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When I woke the next morning, Eli had already gone downstairs. I threw on my jeans and a shirt. I’d bathe and get dressed later. I was hungry.

When I walked into the dining room, Ford—I had to stop thinking of him as Captain McMurtry—was telling Veronika about last night from his point of view. She was smiling at him. They were too full of the happiness of being newlyweds for my mother-in-law to be sour about my jeans.

We had known Ford had been accepted by Veronika and that they planned to get married months ago.

Eli and I had assumed we’d travel back to San Diego to be present for the ceremony.

Instead, a neighbor had come up the hill with a telegram for us.

Ford and Eli’s mom had gone to city hall.

They’d gotten hitched with only Alice and Lucy in attendance.

For a couple of days Eli tried my patience to the limit.

He’d fumed. In his mind, he’d become the head of the household upon his father’s death.

He felt it had been his duty and right to be present at his mother’s wedding, with me by his side.

He felt this very strongly, as he told me several times.

After a couple of days, I’d talked him around. To me, Veronika’s decision was understandable. She was a grown woman, a widow, and didn’t need anyone to “give her away.” We’d sent them a telegram of congratulations, and Eli had written a long, civil letter. I’d written a note myself.

Looking at my mother-in-law this morning, I could tell how much better life had been treating her… with the huge exception of losing Peter.

Ford left for the palace, after giving his wife a fond kiss. The minute he’d gotten out the door, Veronika dashed up to her room. That was strange. I didn’t think it was my company she was dodging. She would have been more polite. I shrugged and ate breakfast in blessed silence.

I was wondering about a long list of things.

I wondered where Eli had gone, but I wouldn’t have asked Veronika for a hundred dollars and a new gun.

I wondered if Ford knew what had happened to the man who’d “collapsed” at the reception. I figured it wouldn’t have been wise to show much interest.

I wondered if he would vouch for the Volkovs. But that was for Veronika to do as Alice’s mother.

Eli had left Felicia’s schedule for the day on the table. I picked it up with a sigh.

Today I had to chaperone Felicia to a ladies-only midafternoon tea and coffee party at the home of Madame Semyonova’s daughter, Tatiana Medvedeva.

I didn’t know the hostess, but she must have a large house suitable for the occasion.

This evening, both Eli and I were going to escort Felicia to a party on Imperial Island, at Hotel Del Coronado.

This invitation had arrived the night before by messenger.

Maybe Eli had gone to his secret meeting with the other grigoris. I listened hard, hoping I’d hear the back door open and the sound of his step.

When we were at home in Segundo Mexia, I pretty much knew where Eli was every hour of the day.

As if she’d felt my uneasiness, Veronika came back into the room.

She looked pretty pale. Maybe she was ailing.

“I forgot to tell you, Lizbeth. Eli left early. He said he was going to check on Felix’s arm.

I can’t believe that happened at Balboa Park.

” She seemed more startled by the fact that the attack had taken place in a beautiful public park than that someone had shot at Felix.

“Yes, it was pretty alarming.” It wasn’t necessary to tell her how close an arrow had come to her son. She couldn’t do anything about it except worry.

“I better go upstairs,” I said instead. “Felicia needs to be up. Oh, what should I wear to a tea and coffee afternoon?”

Naturally, Veronika knew. I thought she seemed to like me better now that she could give me advice all the time.

And she didn’t seem to mind me borrowing her clothes.

It wasn’t that I was so proud I had to have a closetful of new outfits.

I just hated wearing strange clothes that weren’t easy to move in.

“Leah will put a dress and matching purse in your room. Oh, what was that stain on the evening dress? She’s trying to get it out.”

“Wine,” I said. “In a crowd that packed, I couldn’t avoid it. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, I understand. People drink too much and they get clumsy. You can’t be safe from spills.”

“And I’m sorry I’m wearing all your clothes,” I said, unable to stop myself.

Veronika actually laughed. “I won’t be able to wear them for a while.”

I assumed she meant she wouldn’t be able to go to court, and wouldn’t need so many dresses, for a while yet. And then she could get new ones, I hoped. She’d like that.

I knocked on Felicia’s door and made sure I heard her stirring before I climbed the final flight to our room.

Though I was concerned about Eli’s long absence, it was very pleasant to have some time alone. After I bathed, I was able to settle down with a book Felicia had given me, a mystery by a woman named Ngaio Marsh.

“How do you pronounce that?” I’d asked.

“I have no idea. But no one else does, either, so…”

I didn’t have to talk to anyone until Leah brought in a dress, shoes, and a purse. I thanked her and stared at the “ensemble” gloomily after she left. Today I would be in black and white.

Lunch was light and quick. I got to lay eyes on Felicia, who had been answering notes, she said.

What kind of notes? From whom? She didn’t tell me.

I didn’t ask, because I had to trust her judgment.

The judgment of a sixteen-year-old girl who had never had many friends or opportunities, until the day she had a hundred.

Sometimes I felt like shaking her, but I knew underneath her great power she also had control… if she felt like exercising it.

Today Abigail worked on me first, while Felicia bathed and dressed. Abigail was young and talkative and a real professional. She slicked and braided my curly hair and wound it in a crown. I looked like a… I don’t know what. Someone who was not me, and also five years older.

I was relieved when Abigail left me to tend to Felicia.

I wrote my mother a letter and took it downstairs to give to Leah to mail.

Then I waited for Felicia in the foyer. There was a big mirror there, and I stood in front of it.

I saw a stranger for a second, before I knew it was me.

I looked better in the black and white than I had in the walking outfit I’d worn to the Japanese Friendship Garden.

Maybe today we’d have better luck. Maybe no one would attack any of us. Maybe I would not have to kill anyone. I made myself smile into the mirror. That was better.

No matter how boring and unpleasant the program was, no matter how much I dreaded it, I had to be cheerful for my sister. This was her time to shine. I had never had such a time, but she would.

Eli came in. He hugged me and gave me a kiss, but it was clear his thoughts were not here with me.

“How’s Felix?” I said. I wasn’t too worried about the grigori. He’d had some healing, and it had been a flesh wound.

“I think Lucy is enjoying taking care of him,” Eli said. “He’s feeling well enough to come out with me this afternoon. To the meeting.”

Then Eli’s thoughts returned to whatever dark place they’d been. He stood in the entrance hall as if he didn’t know what to do next, and then he shook his head and walked down the hall. Maybe going to the kitchen.

I didn’t like it when Eli was so worried about something, especially something he was unwilling to share with me.

After a moment, Eli returned with a sandwich on a little plate just before Felicia came down the stairs. She was wearing a green dress with white flowers on it. She looked beautiful.

“Are you driving, Eli?” Felicia said.

“I can,” I offered.

But Eli looked at the hall clock. All of a sudden he could hardly wait to leave. He insisted on dropping us off at the party. He brought the sandwich with him, wrapped in a napkin. He didn’t say a word during the ride to Tatiana Medvedeva’s address.

None of this was like Eli.

My husband only got this secretive about grigori stuff. Something was about to happen in the closed world of the society. When he pulled to the curb to let us out, he said, “I hope I’m not late picking you up. I have to take Felix home after the meeting, and I’m not sure how long it will last.”

“If you’re very late, we can call a cab or catch a streetcar.” I had some money in my borrowed purse. “If we’re not standing out here, that’s what we’ve done. Don’t forget the party at the Del Coronado tonight.”

Eli nodded, barely listening. The minute we were on the sidewalk he drove away.

“I am really looking forward to tonight,” Felicia said. “The Del Coronado is so famous. And it’s a smaller party so I’ll get to really talk to people.”

I was pretty sure by “people” she meant “Hans.” The hosts were a group of Listeds staying at the hotel: Ahren, Mateo Medina Dominguez, and a Swede named Lennart Anderberg. If Ahren was there, Hans would be, too.

Another dress, more shoes, more people I didn’t know and would never see again. That’s all I could think of.

“I’m sorry I’m dragging you through all these parties,” Felicia said.

I felt ashamed she’d read me so easily. “I volunteered, if I remember right,” I told her.

That was enough to cheer her up. She might suspect I wasn’t happy, but it was okay if she pretended for a while that I was enthusiastic about all this.

We turned to face the Medvedev house. We saw it over the perfectly trimmed hedge. We fell silent.

The house—the mansion—was a few blocks west and north of the school. The lawn was beautiful; it was really more of a garden, flower beds all over. Tatiana Semyonova Medvedeva had made a “good” marriage, as this society meant the term. A very good marriage.

“Does Madame have other children?” I asked Felicia.