“Well, put your chips down for a minute and come and open the back door. I’ve got a guest here who would appreciate being taken to her room via the back stairs.”

“Be there in two,” said the voice, and the line went dead.

The door opened a moment later, and a stocky man in braces and an undone tie strode out to the car.

“It was nice to meet you again, Elinor,” said Isaac. “I think I like you better when you’re not pelting me with mud.”

Nory laughed. “Nory. Call me Nory. It was nice to meet you again too. Thanks for the cocoa and the clothes. I’ll get them back to you tomorrow. And for the record, you started it.”

Isaac smiled.

Nory climbed down out of the car, clutching her evening clothes in a carrier bag.

“Isaac,” said the man, nodding. “Madam,” he added, tipping an invisible hat toward Nory.

“Cheers, Andy, I owe you,” said Isaac.

“I’m keeping score,” Andy replied, and winked.

“Goodbye, Nory,” said Isaac.

Nory waved at Isaac, smiling, then turned to follow Andy into the castle. She heard the gravel crunch as Isaac drove away.

Andy led Nory through a maze of narrow corridors; it wasn’t exactly “upstairs downstairs” territory, but this area away from the guests definitely had a no-frills, business vibe about it. There were memos and timetables stuck to the walls with sticky tape, and the lights in the ceiling were the buzzy fluorescent tube variety—a far cry from the chandeliers dripping crystals in the public areas. They passed an enormous kitchen, a sea of stainless-steel humming appliances, and then a laundry room. The latter reminded Nory of the bag she was holding.

“Um, Andy, is there any chance I can have some washing powder?” She held up the bag in explanation. “I had a run-in with some manure.”

“I can leave it here with a note for the morning staff if you like. They can do it for you.”

“I’d rather not. It’s not a nice job. I can wash it out in the sink.”

She was pretty sure the dress was a lost cause anyway, but she needed the bra. Andy nodded and ducked into the laundry room, returning a moment later with a paper cup full of washing powder. Nory thanked him, and they continued on their way. Andy chitchatted without managing to say anything much at all, the polite nothingness that staff used with guests to fill the otherwise quiet air.

At last, they reached her door, having managed to avoid all her friends—though she could hear Jenna shrieking with laughter from somewhere on the floor below. Nory thanked Andy and closed her door, grateful to be in her own company.