Spirits. He was going to give me a permanent headache. “You are testing me.”
He inclined his head. “Perhaps.”
“Well, stop. I am perfectly capable of following through on my tasks, I’ve already told you that.”
He bowed so his face was level with mine, his arms clasped behind his back. “You have yet to be truly tested, Marietta. You may think me poking fun about the kissing earlier, but you will need to carry off your disguise after we leave tonight. Your brother’s life depends upon it.”
I lifted my chin. “I will do whatever it takes.”
He smiled that rakish grin again, and this time it was echoed in his eyes. “Perfect.”
~*~
At eleven we slipped from the festivities into a well-appointed study. Bookshelves lined the rooms, their contentsarranged with deliberate precision—the complete opposite of Noble’s chaos.
Alcroft was standing at a rosewood sideboard, decanter in hand, pouring liquid into three crystal glasses in turn.
“Lady Second Winters, I presume?”
I jumped. Alcroft had the same way about him as Noble. He didn’t turn, expectation telling him everything would be as he anticipated, even as his shoulders tensed just slightly at the possibility it might not be.
“How did you know?” For all that I was supposed to be forgettable, a surprising number of people seemed to know or recognize me after only a few brief comments. Phineas, Lucian, now Alcroft.
“Gabriel told me.”
I looked at Noble. He nodded in affirmation at my unasked question.
Alcroft lifted the rune-carved crystal glasses and set them on the matching rosewood desk, waving a hand to the two chairs on the other side. “Please.”
Noble made himself comfortable, removing his mask, as Alcroft already had. I perched on the chair and kept mine in place.
“What specifically did you need?” he asked.
Noble lifted his glass and leaned back. “A way to hold off the trial as it moves to the High Court. We need more time.”
Alcroft nodded and sat back in his chair as well, steepling his fingers. “You’ll need someone from the High Council to place pressure. First Tier would be easiest, though someone in the Second would do if you have a power player.”
“I have favors owed to me by power players in both. I could call one in, but it wouldn’t be commensurate with the request, and creating a debt is out of the question.”
Alcroft smiled. “Always wanting the upper hand, never wanting to be the one to owe. I do have a favor I can bring due with the head of Documents and Procedures. Do you want it?”
Noble nodded and relaxed a bit more into his chair, swirling the nightoak brandy. “That would be perfect. Is it enough of a recompense for the favor owed?”
“Yes. And I was wondering if it was ever going to be used. He deals in tonics, not tricorns, so a favor from him is less useful to me. Frankly, I will be well rid of the tie to him. He is keeping it hidden well, but his creditors are knocking. He will be more than willing to pay a debt without having to draw a draft.”
“I suppose you want the Huntswitch favor?”
Alcroft tapped his fingers together. “You know I do.”
“Excellent. I was going to gift it to you on the next holiday anyway. As if I care about the races.”
“You bastard.”
“Yes. Wonderful, isn’t it?” Noble gave a cheeky grin, which Alcroft returned.
I had stepped into a place where I didn’t speak the language.
“You will let me know what your contact says?”
