THIRTY-TWO
Vasco asked a manservant whose name he did not know where he might find a boat.
"There is a whole fleet of pleasure boats in the boatshed, usually," the man said, pointing. "But the Lord Steward went out on the lake this morning. The boat he used should still be on the beach, as he hasn't asked me to put it away yet."
Vasco thanked the man, offering to return the boat to the boatshed when he was finished with it. That way, no one would know when he and Bianca returned from their errand – or see what evidence they carried. Vasco trusted no one now, except perhaps Gerel. Bianca...that remained to be seen.
He paused by the kitchen to ask for a basket of provisions for the day. Gerel smiled broadly when she heard him ask for food and drink for two, but she didn't ask questions
