4
‘Good morning Vesper, Jay,’ said Milady as she admitted us to her room. The air sparkled as her disembodied voice spoke.
‘Milady.’ I took up my usual station in the centre of the sumptuous blue carpet, and made her a curtsey. Jay produced the same courtly bow he’d offered to Bill earlier.
‘Very fine form, Jay,’ Milady complimented him.
Jay grinned. ‘Thank you.’
‘He’s been practicing,’ I said.
‘He will make a fine ambassador to the Courts someday.’
That shut me up. Jay! The Society’s representative at the magickal royal courts! Since I’d secretly coveted such posts for some years, I could not help feeling a twinge of envy at the idea.
‘Not before you, Ves,’ said Jay, apparently reading my feelings. It was so kindly said that I instantly forgave him for his earlier teasing.
‘Have
