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C al had wanted me for my family.

I hoped we were everything he’d ever imagined.

“I can’t tell,” Cesario said. “Are you? Canoodling?”

Cal sighed mightily. “I vowed I would not, and I am not.”

“Papà says he’s made vows like that, but then Mamma smiles at him and he forgets all but the pleasure of her company.” Cesario grinned. “Then we have babies!”

“In the future, if we could have them one at a time, that would be less strenuous,” I suggested.

“Papà said twins are efficient.”

Cal put his head down to hide his . . . yes, his grin.

In exasperation, I replied, “Having an entire litter at one time would be even more efficient, but Papà is not the one who has to give birth!”

Katherina stuck her head in the door. “Cesario, Mamma says you are to come out of Rosie’s bedchamber.”

Cesario said, “Papà said I was to stay and watch for canoodling.”

Katherina shot Cal and me a glance that showed a fair amount of curiosity. “Who are you going to listen to, Papà or Mamma?”

Cesario dragged his feet toward the door. Katherina put her arm around his shoulder and they disappeared toward Mamma’s bedchamber.

Cal and I ate more, slowing as we filled, and gathered our thoughts, then returned to our investigation.

“Could my father’s assassination and the attack on Nonna Ursula be separate?” he proposed. “Not linked?”

I contemplated a slice of apple and that idea.

“With the timing, it seems unlikely. But perhaps . . . if that is the case, what about Nonna Ursula’s serving maids?

Could one of them have been bribed to leave the room and allow an intruder to steal what he wished, and Nonna caught the intruder in the act? ”

“Which maid? Old Maria, who has been with Nonna forever, or Pasqueta, who owes her everything?”

“Pasqueta has disappeared. Or at least, when I left last night, Old Maria assumed she’d gone off for some frivolous reason.”

“Well. Old Maria.” His tone indicated dismissal. “She’s been jealous of Pasqueta since the day Nonna Ursula brought her to the palace.”

“I spoke with Pasqueta when we were sitting by Nonna Ursula’s bedside because I thought her timing—leaving Nonna Ursula alone in time for the attack—did seem suspicious. She confessed to seeing Elder’s ghost leaving the chamber.”

Cal leaned forward. “What did she do?”

“She fled in fear.”

“I thought if you weren’t in the palace, my father’s ghost couldn’t materialize.”

“True. Pasqueta was already spooked because of the séance and my sightings, so she saw a man in a cape and assumed it was the ghost.”

Imogene popped in. “Prince Escalus, Mamma wants to know if you’re staying for the meal.”

“I wouldn’t be so unkind as to task your mother with preparing food.”

“Usually, Rosie handles that, but I suppose she’s going to duck out now.” Imogene grinned at me. “In case you haven’t heard, nice black eye, Rosie.”

I made an ancient, discreet, rude gesture involving one finger.

Katherina joined Imogene. “I’ve taken over the kitchen. Honestly, Rosie has everyone so well trained, all I have to do is agree to the menus. She’s going to make you a good wife.”

I put the ice on my face again, closed my eyes, and tapped the rude gesture at my giggling sisters.

“She will, in all respects.” Cal held up the bread and cheese.

“Nevertheless, this is sufficient for my meal. When I’m done with my discussion here, I’ll walk back to the palace and converse with my men, and I have faith that our new cook will graciously provide me with whatever sustenance I need tonight.

” To Katherina, Imogene, and me, he said, “I’ll send word back about Nonna Ursula. I hope to find her awake and speaking.”

The girls sobered and I opened my eyes. “Thank you,” we said.

“Are you going now?” Imogene asked.

“Not quite yet. Your sister and I are discussing a puzzle.”

“Do you need help?” Imogene liked puzzles.

“An emotional puzzle,” I said.

“No!” Imogene skittered out as if chased by a swarm of hornets.

“We’ll leave you two alone.” Katherina drifted out after Imogene.

“For how long?” Cal mused. He had the game figured out now.

“We’d best hurry before Emilia arrives.” I put the ice on the bed again, then trailed my finger through the honey and licked it, tasting the sweet, golden, thick gift of summer, and giving it its due in pleasure.

I contemplated our next suspect. “Duke Yago? Do you consider your uncle on the list of suspects?”

Cal took an unusually long time to reply.

When I glanced up, his gaze was intent on my finger and my mouth, his lids were half shut over his eyes, his lips were slightly open, and he breathed as though he had run too far and too fast.