chin and forced confidence into my voice. âI just saw Professor Knight and Iâm going to speak with him. As you can imagine, Iâm relieved that heâs recovered enough to attend the tournament today.â
Fatherâs eyes narrowed, like if he squinted just right, he could see what I was really up to. âIf thatâs so, heâll be recovered enough to attend your lessons tomorrow. Stay here with Lady Meredith. It would be rude to leave her.â
âOh, I donât mind if he wants to speak with his professor.â Lady Meredith smiled warmly at me, but stopped when she noticed Fatherâs scowl.
Mother and Aunt Kathleen bent their heads toward the Corcoransâ, as though none of them were curious about the outcome of this battle.
I glanced where Iâd seen Professor Knight, itching to run away. But if I disobeyed Father now Iâd be in more trouble later. Anyway, he was right. Iâd be able to talk to Professor Knight tomorrow.
Trying to suppress a frustrated glower, I returned to my seat next to Lady Meredith.
âIs something wrong?â Her voice was low so our parents wouldnât hear.
âOf course not.â I smiled, but as the crowd settled again and the next match was announced, I finally had a clear view ofProfessor Knight. And the man next to him.
Lord Hensley.
They sat unusually close, Professor Knight nodding at whatever Lord Hensley was saying. Their voices were lost under the hum of so many people, but the two looked . . . not quite friendly, but not as antagonistic as Iâd imagined, considering last week.
I leaned forward, not that I could hear anything. When Knight looked directly at Hensley, he wore a polite smile. âIâll do it.â At least, that was what it looked like heâd said.
Hensleyâs face was harder to see, so I couldnât catch his response.
âMidnight,â Knight said, with the look of someone repeating something, or confirming.
As a new set of fighters moved onto the field below, Hensley and Knight pulled away from each other. When Hensley stood, he pressed his hand against Knightâs shoulder.
Knight startled and went still. Hensley stared down for a long moment, and then, apparently satisfied, picked his way across the row, toward the aisle, and moved out of my line of sight.
âThat looked uncomfortable,â Lady Meredith said, just loud enough for me to hear. When I looked at her, she lifted an eyebrow. âThose two are why youâre frowning, right? Your professor and Lord Hensley?â
She was sharp. And I needed to work on my mask.
âIâm sure it was nothing.â I forced my frown away. âI believe our families are having dinner together tonight. I hope you memorized all of Jamesâs moves, because heâll want to know what you think about every one of them.â
âOh indeed.â Lady Meredith sat back and smiled. âI paid careful attention.â
As the next match began, I turned my eyes to Knight once more. He was alone, none of those surrounding him bothering to engage him in conversation. Everyone was more interested in the fighting.
What had they been discussing? Knight had promised to do something. Father claimed Hensley was working for him. Could it all be related?
But what about the burn? The suspicious exit?
I had no doubts there was a flasher who could burn thingsâand I was pretty sure, no, certain , that was Hensleyâbut why burn Knight? Or the pre-wraith gallery in Rayner Manor?
I didnât even know if Knightâs burn and the Rayner Manor fire were connected.
But I meant to find out.
TWO
THE TRIALS LASTED another five hours, with the final matches scheduled for the following day. It was perfect timing, really. A sudden storm blew off the western mountains and sent all the nobles scurrying back to their homes.
After changing into a suit that wasnât soaked with rain and sweat, I headed to the private
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