“I was visiting Jex that afternoon,” Kit said baldly. “And they know it. And they think he told me about the bomb. And that he set it.”

Sereva paled. “Oh, Kit—do you think that’s true?”

“That he knew about it? I think it’s possible. It’s not true that he told me, because—well, I would have done something, told somebody, I never would have— But that’s not what matters right now. What matters is that if these officers think I’m implicated, Ariana Bayless thinks I’m implicated. And what she knows, every high-caste blueskin in the city will eventually know. And that means you can’t possibly keep me in this house. You’ll be completely ostracized. It might be too late already. Sereva, I’m sorry, I never would have meant for this to happen—”

“Will you shut up?” Sereva demanded fiercely. “Do you think I will throw you out of my house now—when you’re sick and hurt and accused and alone? How dare you say that to me? Anybody with any sense and reason must realize you wouldn’t go headlong into a bombing you knew about! No one will believe you were involved in this! And even if they did, even if the evidence was piled up against you, how can you believe I would throw you out? How can you hurt me like that?”

“Sereva—I’m sorry—I’m just trying to protect you,” Kit stammered. “No matter what the truth is, the rumors will stick to me, and those rumors will hurt you. The truth is, I was with Jex that day. Whatever else they suspect about me, that they will know for certain. And that’s almost as bad, in their eyes, as conspiring to blow up the city. I can’t stay here. But I’m not sure where to go.”

“Well, if you leave me, it will be when you’re well enough to move,” Sereva said so firmly that Kit was taken aback. “If you leave me, it won’t be while you’re in trouble. Now you get back in bed while I put all your things away, and I don’t want to hear another word about it.”

She was too tired to argue—tonight, anyway. She knew she was right; she knew she could not stay here and taint Sereva’s reputation, harm her nephews’ chances to make advantageous marriages. She must leave, and soon. But she was too tired. She was too heartsick. Tomorrow, or the day after. She would be strong enough then.

*   *   *

But she did not actually leave the house for another two days, and that was in response to a summons from Jex.