“Cat wants to apply for a job,” Han said, giving Cat a nudge forward. “Don’t you?”

“A job? What kind of job?” Raisa looked from Cat to Han.

Cat curtsied again, her eyes downcast. “If you please, ma’am,” she said, “I’d like to be taken on as your chambermaid.”

“You? A chambermaid?” Raisa said, astonished. “Ah—are you—are you qualified?”

“Ma’am, I spent a year at the Temple School at Oden’s Ford,” Cat said. “And before that, I was at Southbridge Temple School, off an’ on. Speaker Jemson, he’ll give a reference. He was the one wanted me to go to Oden’s Ford, so I could get on as a lady’s maid. I can get references from the Ford, only that might take a while.”

“Well. Um. That’s impressive,” Raisa said. “But I don’t usually do the hiring for—”

“If you like music, I’m a rum player on the basilka,” Cat rushed on. “Also the harpsichord, mandolin, the lute, and recorder. And I can sing some, too.”

“Cat, it certainly sounds like you are talented—”

“Catarina,” Cat said. “That’s my given name. It goes better with the job.”

“—but there is considerable competition for these kinds of positions,” Raisa went on. “My servants usually come to me with experience as a lady’s maid. Why should I hire you instead?”

“Well. I know I would need training in that part,” Cat said. “I know you likely don’t hire maids from Ragmarket. Not directly, anyway.”

“But Lady Tyburn has other talents,” Han prompted, raising his eyebrows at Cat.

“You be quiet,” Raisa said to Han. She looked at Cat. “Whose idea was this?” she demanded. “Yours or his?”

“Well, Cuffs, he asked me to apply,” Cat said. “And I thought, well it makes sense. Even if it’s a wizard comes after you, blades are quicker than jinxes.”

“What?” Raisa’s head was beginning to ache.

“See, I’m the best knife-fighter in the city, now Shiv Connor’s dead,” Cat said. Long wicked blades materialized in each of her hands. “You can ask anyone.”

“We thought Catarina could be both chambermaid and bodyguard,” Han said. “Two for the price of one.”

“How many bodyguards does a body need?” Raisa said, rubbing her temples. “I’ve got bodyguards stumbling all over each other.”

“We need somebody inside your room,” Han said. “After what happened to Talia and Trey, I’m thinking a guard outside your door isn’t enough. I can’t always be right next door. And, so far, all of the attempts on your life have been with conventional means. Knives and swords and strangle-cords.”

“I want to hear from Catarina,” Raisa said, waving a hand to hush Han. “Why should I hire you?”