Just as the family were finishing their dinner, a knock sounded on the dining room door and Clive popped his head in to say that Stefan had asked to see Sheldrake.
Sheldrake wiped his mouth neatly with his napkin before informing Clive that they would see him in the salon in fifteen minutes. “And bring down the fine Montreyan port that Argyve gave me the other week.” He smiled at Maud. “Will you be joining us, my dear?”
“I will. I don’t want Stefan to get into the way of only conferring with you, do I? Besides, I want some of that port.”
They finished their coffee, bid Jayhan and Eloquin goodnight and made their way downstairs. They came upon Stefan in the hallway, squatting down, intent on scratching a large tortoiseshell cat under the chin. The cat was purring its appreciation and pr
