had won. How was he possibly going to gather evidence that Lord Havelock had been sabotaging them while serving detention under Lord Havelock’s disapproving stare?

But then, what did it matter anymore, anyway?

FEELINGS OF FAILURE

Adam wouldn’t sit still. He prowled their room that evening, pacing back and forth until Henry threw down his book and said, “Would you calm down?”

“I can’t!” Adam cried miserably. “Rohan’s expelled and Frankie’s going off to finishing school and we’ve got a death sentence, in case you haven’t noticed.”

“I’ve noticed,” Henry said darkly.

“How can you just lie there?” Adam accused.

“I dunno,” Henry said sarcastically. “Maybe because I’m too afraid to do anything else?”

“Let’s go and see Professor Stratford,” Adam whined.

Henry sighed and shook his head.

“Why not?” Adam pressed.

“He lost his job,” Henry said quietly. “He lost his job at the Midsummer School so I could come to Knightley Academy. I can’t very well go tell him that I’ve been suspended—possibly expelled—and everything he did for me is wrecked.”

“He’d probably prefer to hear it from you, mate,” Adam said.

“You just want to see Frankie,” Henry accused.

“And what if I do? She’s in as much trouble as we are, maybe more. If you’ve already given up, why not go say good-bye?”

“I haven’t given up,” Henry said. “I just need some time.”

“Well, take all the time you want,” Adam said angrily. “Meanwhile the Nordlands are invading with their combat-trained army, but never you mind, just sit there and read a book.”

Henry sighed.

How could he explain to Adam that the only reason he’d been reading a book was to try and escape into another story, one that didn’t involve his being on the brink of expulsion from Knightley and the end of everything that had ever made him happy?

“I’m sorry,” Adam said. “I know you’re just trying to cope with all this. I shouldn’t have yelled.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Henry said. “I’m sorry too. And you’re right, we should go to see Professor Stratford. And Frankie.”

Henry put on his coat and began lacing his boots.

Triumphantly, Adam did the same.

“You’re just in time,” Ellen said when they turned up at the doorstep of the headmaster’s house.

“In time for what?” Henry murmured as she led them up the back staircase to Professor Stratford’s office.

The door was ajar, and Ellen left Henry and Adam without bothering to announce their presence.

“Hello?” Henry called, pushing open the door.

Professor Stratford had a suitcase open on his desk and was busy piling books inside of it.

Henry felt as though the floor had given way beneath him, as though he were falling and had no idea if the landing would be soft—or if he even wanted it to be.

“What’s happened?” Henry asked.

“Been fired,” Professor Stratford said with a sad smile.

“What for?” Adam asked boldly.

“Oh, what I’m always fired for,” Professor Stratford said. “Have a seat. I’d like the company, if you’ve nowhere else to be.”

“Nowhere else,” Henry said, daring Adam to tell the professor the whole of it.

“Lady Winter recently discovered that I was teaching her granddaughter Latin, that I allowed her granddaughter to read the Greeks instead of pretty little novels, and that, generally, I am ‘exactly the sort of bad influence that encourages Miss Winter’s frightful behavior.’ ”

Professor Stratford frowned sourly and put a spare pair of shoes into his suitcase.

Henry sighed.

“I don’t think you’re a bad influence at all,” Henry said. “What are you going to do now?”

“Back to the City,” Professor Stratford said. “Find work tutoring for the rest of the term, if I can. It’s not as though I have any letters of recommendation from my last two employers.”

“I’m really sorry,” Henry said.

“It’s nothing I haven’t brought upon myself,” the professor said. “I’m always overstepping. First with you, and now with Frances—with Frankie.”

“When are you leaving?” Henry asked.

“Last train of the night is at half nine. I should just catch it,” Professor Stratford said.

“I’ve been suspended,” Henry blurted, and then hung his head. “Adam and I both. And possibly expelled, pending a hearing with the board of trustees.”

“Oh, Henry,” the professor said sadly. “And Adam.”

“I tried so hard not to, but I failed anyway,” Henry said.

“You haven’t failed,” Professor Stratford said. “You’re still here, aren’t you? You’ve just got less time than you’d thought. But you have to show everyone that you were being sabotaged, that the headmaster wasn’t wrong about you.”

“How?” Henry asked miserably.

“You’ll think of something,” Professor Stratford said. “I have no doubt.”

“But what about the Nordlands?” Adam asked.

“That too,” Professor Stratford said. “It’s all on your shoulders now to let