The sound of running footsteps caught Tesara’s attention. Someone came pelting up the stairs, stopped when he saw her, and then jinked down the other way. She got nothing more than an impression of a skinny boy in a mask, wearing a newsie cap, trousers, coat, and satchel before he had disappeared in the darkness down the hall to the back of the house.
That did it. Tesara threw in the towel and went home.
Chapter Forty-One
The police have received a report of another attack by the fellow dubbed the “Gentleman Bandit” by his victims. This time the brazen fellow held up revelers as they came out of a private party at the Maiden of Dawn public house. “He didn’t say a word but brandished his very large pistols and we could do nothing but submit,” one young merchant daughter said tearfully. She asked not to be named as her mother did not know she had gone out – a most pertinent lesson for a naughty young lady!
The constables say the bandit then entered the Fleurenze mansion across the street, where a most astonishing rout was taking place of several hundred disordered guests playing at fancy dress. Constables say they lost the brute in the press where, as just another fellow in a masque, he could easily go unnoticed. We think the constables may be out-numbered on this one.
The Gazette
The morning wasn’t so bad, Yvienne thought, as she oversaw the girls’ lessons with hardly a yawn, but the afternoon would be another story. She would pay for her adventures of the night. She would have to summon all of her stamina to overcome the effects of only two hours of sleep after robbing several old friends of all their money.
It had been ridiculously easy. One shot to frighten them, the other pistol aimed at the nose of one youth, who lost all of his bluster and raised his hands feebly. The riotous Fleurenze party covered the screams. Yvienne worked fast, taking purses and wallets from the stunned partygoers. There was only one heart-stopping moment, when a lad gathered all of his courage and reached out to grab her shoulder.
Yvienne swung on him, pistol cocked, and aimed right above his nose. He almost crossed his eyes and backpedaled hastily, hands up. She finished up with a heavy sack of loot, and pelted off through the gate and down the alley.
Pursuit followed, but she easily lost herself in the hubbub of the Fleurenze crowd. On instinct, she dove into the giant Fleurenze house, aiming to cut through the mansion.
Coming across Tesara was entirely a shock. She was sure her sister had recognized her, but she made no comment when she dragged herself into bed later that night – or morning. By then Yvienne feigned sleep, her loot tied underneath the bed. And what were you doing in the private part of the house, dear sister?
She yawned again, demurely hiding her bad manners behind one slender hand. It was just as well that she had made plans to take the girls out that afternoon. Playing the Gentleman Bandit was pure excitement, but she had an investigation to carry out.
The TreMondi coach pulled up, and the coachmen let out the girls and Yvienne. They looked up in awe at the sight. The Guild headquarters took up an entire city block, rather like the Fleurenze monstrosity, and was far more gaudy. Its dome gleamed under the sun, and there were uniformed guards outside the entrance. Carved over the columns were the words, Well-regulated commerce is the lifeblood of our city.
We’ll see about that, Yvienne thought. Her tiredness had fled. This was another kind of hunt after all.
“Are you sure we’re allowed to go inside, Miss Mederos?” Idina asked, ever the timid one.
“Of course,” Yvienne said, not entirely sure of that at all. But she didn’t think that the Guild would turn away the offspring of Alve TreMondi, one of the most powerful men in town. “Follow me.” She led the way up the stairs, her charges following her like ducklings.
There was a desk in the lobby, manned by two male clerks. One, with pale hair and spectacles, raised an eyebrow at Yvienne and the girls.
“May I help you?” he said. Yvienne waved the girls back and ventured forward. She put on a bright smile, reaching her hand out to shake his. He took her hand, a bit dazed, and she pressed it familiarly.
“My students are studying merchant economics. I told them all they needed to know was in the Hall of Records. We’d love to continue our studies, if you please.”
There was a pause. The clerk looked over her shoulder at the sisters, both looking a little forlorn and uncertain. And suddenly Yvienne saw them through his eyes – merchant misses, yes, but some trick of the dim light accentuated their Chahoki features. She turned back to the clerk, just in time to see a twist of disgust cross his lips. In an instant, flirtation was the furthest thing from her mind.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” he said, and looked down at his ledger, fiddling with his quill. “Good day.”
There was silence in the lobby. Yvienne knew the girls couldn’t have heard him, but also knew that they were fully aware something was up. She swelled with rage, all the more violent for being contained. She leaned over the desk at the clerk. He looked up and started at the transformation of the flirtatious governess into someone more dangerous.
“Why not?” she said, her voice low and vibrating with emotion.
“I said, good day.” The clerk flicked his eyes up and down, as if he was afraid to catch her eye.
“Do you know who these girls are?” she said. Do you know who I am? He kept looking
