Chapter 20

North stood outside the building with Paquin holding his right hand. The pulsing of the Power between them where their palms touched was undeniable. At the first touch, all the anxiety and fear melted into a point of warmth and comfort. Their holding hands felt right.

“Botham, find out where Lieutenant Bordo is with all haste and report back,” North said. “Oh, tuck this bit of information under your hat: never, never suggest flowers.”

The young man took off at a sprint. As he disappeared from his sight, North heard the door behind him open and close again. “Well done, sir,” the Yellow Jester announced. “My dear Fire Witch, your parents are upset at your predicament, but they’re solidly behind the present plan. May I add, your father’s reputation for good whiskey is confirmed. My. My.”

“I am of two minds,” she said. “I believe they want the best for me, but I also believe they are putting their interests, the greatest plum on the tree, first.”

The Yellow Jester patted her free hand. “My dear, you’re learning. The plum you mention is also the impetus forcing them to decide about your future now. Otherwise, they may have locked you away for another week to confirm the consequences of the Jack of Spades’ challenge and to gauge the response in the House of Lords. They’re eager, but they’re prudent.”

“A week?” she said. “I would’ve torched the building long before then.”

“We would have thought of something else long before you set the building on fire,” North tried to reassure her. “Thank you, good sir, for standing in as my witness this evening. For the moment at least, I believe that payment has been made in full. You know, you could have a second career as a bartender.”

“Bar tending was my first career, and I do not care to return to that sordid past,” the Yellow Jester said. “I must say it because I feel responsible in some way, North and Paquin, but this was the easy part. Everything discussed was reasonable and easy to grasp. The next steps will be much harder, but know I only wish you success.” He departed, only stumbling once over a slightly raised stone in the walkway.

When the Yellow Jester was out of earshot, North said, “It is a good thing that he doesn’t know everything.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your parents were the most difficult step, Paquin,” North said. “As long as we follow the script, all the rest of this debacle will finish with what we want.”

“If I may, sir, may I ask an intimate question?” she asked. “Are we in love?”

North pinched his mouth and released it. “We’re working on that. Before we spent time together, we were two kindred souls who were resigned to fighting everyone with cynicism and guile. Then we each met a person who offered more than either one thought possible. The sarcasm, the bitterness, the resignation became chains instead of armor.”

“The kissing wasn’t bad either,” she said. “We could run now and come back later.” She gave him a hungry look, like a mountain cat looking at her prey.

“Tempting,” North said, meaning it. “However, we can solve this once and for all if we go before our Queen now. We will need an introduction, but that is being arranged as we speak.”

“Hence, Lieutenant Rake and Defile,” Paquin said with distaste.

“Ah, I see you are aware of his philandering ways,” North said. “Believe it or not, he has come a long way since I first met him. At least he mingles with a better class of people.”