“You don’t understand, Father.”

“Don’t I? Do you seriously imagine there was never a moment when I did not yearn to share with my own wife the truth about myself? About our children?”

“This is different.”

“No. No, this is you being foolish. You have thrown away all that you were destined to be for some notion of love. And what of Louis?”

“I … I cannot marry Louis.” Before her father can respond to this, Lilith presses on. “Father, I know I have disappointed you, but I came here for your help. I am being haunted by a Dark Spirit. He has threatened Bram. Because of me, Bram is in great danger.”

“What better illustration of the hopelessness of your … connection with a non-witch could there be? Tell me? How can he protect himself? How can you protect him? Do you expect me to do it? You overestimate the ability a spirit has to intervene in matters taking place in the Land of Day.”

“But you could warn us, you could watch over him…”

“If you are truly being pursued by a spirit from the Darkness there is little I can do.”

“There is more … the Dark Spirit does not come to me of his own accord. He acts for another.”

On hearing this, the duke is silent for a moment. He appears calmer. Calmer and yet more concerned.

“The Sentinels,” he says levelly.

“You spoke of your fears before you died, Father. You were right. They are moving against the coven, determined to claim the Elixir as their own.”

The duke regards Bram coldly. “Well, Lilith, it seems you have provided them with a very useful means of getting it.”

“I will never give it to them! I would never reveal the Great Secret, not to anyone, least of all a Sentinel.”

“Would you not? No matter whom they threatened? Would you sacrifice your precious lover, Lilith, and remain true to the coven? Your conduct so far would suggest otherwise.”

“Must it be a choice, Father? Must I be made to give up one to serve the other? Is there no other way?”

The duke looks at his daughter’s anguished face and then looks away again.

“You are not the first to be faced with such a decision. If the coven is, as you say, under threat from the Sentinels, your first, your only concern must be the protection of the Lazarus Elixir. You know that. Personal happiness is a luxury, and you would have it only at the expense of the coven. That cannot happen.” For the first time he addresses Bram. “Young man, if you love my daughter, you will let her go. You cannot help her. The Dark Spirit will not harm you if you are no longer involved with Lilith. Take yourself away from her, away from London. If you have no future contact with her, you will be safe. And she will be free to do her duty.”