Stricklend enjoys the pause in which he likes to think he can actually hear Fordingbridge’s heart pounding, despite the size of the room and the distance between them. At last, tiring of the pretense he says, “The gentleman is expected. He has a preference, let us say, for privacy. You may show him in.”

Relief flooding his face, the clerk backs out of the door on silent feet. A moment later the caller, precisely as Fordingbridge described him, steps into the room, and without waiting to be asked, takes a seat in a red leather winged chair opposite Stricklend. If the clerk had given the impression the man’s appearance might be in any way comical this is definitely not the case. He is dressed in expensive evening attire of top hat, tails, and a cape, using the finest silks and tailoring. His beard and mustache are abundant, but not so outlandish as to be immediately thought false. Stricklend is impressed, and suspects that had he passed his fellow Sentinel in the street, he himself would not have recognized the man who has come to be such a useful player in the push against the Lazarus Coven.

The younger man’s expression is inscrutable.

“Your servant is irritatingly loyal,” he says. “I thought for a moment that he might actually turn me away.”

Stricklend shakes his head. “His fear of doing the wrong thing surpasses all other impulses within him,” he assures his caller.

“A toothless guard dog, then.”

“I have very good teeth of my own.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

“He assembles a passable gin. Can I offer you one?”

“Thank you, no. I have an appointment shortly.”

Stricklend raises his eyebrows. “I am fortunate you could fit me into your hectic list of engagements.”

“Our business is important, but will be brief. I’m certain you will agree there is little to discuss beyond confirming the facts at this point.”

“Indeed. And what interesting facts they are. Your identity, I must assume, is still a secret; your infiltration of the Lazarus Coven an ongoing success? Good. I found your report on the occasion quite illuminating.”

“The outcome was not one for which we might have hoped.”

“On the contrary.”

The visitor frowns at Stricklend. “Surely our aim had been to prevent the Montgomery girl from succeeding her father.”

“That would, indeed, have been a helpful result.”

“Instead she has shown herself to be a capable witch, no doubt garnering plaudits from many present, and winning over any doubters. I fail to see how such a conclusion to the challenge can be advantageous for our purposes.”

“Lady Lilith is the late duke’s daughter, after all. It was unlikely that she would fail the task given her.”