as she sees fit,” Headmaster Winter finished.

Frankie went pale. “No, please. I promise, I’ll be good.”

“It’s too late,” Headmaster Winter said, holding up a hand. “I don’t enjoy my mother’s company either, but she’s a good influence on you and seems to be the only one who can keep your behavior in check.”

Frankie pouted. “I’m not going back to Maiden Manor,” she said. “She’ll make Headmistress Hardwicke take me back, but I’m not going. I’d rather run away and join an acting troupe. Or the circus. It’s not fair. They only teach poetry and painting and French, no matter what we want to learn. All I want is to be a—”

“You’re not a boy, Francesca,” Headmaster Winter said tiredly. “No matter how persistently you try to be one. You are a lady, and you’d better start acting like one. Now go to your room until I send for you.”

“Yes, Father,” Frankie said, all of the fight gone out of her. “And by the way, if you expel my friends, I shall never speak to you again.”

Satisfied, Frankie flounced out of the room.

The headmaster sighed and raked a hand through his hair.

“What am I going to do with you?” he said, half to himself and half to Henry and Adam.

“Overlook this one, sir?” Adam asked, and Henry promptly elbowed him.

A smile flickered over the headmaster’s lips.

“I think the three of us are all right here,” Headmaster Winter said to Sir Frederick.

Sir Frederick inclined his head and left.

“Take a seat,” Headmaster Winter said, indicating the squashy sofa. Henry and Adam sank into it, peering at the headmaster from between their knees.

“It’s unfortunate that the evidence against your friend was so compelling,” Headmaster Winter said. “There was no choice but to expel him, you know.”

Henry and Adam said nothing. What was the headmaster going on about?

“I like this job,” Headmaster Winter continued. “I truly believe in this school, and I’m hoping to do some good here, to update Knightley’s long-standing traditions. But I can’t do much good if I’m no longer headmaster, which is exactly what would happen were I to expel the two of you—and which might very well happen anyway, what with the events of this evening.

“I can’t see you turned out on the street, or sent home in shame. Not when the offense is so gray and so muddled. I know my daughter, and I have no doubt that she did as she wished, no matter what you told her. And I can’t in good conscience ruin all three of our lives because of her actions.”

“So we’re not expelled?” Henry asked, hardly daring to believe it.

“Suspended,” Headmaster Winter said. “Pending a hearing with the board of trustees. It’s the best I can do without seeming to favor the two of you, do you understand?”

“Yes, sir,” the boys chorused gratefully.

“You will also be serving all-day detention with your head of year until the board can gather for your hearing.”

Henry’s hope gave way. No, they weren’t expelled, but was this truly any better? Suspended. Not allowed to go to class. All-day detention with Lord Havelock.

“Sir?” Henry began. “What are the odds that the board of trustees will let us stay?”

Headmaster Winter shook his head. “I can’t say. Of course, I will speak in your defense, and you are welcome to ask any of your professors for character recommendations. But all hope should not be lost, do you understand? I’m certain you boys will find a way to fix this, to put everything back together as it should be.”

Henry frowned. It sounded as though Headmaster Winter was talking about something else besides their suspension. As though the headmaster knew about the sabotage, or guessed. As though the headmaster was on their side, or as far over the line of adult impartiality as he dared to step.

And that gave Henry renewed hope.

“Thank you, sir,” Henry said.

“Yes, thank you,” Adam echoed.

“Now, you’re to attend chapel in the morning, eat your breakfast in the kitchen, and then report to Lord Havelock in his office. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir,” the boys mumbled.

“Hope! Vigilance! Truth!” the headmaster called as they wrenched the heavy door closed behind them.

“This is horrible,” Henry muttered as they headed back to their room.

“My parents are going to kill me,” Adam moaned.

“Yeah, well, at least you’ve got somewhere to go home to if we are expelled,” Henry said quietly.

“Right. Sorry,” Adam murmured, embarrassed. “I’m sure my family would love you, though.”

“Thanks for the offer.” Henry shook his head sadly. He’d failed, and Lord Havelock