He regarded me. “You may not accept it, but my assessment remains. I consider your performance satisfactory.”

He returned his gaze to the flowers. I left him, alone, in the garden.

I bumped into Tom entering our rooms.

“I was just about to go looking for you,” he said. “Where’d you go?”

“Out for a walk,” I said.

“You’re supposed to be resting.”

“So are you. But you’re still limping around.”

And of course he was—because he was looking for me. I gave him a giant hug.

“What’s that for?” he said, puzzled.

“Nothing.”

His eyes narrowed. “Where did you go, exactly?”

“I told you. For a walk.”

“And did this walk take you anywhere near the Privy Garden?”

“… Maybe.”

“Christopher!” he said, shocked. “You spied on me!”

“As Lord Walsingham noted, that is my job now.”

He shook a fist at me and sputtered. “Odd’s fish!”

“I’m sorry,” I said, and the rest came rushing out. “It’s just… you were so sad. And I didn’t know why, and you wouldn’t tell me—you even lied about it. And then, when you got that note, I finally realized what it might be. I just… I didn’t want you to leave. You’re the best friend I could ever have. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Well…” He flushed, embarrassed. “You could start by not setting things on fire.”

“I’ll have you know—” I said.

“Oh, here we go.”

“—my fireworks saved the king. The king! How many people can say that? I’ll tell you. One. Me.”

“Oh no.”

“In fact… I should open a new line. Blackthorn’s Blasters! Guaranteed to maintain a monarch! Or your penny back.”

Tom buried his face in his hands. “Why, Lord? Why me?”

I turned serious for a moment. “I really am grateful, Tom. You’ve saved my life more times than I can count.”

“Which is a problem in itself,” he pointed out. “But you’ve saved my life, too, remember? During the plague, and in Devonshire. We’re even.”

“We’re not even close to even.”

“Doesn’t matter. That’s my job,” he said. “I promise you, Christopher, if the Raven wants to get you, he’ll have to step over my dead body to do it.”

And then the most terrible chill washed over me, as if a ghost had passed through the room. I shuddered. “Don’t say that.”

For I had the feeling his words would come true.

CHAPTER 55

I FELT A LITTLE BETTER the next day. With things resolved with Tom, and no one blaming me for what had happened—even if I still blamed myself—our problems didn’t seem quite so grim. Despite the fact that I still hurt all over.

Everyone agreed now: Not only was the Raven still alive, he was here in London.

Walsingham believed someone at the party at Berkshire House had distracted the guards to allow the secret vault to be looted. Was that the Raven? It was strange to think that he might have been so close.

Then another thing occurred to me. Simon had said the Raven specialized in pretending to be someone else. So if the Raven actually was at that party…