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“How curious,” she said.

He just grinned at her again, then went back to feeding his fire.

Angelique realized he wasn’t going to tell her, and that it didn’t much matter. “As long as you are not causing explosions or poisoning any of us, neither Lisette nor I have any objection,” she said aloud. “If Mr. Avery returns, please tell him I would like to speak to him.”

“I will, Madame.” He sprang to his feet and bowed very properly. “It was a pleasure to see you.”

She left the attic and went downstairs. In her room she rang the bell, and Lisette appeared a few moments later. “What is Mr. Chesterfield doing upstairs?” she asked her maid without preamble.

Lisette rolled her eyes. “Making a large mess and a horrible new smell every day.”

“Has he told you what anything is?”

“No, Madame, he just laughs and tries to make me smile.” Lisette sniffed. “He has been around his master too long, I think.”

That did sound like Avery. “That is not too objectionable.”

“I wish him to stop,” said Lisette bluntly. “Is it safe to allow it? I fear the house may burst into flames.”

Angelique sighed. “Are you truly afraid, or just out of temper because he is impertinent?”

Lisette hesitated. “No, Madame. I’m not afraid.”

“Then do not act like it.” She went and opened her wardrobe. “Mr. Avery told me he would be ready to go out today, but he is not here, with no word of where he has gone or when he is expected back. If Mr. Chesterfield wishes to poison someone, he should practice on his friend.”

* * *

Nate jogged up the stairs to the attic Prince had made into his workshop. He rapped twice on the door and went in.

Prince glanced up. “At last.”

He snorted. “It’s not like you sent me out to fetch some eggs. I had to visit three chemists to find what you wanted.” He handed over his parcels to Prince, who set about opening them at once. “Quicklime isn’t on every London tradesman’s shelf.”

Prince waved one hand. “Excuses! While I have been regaling Madame Martand with legends of your daring.”

“Oh?” Nate dropped into a chair, repressing any show of interest in what Madame Martand might have said or done or wanted to know about him. “She was looking for me? I may hide up here for an hour or two.”

Prince wasn’t fooled. “Yes, she was looking for you. What a difficulty it must be, to work with such a woman. I commend your fortitude, Nathaniel. You are a brave and noble man, enduring such a trial with so little complaint.”

“Yes, it is a cruel imposition,” he agreed gravely, “but someone must do it.”

“Any time you wish to change places, I will be delighted to take tea with her.”

Nate hadn’t been able to tell what Madame thought of Prince, aside from her warning about his brand. When he’d brought Prince with him, he had thought primarily of Prince’s skills and how they might be useful to his objective. Prince could keep him well supplied with poisons, acids, and various other concoctions that might prove useful in his search, with no one the wiser where he’d got them.

But he hadn’t predicted being paired with Madame. Perhaps he should have projected more indifference between him and Prince to keep from raising her suspicions.

“You must be done with your work, then,” he said as he reached for the bottle on the ring.

“Don’t touch it,” Prince snapped. Nate smirked, and Prince gave him a warning frown as he carefully removed the bottle from the stand that held it above the fire. He blew away the vapor curling around the lip of the bottle. “Hand me a pinch of those crystals.”

Nate obliged, sprinkling the crystals carefully into Prince’s palm. Eyes fixed on the bottle, Prince poured the crystals in and swirled the bottle. The liquid fizzed, then thick white smoke began pouring forth, billowing around Prince’s head like a cloud.

“How long does it last?” Nate asked.

“Wait and see.” Prince’s face shone with satisfaction as he put down the bottle and turned to his notes, scribbling several lines. Nate flipped open his watch and they waited as the bottle smoked.

“Ten minutes,” he announced. The bottle was nearly empty now, the liquid almost gone. A dark green residue coated the inside of the glass.