a person cannot pay in coin, but we still record their nightmares and we still protect them. Now that you’ve been informed, you’ll have to figure out a way to ensure the duke gets his taxes on time. And if you can’t . . . then perhaps your mother can pay them for you.”

“Mr. Madigan,” Phelan said in a desperate tone, purposefully interrupting Lennox and me, sensing that we were about to strike up another duel. “Please don’t feel as if you and Clementine and Imonie must rush away. You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need.”

“We’ll be gone tomorrow,” my father reiterated, and he set his glassy-eyed stare on me. “It would be a good idea to begin packing, Clem.”

But where are we going to go?

I left my tea on the counter and ascended the stairs. Dwindle was curled up on my bed, purring, and I sat beside her, my hand stroking her calico fur.

Eventually, my damp gown drove me to the wardrobe. I shed the black silk and changed into a simple blue gown. I set to work packing my things, only to realize I had far too many books. I needed to give some of them away, and I began to make piles.

I was halfway through my endeavor when Papa stepped into the chamber, instantly casting a protective charm on the walls, the window, and the door. To keep our voices from being overheard.

“Make sure you pack everything, Clementine,” he said. “Leave no trace of yourself behind in this house. No hair ribbon, no letters, no drawings. Not even an old pair of shoes.”

I gaped up at my father. “You’re worried. . . .”

“I’m not worried,” he insisted. But I knew when he lied. His nostrils tended to flare when he spoke falsely. “But nor do I want to give anyone the chance to track where we go, or even summon us, if they were so bold to do so.”

I tried to imagine Lennox taking an old ribbon of mine months from now and using it to cast the spell of summoning. It was a dangerous enchantment, one that would draw me into his presence whether I wanted to answer him or not. And I almost laughed at the absurdity until my father’s scowl deepened.

“You need to take this seriously, Clem.”

“I am taking this seriously!” I snapped, and indicated the scars on my neck. “I never wanted to leave this place. Our home, Papa!”

He flinched, as if I had struck him. At once, my temper faded.