I eyed him coldly, our heights nearly the same. "If I do not receive the sum of one hundred pounds from you at the first of each month, to be dispersed as I've outlined, your walking stick will turn up somewhere far more embarrassing than in the houses of Mrs. Chambers or your brother's paramour. I know people in many places, Summerville. You would do well not to have your name associated with them."

Summerville stared in disbelief, then he snarled and lunged at me.

My sword flashed out of my cane. Summerville stopped, looking down at the point of my blade resting against his immaculate cravat.

"Stand at ease, Lieutenant," I said quietly. "Or do you want to ruin your suit?"

"Blast you, Lacey. You're nobody. You always were nobody. How dare you?"

"I am a gentleman of the Thirty-Fifth Light," I said. "Who are you?"

"I am a gentleman who will have the power to ruin you in a few years' time."

I made a frosty bow. "Then for a few years at least, you will do some good by these ladies." I sheathed the sword. "Good night, Mr. Summerville."

I left him cursing as I walked out of the room and hobbled back down the stairs and into the rain.

The next afternoon, I found Lady Breckenridge at Lady Aline Carrington's garden party, as I had known I would. The rain had gone, and the sun shone at last, chased away from time to time by a breath of cloud.

"There you are, Gabriel," Donata Breckenridge said as I walked to her. "Thank God. Sir Neville Percy has been following me about in attempt to engage me in conversation, and he is so very bad at it. Pretty to look at is Sir Neville, but a ghastly bore. He ought to stand under an arch for full effect and keep his mouth closed."

"I am pleased to be of some use to you," I said, making a bow.

"Do not be sardonic, Lacey; it doesn't suit you. Leave the mockery to me." She smiled as she spoke, a genuine smile, and warmth stole through the chill I'd carried since leaving Mrs. Chambers's house the evening before.