you why you swapped with Theobold today to fence against me. And it’s check again, by the way.”

“You’re the one who swapped with Jewish boy,” Valmont said.

“Because you wanted to.”

“No,” Valmont said.

“Check,” Henry said disgustedly. “And yes, you did. You wanted to have a go against me, and if it weren’t for that, I’d be the one gutted with Theobold’s sword.”

“Pity you weren’t,” Valmont sneered, moving his king back a space. “Are you accusing me of something, Grim?”

Not anymore, Henry thought, picking up his queen, fighting to keep his face expressionless.

“Not at all,” said Henry. “I am merely thanking you for saving me from the hassle of having a sword run through my side. I’m sorry I couldn’t return the favor by sparing your king. Checkmate.”

Valmont stared down at the board in shock. “That’s impossible.”

“We took the same exam, Valmont,” Henry said, giving Valmont back his captured pieces. “I scored higher. Why are you so surprised when I beat you at things?”

“Because you’re a bloody servant!” Valmont roared.

The common room quieted as everyone turned to stare.

“And you’re a bloody sore loser!” Henry retorted, stomping back to his room.

Adam was back the next morning, and woefully unprepared for military history.

“I made sure you had your books when I brought the sandwiches,” Henry accused.

Adam shrugged. “I thought Havelock would go easy on me, considering.”

“You’re joking,” Rohan said. “If you’d lost a leg, Lord Havelock would still expect both of your boots to be shined.”

Henry laughed.

“What are you so cheerful about?” Rohan asked.

Rohan had fallen asleep early the night before, but he was looking a lot better that morning, much to Henry’s relief.

“I beat Valmont at chess last night in the common room,” Henry said.

“Since when do you spend time in the common room?” Adam asked.

Henry shrugged. And then Valmont passed them in the hall on the way to languages. “Checkmate!” Henry called after him.

Adam chuckled, and then put a hand to his side, wincing.

“Avez-vous vue Frankie?” Henry asked his friends in languages, while they were supposed to be having a conversation about supper.

“What?” Adam asked, and then, receiving a glare from Professor Lingua, said, “I mean, pardon?”

Have you seen Frankie around? Henry wrote on a piece of paper.

Rohan shook his head and announced in rather tortured French that he preferred his steaks rare, thank you.

That was strange, Henry thought. Frankie would have heard about Adam. The whole school had heard. But she hadn’t come by the night before. Or caught up with them after chapel.

“Non, monsieur, j’ai dit que j’aime le mieux les legumes vert,” Henry said with a sigh.

“Show off,” Adam muttered.

“En français, Monsieur Beckerman!” Professor Lingua shrilled.

“Je suis malade!” Adam protested. “I’m ill!”

“That’s the best I’ve heard you speak French all year,” muttered Henry.

Rohan tried very hard not to laugh.

Something itched at the back of Henry’s mind throughout languages, a thought that he could not quite reach. And as much as he tried to ignore it, the itch commanded attention, until at last Henry grasped upon what was bothering him: the unblunted sword hadn’t been meant for Adam. It had been intended for him. And as it was seeming more and more that Valmont wasn’t the one behind everything, if perhaps the mastermind of these horrible accidents hadn’t yet heard that Adam had been the one injured yesterday, Adam’s intended “accident” could be waiting for him around any corner.

No, the thought was preposterous. Henry tried to dismiss it, but kept coming back to the idea: someone was sabotaging them. Someone who—as much as he hated to admit it—wasn’t Valmont. And it wasn’t just creepy letters anymore. Who knew what might happen next?

Henry was so shaken by the realization that he mentioned it to his friends after languages.

“I dunno about that, mate,” Adam said. “Who would be targeting us?”

“Hmmm, how about Lord Havelock?” Henry asked, realizing how ridiculous it sounded.

“He’s certainly horrible and elitist,” Rohan said, “not to mention a terrible professor. But I don’t think he’s capable of doing these things. I mean, you said it yourself yesterday, Adam could have died.” Rohan paused, and then, as though he didn’t want to admit it, said, “I could have died, with the nuts.”

Henry had rather suspected Rohan’s allergy was much worse than he’d been pretending. But that wasn’t the point. Rohan was right. There was no reason for Lord Havelock to sabotage them.

“I suppose you’re right,” Henry admitted.

“If Lord Havelock wanted us kicked out, all he’d have to do was open our door one night and find Frankie in our room,”