"No offense, mate, but unless you frame that in the form of an order, like, then it's going to depend on the request." He took the pie. "Other'n that, I'm easy. I can keep quiet when it's really important."

"Well, I'll tell you what it is, and then you tell me if I need to frame it as an order then, how about?" Marcello offered. "It's really...I want your advice. I think it's the sort of situation that you might have particular insight into. And..." he hesitated. "It's about Acorn. Not about getting her back, but about how the Puck got her in the first place."

Starling looked pained. "Just as a precaution, I think you'd better make that an order," he said, with genuine regret. "Mum's real interested in how that happened. is this something she already knows?"

"No, and that's why I want you to keep quiet about it for now. Because it's going to become a very tenuous situation for Niabheara. Personally and politically. And I want her to choose how to handle it, and not have someone else act before she has an opportunity. So, er..." He rubbed his chin. "As Earl of Cnoch na Niall, I order you not to speak of this until Niabheara permits it?"

He looked resentful, even though he himself had imposed the limitations, but he nodded. "As you will." It was so odd to be as-you-willing to Marcello. "So what's such a big secret about it?"

"There's a possibility Dierdre's husband took her," Marcello answered. He raised an eyebrow at the boy. "You see why it's so sensitive?"

the boy's mouth dropped open, but just as quickly snapped close. He was plainly willing himself not to explode. "So why are you telling me this instead of shakin' him down to find out what happened to her?"

"Because Davide already tried that without telling anyone, and now Dierdre's frantic and of course that means Niabheara is, too," Marcello replied. "And Duncan is..." He frowned. "He's very erratic. I'm trying to figure out the best way to handle this." He tugged his ear. "I know you're going to ask why I'm coming to you for advice, and you're going to think it's a bit bizarre."

Now Starling looked uncomfortable. "Are we planning to kill people?" he said, uneasily. "Because I will tell you right now: I am not the man you want."

Marcello choked a little. "No!" he answered. "Of course not. If we needed to kill people, I'd be talking to your grandmother. No. It's just...have you heard much about the aspects? I know Elaine has, er...sat in for Judith before."