At which point in waltzed Madame Cardui.
‘Seeing whose daughter, deeah?’ she asked cheerfully.
Pyrgus groaned inwardly.
‘Zosine Ogyris’s,’ Mr Fogarty answered for him.
Madame Cardui’s expression changed at once ‘A Faerie of the Night?’ She stared at Pyrgus in shock. ‘You’ve been seeing a Faerie of the Night?’
‘Yes,’ Pyrgus admitted.
‘And a Faerie of the Night in trade?’ She made it sound like scrofula.
‘Well, yes, her father’s a merchant,’ Pyrgus said, a little miffed by her tone. All the same, the Faerie of the Night bit was embarrassing.
‘But you’re a Prince of the Realm,’ Madame Cardui said.
‘Yes, I know,’ Pyrgus said. He didn’t know what else to say and so said nothing. For some reason he felt very young. He stood blinking in Madame Cardui’s direction.
‘Is this serious?’ asked Madame Cardui. ‘You’re not… you’re not …?’
‘Of course he is,’ Mr Fogarty sniffed. ‘He’s a teenager – it’s all they ever think about.’
‘I didn’t mean that, Alan. Perfectly proper for a young man of high birth to perk up the peasantry from time to time – the Royal Family’s been doing it for centuries.’ She turned back to Pyrgus. ‘I meant you aren’t thinking of marrying her?’
‘Oh, no,’ said Pyrgus promptly. Which was true enough, but not because Gela was a commoner or any rubbish like that. She was really, really gorgeous and he’d been a bit… well… bowled over when he first met her. But marriage never came into it. Which was just as well since he still hadn’t sorted out how he felt about Nymphalis. Nymph was really gorgeous too, in a different way. And about as bossy as his sister, but he was used to that. The thing was, he couldn’t imagine Nymph ever leaving her forest home.
‘Well, I’m relieved to hear that,’ Madame Cardui said, cutting through his thoughts. Her features softened. ‘All the same, deeah, I do hope you’ve been discreet. I’m sure she’s terribly pretty and quite accommodating, but a Faerie of the Night? And in these trying political times? Such an embarrassment for your poor, dear sister.’
‘She is very pretty,’ Pyrgus said. He could sense his chin begin to jut as a familiar feeling of rebellion rose up in his stomach. Who did Madame Cardui think she was anyway? She was starting to sound like his father. ‘But that’s -’
Mr Fogarty cut in before he could finish. ‘Leave the kid alone, Cynthia. This could be a blessing in disguise. Pyrgus says Henry crushed a peculiar crystal flower before he disappeared and that Ogyris has been growing them for Hairstreak.’
Madame Cardui frowned. ‘ Crystal flowers? You mean flowers that are transparent like crystal or flowers that are made from crystal?’
‘I don’t know,’ Fogarty said. ‘Do you, Pyrgus?’
‘I think they’re flowers made from crystal,’ Pyrgus said, relieved that the interrogation about Gela seemed to be over. ‘I know it doesn’t make much sense: I’d never heard of them before.’
‘Neither have I,’ Madame Cardui said thoughtfully. ‘I wonder what Hairstreak wants with them?’
‘Well,’ said Fogarty, ‘I think that’s what we’d better find out – these things are obviously connected with Blue’s disappearance. If Henry had one, he’s likely to have got it from Ogyris. I don’t understand Hairstreak’s involvement – he had her anyway – but I’m betting Ogyris knows something about it.’ He hesitated thoughtfully. ‘Besides, it’s the only clue we have.’
Madame Cardui looked across at him. ‘What are you planning to do, deeah?’
‘Bring Ogyris in for questioning.’
‘Do you think he’ll talk?’
‘He will when I’ve finished with him,’ Fogarty said.
Pyrgus coughed lightly. ‘How were you going to bring him in, Mr Fogarty?’
Fogarty raised an eyebrow. ‘Contingent of Palace Guards should do it.’
‘He has his own guards,’ Pyrgus said soberly. ‘Gel- somebody told me it’s more like a private army. And his estate is right in the middle of Yammeth City. If you send in armed Lighters there’s likely to be a fight, a big one. It might even start the war.’
‘Do you have a better idea?’ Fogarty asked.
Pyrgus hadn’t, but he was used to thinking on his feet. ‘Why don’t I go there alone – to Merchant Ogyris’s estate – and see what I can find out? One Faerie of the Light isn’t going to attract any attention. I know where the flowers are and I know my way around the estate…’ The last bit was a sort of a lie, but he’d found his instructions from Gela and the little gate might still be open. Besides, if anybody caught him, he could probably persuade them he’d come to see Gela. With luck they might even contact her before they killed him. He was fairly sure she’d vouch for him, despite what had happened. So long as he wasn’t caught in the act, of course. Merchant Ogyris clearly didn’t want anybody messing with his precious flowers.
‘Much too dangerous, deeah,’ said Madame Cardui firmly. ‘Your sister would never forgive me if I let you do it.’
‘No, just a minute, Cynthia,’ Fogarty said, frowning. ‘We need to know about those flowers, and he’s right about trying to arrest Ogyris – that really could start the war.’
‘We can send one of my operatives,’ Madame Cardui said. ‘Someone trained.’
‘But if he’s caught, they’ll know the Imperial Espionage Service is interested,’ Pyrgus said quickly. ‘They’ll get it out of him. Remember my uncle is involved, even if we don’t know how. But if they catch me…’ He hesitated, but had to say it: ‘I can just pretend I’ve come to see Gela.’
‘Gela is the trollop of a daughter?’ Madame Cardui asked sweetly.
‘She’s not a -’ Pyrgus flared.
But Mr Fogarty cut across him again. ‘He’s got a point, Cynthia. It’s perfect cover. We can’t afford to make mistakes. Blue’s been kidnapped and we’re teetering on the brink of civil war. Volatile situation. The last thing we need is to make it any worse. Only bit that really worries me is time. We’re caught in a Countdown. Even as Acting Emperor I can’t order the Generals to stand down – only Blue can do that. So we need results fast.’
‘I could go straight away,’ Pyrgus said. ‘Now, if you like.’
‘Yes,’ Fogarty nodded, ‘it would have to be now.’
‘Take Kitterick,’ Madame Cardui said. ‘He’s an excellent bodyguard. Just in case…’
‘Yes,’ Fogarty said. ‘Take Kitterick. You can pass him off as your servant.’
‘Yes, OK,’ Pyrgus said. He headed for the door, then stopped. ‘Madame Cardui…’ He licked his lips. ‘The business about me seeing Gela…?’
Madame Cardui looked at him. ‘Yes?’
‘You won’t mention it to Nymph, will you?’ Pyrgus said.