Instead, Tak-Tam explained, “That was Lee Ting-Yan, the daughter of our father’s sworn brother. She’s been our friend since we were children. We should have invited her.”

Tak-Wing piped up. “We certainly should not have. She’s a lunatic.”

“Her voice was so strange,” I mused.

“I didn’t properly hear what she said. Though it sounded ominous,” said Emily.

“It was all nonsense,” Tak-Wing said, grimacing. “Meaningless gibberish. She’s mad.”

I had heard her words quite clearly. I opened my mouth to tell them what she’d said, then thought better of it.

“I don’t think she’s mad,” said Tak-Tam. “Sad, maybe. But not mad.”

“Let’s not talk about it.” Emily leaned over and kissed Tak-Wing on the cheek. “It’s been a beautiful day. Let’s keep it that way.”

She snatched his top hat and put it on, then crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue. We all laughed.

“Where are you going to live?” Tak-Tam asked his brother. “You’ll have to find somewhere eventually.”

“I was thinking we could return to one of the old village houses at Wong Nai Chung. We could be neighbours with Grandmother Wan-See.”

“That haunted old place?” said Tak-Tam.

Tak-Wing nodded but his eyes twinkled. “It floods all the time too, and I’ve heard rumours that bandits use it to hide out after murders and robberies.”

“You didn’t think your situation through very thoroughly, did you?” Tak-Tam said.

“We were too romantic,” said Emily, with a sigh. “And not very practical-minded.”

“And now, a little desperate,” said Tak-Wing. “But we have each other.” He pulled Emily close and gave her a squeeze.

“Well, we’re off to Lai Po-Chuen’s dormitory ’til we figure it out,” said Emily.

“Or until the prefect catches us,” Tak-Wing said with a wink.

They both laughed conspiratorially.

“Where will you go tonight, Tak-Tam?” Emily asked. “I guess your father doesn’t take over as steward until tomorrow?”

“I’ll go check on my old bean,” Tak-Tam said, using the colloquial expression for “father.”

“My old man will need attention too,” I said.

“At least save it for tomorrow, Violet,” said Emily.

I scowled, hating the way she took me for granted. “I intend to do just that.”

That night, before I slept, I knelt at my bedside and prayed for my father first, then Tak-Wing and Emily, then the sad brother, Tak-Tam. Then I prayed for Old Cheung and the girl in the black suit too, for much longer than I’d intended.

The next day, I went to the Kimblewick and told Old Mah. He was at his desk, working on his accounts. His office was very warm despite the electric fan blasting at full tilt. His papers, pinned to the table with paperweights, rattled and rustled in the artificial breeze. He looked frustrated and irritable.