‘It’s a little chilly in here, isn’t it? But perhaps you like the cold.’
Konrad blinked and shook his head. Had he fallen asleep? But the voice sounded real—and the comment was far too prosaic for a dream. He sat up, suddenly alarmed, and looked around. The room was too dark for him to see anything beyond the immediate circle of the fireplace.
‘Who’s that?’ he demanded. The voice was female, and for a heart-thumping second he thought it must be Irinanda. She had been known to sneak into his study before, by some means he still didn’t understand. But the deep, smooth voice was unlike her light tones.
‘Nobody particularly terrifying,’ said the woman, clearly amused. ‘This is a social call, if you like.’
‘Conducted rather later at night than is usually considered appropriate,’ Konrad obse
