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“Of course,” Jack echoed, as though he cared a fig for what the rest of the family had to say.
“It worried us all when we received news that you’d relinquished your post in Cleveland,” Junior began.
Jack shrugged, keeping his expression bland. “I found that the work didn’t appeal to me. I gave notice, as required.”
Junior frowned at Jack’s impertinence. “You disappeared. For most of the summer, the family had no idea whether you were even still alive.”
“I sent Mother a postcard.…” Jack gave him an indifferent smile.
“That was back in August,” Junior sputtered, his tone every bit as imperious as the expression he wore. “It’s nearly the end of November now.”
“I also sent notice that I was returning,” he pointed out, as though that fact should be obvious, considering Junior’s current presence.
Junior bristled. “Jack, you aren’t a boy anymore—”
“I’m well aware of that fact, even if the rest of the family regularly overlooks it.”
“Be reasonable—”
“I am. More than,” he said, cutting Junior off. “Your father stuck me in an insufferable position in an insufferable city. I did my duty, taking orders from the most ridiculous little man who smelled of onions and wore suits four seasons out of style, but after more than a month, I’d heard nothing from the family. I had no idea how long I was to waste out in the middle of nowhere, so I decided to take control of my life.”
“You’ve been gone for months,” Junior exclaimed. “Where on earth have you been?”
“I traveled around the country a bit, took in the sights.” Found what you could not. “A grown man needs more of the world than the four walls of an ugly, cramped office, you know.”
“The last time you tried to see more of the world, it ended rather badly,” Junior said dryly. “Or have you forgotten what happened in Greece?”
Jack clenched his teeth and refused to give his cousin even a glimmer of temper. He wouldn’t allow him the satisfaction. “Why, exactly, are you here, Junior?”
Junior let out a heavy breath, as though everything about the situation exhausted him. “The city isn’t quite as it was when you left us.”
“You mean when I was sent away.”
His cousin glared. “The fact of the matter remains that things are… unsettled.”
Jack lifted a single brow, inquiring. “That sounds rather unfortunate.”
“After the solstice, the Inner Circle has done everything possible to silence any talk of what happened at the consecration ceremony. But the Order’s alliance with the upstarts at Tammany is in tatters. We have been searching for those involved in the thefts, but with Tammany actively working against us, it’s been impossible.”
“You mean they won’t allow you to ransack their wards as they did last winter?” Jack said, not bothering to hide his amusement. The richest men in the city, and they couldn’t even manage to take in hand the filthy immigrant upstarts that ran Tammany Hall. So much for their hallowed institutions. So much for their supposed power.
Junior bristled. “The situation is delicate, and the family—the Inner Circle as well—has sent me to remind you of how much is at stake in the coming weeks. The Inner Circle has decided that you will remain uninvolved.”
Jack didn’t bother to cover his surprise. “What do you mean?”
“You’ll receive this news officially soon enough, but Father believed it was important to prepare you. To avoid any unbecoming scenes,” Junior said.
“What are you talking about?”
“The High Princept and the rest have decided that you should not attend the Conclave,” Junior told him. “You are no longer invited to the gathering.”
“Have they revoked my membership, then?” Jack asked, feeling a cold anger wash over him. In his front pocket, the Book seemed to tremble, understanding his fury.
“Not yet,” his cousin told him. “But everyone involved believes it would be best if you are not present the night of the solstice. There is far too much at stake.”
“Is that so?” Jack asked, forcing his voice to remain level.
“For the moment, yes. They’ve made their decision.”
