The doorbell rang.

“Please excuse me, mum,” Pearson said.

I stood in the middle of the room, trying to make sense of what he’d just said. Tony found his brother’s body?

I knew almost nothing about the boy, not even his name, until Pearson said it just now. But the way he’d been spoken of over the years made me feel as if something terrible had taken place.

Poisoning is what everyone said.

But who would poison a child?

* * *

Pearson came in holding a silver tray containing a full bottle, a glass, a silver case containing my cigarettes, and a letter. “This just arrived, mum. From the Inventor.”

Whatever could the Inventor want to mail me about? Pearson lit a cigarette for me. “Thank you, Pearson, that will be all.”

I poured a glass, took a long drink, then opened the letter.

Maxim Call wrote with a flowing hand, full of flourishes. From what I gathered, they weren’t having any more luck finding the controls to this new piling than they had with ours. They’d spent a great deal of time repairing the lift mechanisms and were just now able to descend safely to the observatory.

“Now that we know the sort of thing we’re looking for,” the Inventor wrote, “the process should go more smoothly. I may stay here to compare the readings on this piling with yours, but that shouldn’t take more than a few months. In the meantime, I’ve had my men search for others in the city. It’s a pity there isn’t any sort of map —”

Map?

I lay upon the floor in the midst of Ma’s cathedral as the sun rose.

Four buttresses rose from the floor of the huge round structure to meet in a grand domed window of stained glass. But in the ceiling lay smaller windows, spaced evenly through each quadrant. Each of these smaller windows - still larger than I was - held an array of yellow, gold, and red, which reminded me of flowers.

I never understood what these meant until now. “Pearson!”

He peered in, face concerned. “Are you well, mum?”

“I must speak with the Inventor immediately. It’s urgent.”

“I’ll send men to find him, mum.”

“No, fetch Amelia. We must go to him.”

Amelia produced a deep purple gown I hadn’t worn before, and placed the elderberry shawl atop it. “This will do for now. I don’t expect the Inventor cares much for formality.”

“This dress is lovely,” I said. “When can I wear it again?”

“After the inquest. You’d think you lost a parent, or Mr. Anthony himself, the way they force you to deep mourning.”

“I suppose it’s for the best.” I still mourned many people, yet I wondered if continuing to appear in public wearing mourning garb brought Dame Anastasia to mind more than it should.

* * *

Tony would have approved of our entourage: Honor had accompanied him to Market Center, so Blitz escorted us, armed, with a full set of outriders. Blitz bowed when I approached, a wry grin on his face. “Mrs. Spadros.”

“Good evening, Blitz.” He helped me into the carriage. “This excursion isn’t likely to be as diverting as others we’ve taken.”

He chuckled and closed the door.

While on our journey, I thought about Tony, Jon, Gardena, and everything they were involved with. I didn’t belong with these quadrant-folk, unraveling the fruits of their twisted schemes. I was one of the Dealers’ Daughters, a direct descendant of the women who survived the assault on the Cathedral during the Coup. My place was with them.

But as long as Roy Spadros ruled, I didn’t dare try to return home. He’d threatened to burn the Cathedral with everyone in it should I step back into the Spadros Pot, and at the time, I believed he might do it.

My only other option was to leave with Joe, sending what aid we could from a place of safety. But if what I knew helped Inventor Call repair the city, at the time, I felt glad to offer it.

This second piling lay under a home near 143rd and Book. A maid in her forties opened the door. Her eyes widened. Then she fled, leaving the door open. So we stood waiting.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Well?” A man said in the distance. “Did you let them in?”

Footsteps approached. The occupants, an elderly couple, gaped in astonishment. “Mrs. Spadros?”

“I’m here to see Inventor Call. May we enter?”

“Of course!” They made way, bowing and curtsying as we passed. “I apologize for our foolish girl,” the man said. “I think you quite flummoxed her. This way!”

They led us through their luxurious home to a wide, well-stocked pantry. At the back of this was a door, which opened on a narrow flight of wooden steps down to a storeroom large enough to encompass the entire house, with thick supports at intervals. In the center of the floor, a large trap door lay open.

The man pointed to it. “My father built this home. My parents kept the door locked, and when they turned in their cards, I never thought to look.”

I grinned at him. “You hold quite a treasure.”

Blitz said, “I’ll fetch the Inventor, mum; there’s no need for you to dirty yourself.”

I so loved the curling orange steam which rose from the magma. But I would only become sweaty, and there was no time to bathe before dressing for dinner. “Very well.”

Tony’s men brought down straight-backed chairs and a dark wooden tea-table, and I sat to await the Inventor. After some time, he emerged, muttering under his breath.

He let out a short laugh when he saw the table and chairs in the midst of the storage room. “Am I called away from my work to have tea, then?”

I rose, curtsying low. “Inventor, I have urgent news for you.” I glanced around. “Blitz can stand guard; the rest of you, out. This is not for Mr. Roy’s ears.”

One man let out a laugh. But they filed upstairs without protest and the door was shut. Blitz stationed himself at the bottom of the stairs, a good ten yards from us.

I gestured to a chair. “Please, sir, sit.”

Maxim Call appeared intrigued. “What’s your urgent news?”

I leaned forward. “I believe I have your map.”

The Inventor’s face became that of an excited schoolboy. “Praise the Dealer! However did you find it?”

So explained that I grew up in the Cathedral, and shared my recollections of its skylights. “I don’t know what else it could be.”

The Inventor shouted, “Monte! Get up here!”

Feet ran up metal stairs, and a dark-haired Apprentice emerged. “Yes, Inventor?”

“Pen and ink, at once.” Inventor Call turned to me. “Tell me of the smaller circles. Were they all the same?”

“I think so. It’s been so many years since I lived there.”

He became solemn. “I’m astonished you’re here.”

“You didn’t know I was from the Pot?”

“No one’s ever mentioned it.”

I found that hard to believe. Everywhere I went, ladies of rank used my birthplace as a reason for scorn. But Maxim Call seldom mixed in social circles. “And what do you think now?”

“This is the most exciting discovery imaginable!” The Inventor took pen and ink from his Apprentice and set it down before me, along with several large sheets of paper. “You must draw every detail. This knowledge could save the city!”

By the time we returned, it was past time to dress for dinner, so Amelia put me in a simple, easier to assemble gown. I had refused to let Amelia fuss with my hair earlier, so all was ready.

I hurried downstairs; Tony stood waiting. “I hear you had an exciting time.”

Amused, I took his arm. “Inventor Call near leapt with enthusiasm. I brought a map of his beloved pilings.”

We strolled past our sun-room, turned towards the dining hall. “Where did you find it?”

I tapped my temple.

“Oh,” Tony said, impressed.

“We should speak of this later,” I said, glancing at the servants around the long table.

* * *

As we sat in my bed, I told Tony of my recollections of the Cathedral. Yet I refrained from specifics, not knowing who listened. “Inventor Call didn’t know where I came from.”

“It’s not widely known,” Tony said.

“But all the ladies of standing know, and I imagine their gentlemen as well.”

“Nevertheless,” Tony said, “Don’t volunteer it.”

“What have I to be ashamed of?”

Tony kissed my hand. “Nothing. But there are those who would take offense, and I wish everyone to love you as I do.”

Yet you didn’t trust me with Roland. He never explained why he feared telling me about his son. “Do you believe me to be allied with your father?”

“What makes you say that?”

I hesitated. “Certain things you’ve hidden. Yet you asked if I wanted the Family.” I couldn’t understand how this even crossed his mind. A woman Patriarch? “I just want to understand what you’re thinking. At times, I don’t feel I know you.”

He wrapped his arms around me, his face in my hair. “For a long time, I’ve been almost mad with fear,” he murmured. “For you, for Gardena, for my son. Even, I suppose, for myself.”

I recalled what Pearson said about Tony finding his older brother’s body. What would that sight do to a child?

Tony cradled my face in his hands. “I’ve been a fool. You’ve had much more to fear, yet instead of learning to protect myself as you have, I’ve let my fear come close to destroying us.” He dropped his hands. “My father was right. You were right. If I don’t find a way to be a different man, I’m condemning us to death. If not now, then when my father’s time comes.” He snorted. “Why should men follow me if I can’t control myself?”

“Tony, listen to me. You have men who’d follow you into the Fire.” I thought then of what Jon told me on the Clubb’s yacht. “But you must think of yourself first. Make yourself strong, and trust that others are strong as well.” I placed my hand on his cheek. “You don’t have to protect the whole world.”

Tony laughed, and for the first time, he seemed happy. He put his hand on mine. “I don’t know why my father chose you for me, but I’m grateful.” He straightened as if coming into some insight. “I must be worthy of respect if my father’s men are to follow me one day. Perhaps they despise me now, but there must be a way to earn their allegiance without becoming my father.”

I nodded. “A good intention indeed.”

Tony pulled me close, kissed me.

This surprised me so much I stiffened.

Relax, breathe, you can do this.

Tony caressed my hair. “What’s wrong?”

Oh, gods. “You surprised me, that’s all.”

He smiled, moving his arm around my waist. “A good surprise, I hope.”

Does he suspect I don’t desire him? I forced myself to smile, closed my eyes. Joe, where are you?

I let out a sigh, forced myself to relax.

Tony — Joe moved his hand up my leg, kissed me.

Joe ... the way he smelled, his soft hair, the way he touched me ...

I wrapped my arms around my beloved Joe, pulled his golden body to me. Kissed his beautiful face. “Yes.” Joe’s lithe body moved atop me, between my legs. I wrapped my legs around his muscled back, pressing him closer to me as he moved inside. Joe’s breathing, his moans, only made me want him more. “Yes. Oh, gods, yes.”