When Isa andI finally made it downstairs to eat breakfast, she informed me about her meeting with Chief Nassan. This led to an explanation of how she had lost her job while helping me and her guess that the princess had pressured the chief constable to rethink that decision.
It also led to Isa extracting a promise that I wouldn’t come with her and share with the chief my opinion on his decisions. I had to content myself with visiting the Truthhold office in town. I wanted the paperwork out and waiting for Isa, in case I could convince her to sign and ride home with me today. She was convinced that her mentor among the constables would raise a fuss if she didn’t handle things carefully.
I’d rather deal with the rumors—they’d fade eventually—and have her with me sooner.
“Are you certain you don’t want to live at Rose Castle anymore?” I asked Berklay as he pulled out the appropriate forms.
“These past few months have shown me how much I was missing, living so far from the rest of my family. I think shifting from butler to the manager of the Leort offices is the right choice.”
“I know it is the best choice for these offices, but I’ll miss you. How am I going to find another butler comfortable with the idiosyncrasies of my home?”
“Louisa is perfectly suited to managing the secretaries, and George can oversee the few servants without my help. You don’t need a butler with all your magic. I suspect Miss Cardh will also find ways to ensure everything runs smoothly.”
I leaned against the desk. “How well do you know Isa?”
“I don’t know her well, but I know plenty of her. My brother sees her as something of a daughter. He’s always tried to look out for her, knowing her own father wouldn’t.”
I sighed. “So I gathered. Do you think you can convince him that I mean her no harm?”
Berklay shook his head. “Frederic won’t be convinced by anything I have to say. He makes up his own mind. If you want to change it, you’ll have to do the convincing yourself.”
“Can you at least give me a hint about what I can say to change his mind?”
“It isn’t what you say that matters, Your Grace. It is your sincerity that will make the difference.”
“Noted.” I straightened. “Isa had a meeting with Chief Nassan this morning. I want to meet her when it ends. Where would they be?”
Berklay gave me directions to the main constabulary building, and I made my way through the streets of Leort. I could tell which people in town recognized me as I walked by—they always sized me up as if they could see at a glance if the rumors they had heard were true. I did my best to ignore their scrutiny. They’d have new gossip to spread about me and Isa soon.
Inside the constables’ headquarters, I told the woman behind the desk that I was waiting for Isa. She informed me that her meeting hadn’t concluded yet and directed me to wait in one of the chairs along the wall. She hadn’t recognized me, nor asked my name, which was a bit of a relief.
Turning away from the desk, I noticed that there was another man waiting. Frederic Berklay.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, rising to his feet.
“Waiting for Isa.”
He took a step forward, trying to loom over me. I was taller than him, so it didn’t quite work. Still, I wasn’t unaware that while he might be shorter, he also was wider than me, his mass made up primarily of muscle.
“I don’t care if you are a duke. I won’t let you mess with her anymore.”
I kept my expression calm. “Are you threatening me, Constable?”
“Just telling you how it is. I know you are immune to the truth-telling enchantment at Truthhold. I’m not falling for your tricks.”
“Being able to lie doesn’t mean I did lie.”
The front door opened and Frederic paused, waiting to see who had come in. I shifted my attention to the newcomer as well. She wasn’t Isa. I knew that at a glance, even before I had taken in the difference in hair styles. Apart from the hair, they looked exactly the same, but there was still a fundamental difference. I couldn’t quite place it—perhaps the natural tilt of her lips or a softness in her gaze—but I knew I’d never mistake Isa for her twin.
“Miss Cardh,” I greeted her. She knew who I was, and she hesitated, clearly reluctant to tell me she wasn’t Isa. I saved her the trouble. “Are you here to see your sister as well? Isa seems to be quite popular today.”
“I wanted to hear how her meeting went, Your Grace.” She looked between me and Frederic, clearly aware of the tension but wanting to ignore it. “I didn’t realize you were in town. Isa didn’t mention anything.”
“I arrived last night, surprising her.”
Sofia’s eyes went wide, but Frederic began to splutter. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I turned back to the constable. “Exactly what I said.”
