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Dana watched as Marchan and Trevor ride out of the courtyard. She knew she would likely never see him again and already missed him terribly. When she turned she discovered Richard standing at her elbow.

'May I, my Lady,' he said. 'Trevor's copy will be quite useful to us and I thought you should see it as I open it. Come.'

Dana felt sad to have life forced on her again as she mourned the loss of her son. She turned and walked with Richard back into the office. As he read, she understood why he wanted this copy. It described in great detail the estates of Dana's grandfather and told of his son and little granddaughter and the little mole on her back.

'Is it still there?' asked Richard. 'This could prove to be enough, if you come, looking so much like a Lou of Lossington with the mole. Even your uncle probably wouldn't be able to claim against it.'

'Yes, that mole is still there,' said Dana.

'Well, that might be all we need then. Next we present all this before the King when he returns. Anyway, I think it's time I leave for my work.'

So he left. That day, the Duke took Dana and Magra out shopping. He told them to get nice clothing for each other and applauded their choices. Magra thought Dana got a frock much too nice for her, but Dana knew that Magra had to look good. Dana wasn't sure she completely liked the dress Magra picked for her, but the Duke said he thought it very fitting and in the latest style. When David and Samuel saw them in their new clothes when they returned to the carriage, both felt extra special. Dana was surprised by how much more attentive David was to make sure and give Magra help into the carriage and how Samuel bent a little extra as he helped herself in.

The Duke settled himself into the carriage with them and instructed Samuel to go to Kardin Square and a jeweller's shop not far away. At the jeweller's shop, they found one of Marchan's chess sets. Offered for sale at an extreme price. The Duke looked at it and said he was sure that Marchan had been given a very poor price for his work. The Jeweller acted offended.

'You suggest that I have deceived someone? I don't actually expect to be able to sell this set at such a price. My young artist did not warn me how much attention this set would bring attention to my shop. I have gotten so many people asking to buy it at ridiculously low prices, even less than half what I paid for it. They think that such things are mere dish rags. I set the price out to dissuade such rabble. For such an esteemed man such as yourself, I'm sure we could come to some better agreement upon price.'

'Oh, I'm not really interested in the chess set exactly. I was more interested in your tiara's for the young lady here.'

'Ah, it's a one of a kind set, the young artist assured me he would never make another just like it.'

'No, he most likely won't,' said Dana. 'I have the next one he made. It's inlaid with rubies and diamonds.'

'And emeralds and pearls and sapphires? I sold all those to him for this set. To think my jewels grace such a set. I am very proud to have dealt with such a young man. His workmanship is exquisite and so very detailed. But he can't have finished another one already.'

'Oh yes, he has. And has now left the city.'

'Ah, well, that's a great loss to the city to be sure. Talent such as that is beyond anything our poor city has to offer. I fain would look on such a set.'

'Anyway, about your tiaras? One loaded with jewels such as you sold the young chess artist, but not so much as to be gaudy?' put in the Duke.

'Oh, of course, my Lord,' said the Jeweller.

As the Jeweller disappeared into the back, Dana pulled the Duke aside and said, 'Why are you buying me a tiara?'

'So you'll look presentable before the King, of course. He is expected to return to the Capital any day now. We need you to look presentable. And I think you'll look good in a tiara.'

The Jeweller returned and held up a tiara. It was so beautiful that Dana fell in love with it immediately.

'Why do you want me presentable before the King?' asked Dana after the tiara had been purchased for about a quarter the price the jeweller originally asked and they had left the shop. 'It seems like a lot for you to put out.'

'Do not worry about it,' said the Duke. 'I want to make sure you make a good impression on him. If you make a good impression on him, he might be more on your side when he makes his judgement.'

'Really, now,' said Dana. 'Why do you care so much about my winning back my inheritance?'

'Partly because I want such a pretty face to be happy. Also, because of the principle of the thing. Your uncle has no right to be in your place, not to mention he's bad at it. I've done a bit of research. He's actually wasted about half your inheritance. Destroying property just because he can. And destroying his tenants in the process. It's a pity a man like that even got anywhere near power.'

They were back in the carriage threading their way back to Kardin Square. A large crowd had formed and Samuel was unable to make the carriage move quickly. Just as they entered the Square, a figure came running, threading its way through the crowd. As he got closer they could see he was little more than a boy, though nearly as tall as a man. He spotted them and ran directly up to the carriage.

'M'Lady, M'Lord, have pity on a poor b'y. They wanna lock me away. I ha'en' done anythin' wron', 'on'st,' he pleaded into the carriage.

Dana had trouble understanding him, but the Duke told Samuel to stop and opened the door. The boy was inside before David could step down to help him up.

'Now, who wants to lock you away?' said the Duke, noticing a group travelling through the crowd toward the carriage.

'Th'cops,' the boy said. 'I didn' do't. I didn'!'

'What do they think you did?'

'I didn' gill Mama Rita. Sh'jus' died. Fell over. I saw 't all. She was fine then she wasn'. But then they's'd I mussa kill'd her, but I didn'!'

'Mama Rita,' said Dana surprised. Marchan had mentioned her one of the nights they had had together.'

'You know of her?' asked the boy, a little surprised.

'Just what my son, Marchan, told me. He said he had met her through some other friends, Franna and, oh, I forget his name.'

'Peter,' the boy said, starting to calm down, which didn't last long as the police officers appeared outside the carriage.

'Peter,' said one of the officers, 'come with us. You'll have to pay for killing the only woman who took you in. You have no right to involve these nobles. I'm sorry, M'Lord, that he got into your carriage.'

'I'm not,' said the Duke. 'And I'm afraid you'll have to convince me of a few things before I'll let you take someone who as asked me for sanctuary.'

'We will charge you with obstruction if you resist us.'

'Oh, I have no intention of obstructing you, Sergeant,' said the Duke with a humourless laugh. 'You can be sure of that. First off, I'll have you know that this young man is a friend of a friend of mine. A few weeks ago, he met someone named Marchan who is a rather good friend of mine, which by the way makes him a friend of mine. Second, I am a Duke of the realm and a close friend of the King's, so that makes this young Peter here a friend of a friend of the King. I would say he, therefore, has a closer affinity to the King than you do.'

The officer who had spoken swallowed and looked a little less sure of himself.

'Third, I would like to point out that this young man says he didn't kill this Mama Rita and our justice system does not allow the officers to declare someone guilty.'

'Now, Peter,' said the Duke, turning back to Peter. 'As I said, I'm a Duke of the Realm. I'm also familiar with how things work among the people; however, I'm quite sure that you can go with these men without worrying about anything bad happening to you. You can be sure that if anyone hurts you before I catch up to you again, the sergeant here and his men will learn what hurt is.' While speaking that last bit the Duke narrowed his eyes and turned slightly toward the sergeant.

'Oh, nothing will happen to him,' said the sergeant quickly. 'Provided he doesn't try to escape.'

'Good,' said the Duke. He turned back to Peter, 'Do you trust me enough to go with these men willingly and not try to escape?'

'I trust her,' Peter said nodding his head toward Dana. 'If she says you can keep me safe, I'll believe it.'

'Oh, he can keep you safe,' said Dana.

Peter got down out of the carriage and allowed the officers to put shackles on his wrists.

'Now, one last thing, Sergeant,' said the Duke. 'You are expected to send a full report to the Duke of Quirnotol at his residence in the city, and you can be sure I'll know if it's incomplete.'

'Yes, M'Lord,' said the Sergeant.