Elizabeth and Kate had taken to the river in her private barge to return to Whitehall. Before they left me outside the gate, Kate implored me to stay safe. I would have cherished the moment, as the barge pulled from the quay into the rising tide and I saw how she kept her eyes on me, saying without any words that she had never ceased to love me. But I could not cherish the memory of her eyes locked on mine, not yet. Something had happened to Shelton and I prayed as I plunged into the warren of slush-filled streets that he had managed to make his way to Nan. I did not expect to find Raff there; yet as I reached the Griffin and banged on the door, staring up to the shuttered window on the second story where they kept their lodgings, I hoped I was wrong. Shelton still had formidable strength; despite his physical shortcomings, he would have fought for the boy. Perhaps he had. Perhaps he had slain Renard’s hireling and had brought Raff here to hide until I could come for him. The door was unbolted from within.
