“Probably to go charm some poor kid into buying Hero’s groceries,” Houndstooth replied. “I suppose that’s why she’s on the team—she could talk a hippo into thinking it was a rhinoceros without breaking a sweat.”

A few minutes later, the door burst open again. Adelia smirked.

“Giving up so soon, eh Ar—oh,” she said.

Archie stood in the doorway, transformed. She’d slicked her hair down on either side of a part so razor sharp it put Houndstooth’s to shame. Her pinstriped breeches and satin waistcoat had been exchanged for a flawlessly tailored three-piece linen suit. She spun a matching bowler hat between her hands. Her boots were half-covered by diamond-white spats. A blond moustache—one that would have kept Cal up at night with envy—bristled its way across her upper lip.

She had become an impeccably outfitted gentleman.

“You needed a white boy, oui?” she asked, her voice pitched an octave lower than usual. “Et voilà.”

Houndstooth gaped at her as Hero crossed the room to examine her. “Where did you get this suit?” Hero asked. “I don’t mean any offense, but I can’t imagine you just grabbed it off some poor mark in the hallway just now. And that moustache—good God, Archie, it’s nothing like Cal’s, but it’ll do!”

“I keep it around for special occasions,” Archie replied with a grin. “Sometimes my heart calls more to suits than skirts. It is fluid, oui?” She waved her hand vaguely through the air. “It changes. The tailor, ’e was confused when I told ’im what I wanted, but for the right price, anything can be ’ad. Isn’t that right, Adelia?”

Adelia’s head snapped up from where she was staring at the map. “Que?”

Houndstooth seemed to come to his senses. “Archie, you . . . you brilliant woman, I could kiss you!”

Archie and Hero both scowled. “You will ruin my moustache, ’oundstooth. Best to keep that kiss for someone who wants it, eh?” She placed the bowler hat on her head and turned to Hero, whose eyes went wide.

“Do you ’ave a list for me?”

“A list? Oh! A list. Of course, yes, let me just—” Hero scrambled for paper and scrawled out a list of supplies, handing it to Archie.

“Well, my friends, off I go. I expect all three of you to be drunk at the bar by the time I return.” She tipped a wink at Hero. “We must make a good show of enjoying our stay on the Sturgess Queen, non?”

* * *