Stepping back out of the antechamber, she let Mater Cassanas adjust the fastenings on her robes. Gabrielle did not resist when the old woman then took her by the elbow and guided her out of the bedchamber and into the reception room beyond the double doors, where Thijs and his entourage were already waiting.

Smalling turned as she entered, as did Lampard, Abramovic and Thijs himself, each of them dressed in his own distinctive robe of office. They stood in an untidy group by a long table that had already been prepared for the morning meal.

These men present were the true rulers of the Demarchy of Uchida, as Karl had once explained to her; she, by contrast, was little more than a means to an end, regardless of endless public pronouncements to the contrary. Accompanying these high officials of the Demarchy were a number of yellow-and-black-capped attendants, most of them acting as security personnel under Karls direct command.

Gabrielle forced herself to unclench her shoulders, taking a deep breath and then exhaling slowly until the rapid thundering of her heart had slowed to a gentler rhythm. She avoided gazing directly at Thijs, whose eyes roved with obvious interest over the few curves of her body actually visible beneath her voluminous robes.

From the direction of the riverside docks came the sound of music a recording of a choir singing a hymnal. The melody came and went with the wind blowing in from the river and the sea beyond.

Mer Gabrielle, said Thijs, his eyes finally finding their way back to her face. I cant tell you how happy it makes me to see you looking so well, and on the eve of such a special occasion.

The Demarchys chief of security, Thijs kept his hands locked in front of him like two sea anemones grappling over a fragment of food. Lampard regarded her with a cold and distant gaze, as if already engaged in the act of dissecting her alive. Abramovic remained as aloof and unreadable as ever; Gabrielle could recall no more than a very few occasions throughout her life when the master of sciences had actually spoken to her directly.

Is everything all right? asked Thijs, a flicker of concern crossing his face. You look a little pale, Mer Gabrielle. He glanced to one side of her. Mater Cassanas . . . ?

Gabrielle saw the old woman turn towards her, her gaze dipping briefly once more towards her mistresss belly before rising to meet her eyes.

I dare you, thought Gabrielle, staring back. Not for the first time in recent months, she had the sensation of her whole life hanging in the balance by the most delicate of threads. Tell them how Karls been blackmailing you. Bring the whole damn Pilgrimage crashing down around their ears, and see just how grateful to you they are.