A muscle jerked in his cheek. He scanned my face, clearly desperate to know what information I had gleaned. He didn’t want me to have any kind of advantage, whether there were plans in place to do away with me or not. ‘What is it?’ he asked. ‘I am more than happy to guide you in the right direction.’

I simpered and forced a blush. ‘Oh, you’re too kind – but it would be better if we could talk in private.’ I looked pointedly at the other Sidhe.

‘Of course, of course!’ he boomed. ‘Shall we step outside?’ He slid off his stool and offered me his arm. I stared at it; I really didn’t want to touch him. When his smile began to waver, however, I hastily placed my hand above his wrist. ‘You’re such a gentleman,’ I gushed. ‘I’m not used to this kind of treatment.’

He patted my hand. It took everything I had not to recoil in disgust. ‘You’re not amongst the Clan-less any more, my dear.’

We walked out and found a quiet spot not too far away from the tent’s entrance. ‘Now, he said benignly, ‘what have you learnt?’

I dropped my pretence. ‘The Bull is going to ask that the audience be allowed to watch every thrilling moment of the Acumen challenge.’ My eyes were hard and my tone was harder.

Aifric stepped back, clearly confused by my shift in tone and canny enough to be wary. ‘My dear, that’s simply not possible. The noise they make will be off-putting and you will require your full concentration to succeed.’

I faked a smile. ‘I can work under those conditions. When the Bull puts forward his case, you will agree.’

Aifric’s expression turned to stone. ‘I will not.’

‘I have his true name.’

He stared at me as if he couldn’t believe what I was saying. ‘You can’t have. Why would he give you that?’

I shrugged. ‘He was under duress. The means aren’t important. The point is that you will know I’m speaking the truth when he asks for the audience to be present, regardless of what else you might have ordered.’

‘The Carnegies are the organisers. I will not interfere with…’

‘Bullshit. You’ve already interfered, probably on numerous occasions.’ I swept a bow. ‘And yet I’m still here.’

Aifric inhaled. The mask which seemed to be permanently in place finally slipped and his features took on an ugly twist. ‘I knew you weren’t the innocent little maid you pretended to be.’

‘Oh, I think you’re the one doing all the pretending.’ I stepped forward and tilted up my head. Anyone watching us from a distance would think I was merely being coquettish. ‘When the Bull makes his request, you will back him up.’

‘No, I won’t. You might have him wrapped around your little finger but you can’t tell me what to do, little girl.’

‘You want Byron and Tipsania to be together. Am I right?’ He glowered at me. ‘Well,’ I said, inspecting my fingernails, ‘I can use the Bull’s true name to make him order his daughter to keep away from Byron. Where will your financial machinations be then?’