I could do this. I’d been late with the elixir before. I had a few hours to get home before I lost the capability to do so unassisted. I’d simply need to make my excuses as soon as we landed and head home. My mother didn’t need to know I’d forgotten.

The boat bumped against the dock. Marcello extended a hand to help me out. I stared at it, thinking through the process of standing up and stepping onto the dock as if it were a complex mathematical formula. Zaira had already scrambled out on her own.

Marcello frowned. “Lady Amalia? Are you well?”

“Fine,” I said. “Just tired.”

“Lady Amalia!” a new voice called. That couldn’t possibly be …

It was. Ciardha, impeccable in her Cornaro livery, stood on the dock among the soldiers, an earthenware bottle in her hand.

“Your mother was concerned you were out so late in the chill.” Ciardha’s lie was smooth and fine as Loreician silk. “She sent me here to meet you with some mulled wine.” She proffered the bottle, locking eyes with me.

Marcello laughed. “Well, well! Rank has its privileges! I wish someone met me with mulled wine after a long night.”

It wasn’t mulled wine in that bottle. I should have known no error of mine would escape my mother’s notice. I climbed out of the boat, my cheeks heating. She had to be the most interfering woman on earth.

“Thank you, Ciardha.” I took the bottle and uncorked it; the familiar scent of anise wafted out. I gulped the elixir down, trying not to make a face at the bitter aftertaste.

“La Contessa says to do what you need to do here, then come home and rest, Lady,” Ciardha murmured. I noticed she wore daggers sheathed at both hips, and I’d wager she had more in her sleeves and boots. She must already be aware of the trouble we’d had in the Tallows.

“I’ll just make sure everything is settled first.” And sit down until the elixir had a chance to work and my dizziness faded, but I didn’t tell Ciardha that.

Zaira’s voice cut across my thoughts like a serrated knife. “I don’t give a damn,” she told Marcello. “I’m starving. You may have dragged me back here, but you can’t stop me from going to the kitchens to get something to eat.”

Zaira turned on her heel before Marcello had a chance to reply, stalking off into the Mews. Marcello jerked his head at a couple of soldiers, who followed her. Clearly he wasn’t taking chances with Zaira anymore.

Marcello sighed and turned to me. “My lady, might I have a few moments of your time? There’s a matter I should discuss with you.”

“Certainly. Perhaps we could go in and sit down for a moment?”