The moment the words left Dominic’s lips..."It does not accommodate assistants or attendants"...a subtle, almost imperceptible shift occurred in Michael Helwart’s posture. Linsy watched him, her own face a mask of professional composure. She saw the minute calculations flicker behind his dark eyes: the value of the Hans connection, the cost of insulting a host like Dominic, the sheer insignificance of a secretary's presence at such a pivotal moment.

After a beat of silence that felt to ...