Suzanne had been interrogating Willem’s servant, who she didn't recognize, for some time. She was certain that he knew something, but he was closed-lipped and loyal. Still, his dithering on certain questions led her to know that her suspicions were just as accurate from the impression of others as it was for the rest of her family.

  There came a pounding from the stairs, and both her and Dirk turned toward it. To him, the sound was a savior. To her, it was time for a confrontation.

  “Willem,” Suzanne said. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

  “I tend to inspire that trait in people,” he said tiredly, rubbing at his eyes. “So, what do you want? Avail yourself of my wisdom. I have to get ready for a funeral.”

  “Funeral?” she repeated.

  “Yeah,” he said disappointedly. “One of the society members croaked. Not at the event, thank the lord, but still… never nice, the whole ‘death’ thing. You’d think they’d work on finding a cure for that.”

  Suzanne studied him. Cocksure, arrogant… he acted like her brother in some ways, but lacked in countless others. She had a few working theories, and she intended on putting some to test.

  “It’s rather jarring how much your situation has changed,” Suzanne said, walking closer with her arms crossed. “To go from mastering the sword to mastering business.”

  “I believe they call it maturity,” Willem said, throwing off his shoes and moving to the office. “Throughout my life, I’ve found you can move your arm, or you can move your mouth. And the mouth tends to be a lot more powerful. I’m naturally inclined toward efficiency.” He stopped at the threshold to his office, then looked over. “Dirk? Gustav’s expressed interest in joining the society. I think we’ll let him. Go talk to his wife tomorrow, set it up.”

  “Oh.” Dirk nodded. “Right.”

  Suzanne heard more footsteps walking down the stairs, only to see her mother trod down, holding her rapier out. She buckled it on her belt.

  “Suzanne,” Viviene said happily. “Good to see you here.” She walked over to Willem. “What are your plans today? Anything that you need me for?”

  “Nah, not urgently. Soon, though, there might be something. Pawning off old soaping equipment,” Willem explained.

  Viviene gave Willem a big hug, inspiring widened eyes from Suzanne. He accepted it stiffly until she pulled away.

  “I’m going to go train, then.” She walked toward the door. “Have fun with your brother, Suze.”

  Suzanne gaped as her mother left. What had this man done to make her mother act in this fashion? Surely there was some trickery afoot, some dark magic. Little else could justify the warmth she was displaying. Willem looked at her.

  “You look envious,” he said.

  “I’m not,” Suzanne defended.

  “Sure. Very convincing retort.” He nodded. “I get the feeling you’ve a question on your mind. Why don’t you just ask it straight out? As Dirk will attest, I’m honest.”

  Suzanne shifted on her feet. “Before I do… there are some things you should know.” She held up a bracelet. “If I’m attacked, or harmed, Galahad will know right away. Moreover… if you lie, I’ll know it.”

  “Did you hear that, Dirk?” Willem said dryly. “She’s got a tracker. She’s not your next victim.”

  Dirk sputtered. “What are you even saying?!”

  Willem laughed, then gestured toward Dirk. “I’m just playing around. Make some tea or something.”

  Suzanne breathed out. “Have you had trouble remembering things?”

  “No, not particularly,” Willem said, leaning up against the wall. “Well, just unimportant things. People’s names, stuff like that.”

  “Because every time I talk to you… I bring up things that you should remember,” she said, hoping to pressure him into talking. “And you don’t. You just stare at me, dumbly.”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “That’s unfair.” Willem raised a finger. “I have a very intelligent gaze.”

  Suzanne was in no mood for jokes, and she stared at Willem plainly. “You’re not my brother, are you?” she asked outright, preparing for any inevitability. “You’re not Willem van Brugh.”

  Willem’s pointed finger curled into his fist, and he lowered his arm. “Just so you know… this wasn’t deliberate,” he said. “But no, I’m not.”

  Suzanne didn’t know what to do now that he admitted it so easily. She stared at him, waiting for him to say more. She still half-expected for him to do something—lunge at her, perhaps. In the background, Dirk made tea with trembling hands, the teapot clattering in his hands.

  “Tried to tell the people around, but they thought I was pulling their leg. Decided to play along, but don’t think for a second this is some engineered situation. I just… woke up in this body,” he said, spreading his arms out. “Next thing I knew… Tielman had a severe case of indigestion, plopped over like a fish flung out of water. I’ll admit, I strung out the rope a little, got into some bad habits. As you, uh… probably saw with Viviene.” He scratched the back of his neck. “Didn’t plan for that. Just happened. I can’t help being so lova— well, I shouldn’t joke now.”

  Suzanne regarded her bracelet for half a second, but it hadn’t indicated Willem had lied once. “Who are you?” she asked.

  “Willem,” he said. “Willem Jansen, if you want specifics. Businessman.”

  “What happened to my brother?” she demanded.

  “Not a clue,” Willem answered. “If we swapped bodies… my lord. That’s perhaps the best deal I’ve ever made.” He paused, holding up a finger. “Well, that’s not true. I didn’t make any deal. It just happened.”

  Suzanne exhaled long and hard, looking over to Dirk, who watched the both of them nervously.

  “You’re no shapeshifter?” she asked. “Nothing of the sort?”

  “No,” Willem said with a shake of his head. “I’d make a terrible shapeshifter. Too much effort, picking out a face every day.”

  Suzanne, the reality finally dawning on her, walking over to the nearby table and sat at the chair. She cradled her head, considering what this meant. She had hoped, at best, Willem would be an amnesiac. But this? His soul… replaced entirely?

  “Who knows about this?” Suzanne asked. “Anyone else?”

  “Dirk.”

  “Who?”

  “Did you really just ask who Dirk is after talking to him all morning?” Willem asked. “Maybe I’ve been nicer to the guy than I thought. Besides him, there’s one other person… but she’s gone.”

  “Who?” Suzanne pressed.

  “A ninety-seven-year-old woman. She’s not going to be blabbing to anyone, don’t you worry.” Willem walked up to stand by her. “Listen… I’m sorry for your loss, or happy this has happened to you… but I’m afraid Willem van Brugh has been discontinued in favor of another product.”

  “Willem, you shouldn’t…” Dirk spoke up, obviously uncomfortable. He walked toward her, hands held politely in front of him. “Lady Suzanne, if I could just attest to what he’s said… I know it might not mean much coming from me, but despite how callous, dispassionate, self-obsessed, delusional, and heartless Willem sounds… he’s been doing good things with your brother’s body.”

  Suzanne looked between the two of them. “You think he’s dead?”

  “Haven’t seen his body, unless you count a mirror, but… yeah. I have to assume so.” Willem scratched his neck. “He’s in a better place. Maybe he’s somewhere out there, I suppose, but I haven’t got any signs. No senses tingling, nothing like that.”

  “Give me a moment to think,” Suzanne said.

  “Sure.” Willem stepped away. “Have to get some better clothes on for the funeral, anyhow.”

  Suzanne leaned back, doing as she said she would. Her mind was a mess, in total disarray. She’d honestly been expecting a confrontation more than anything. That’d make it easier, simpler, cleaner, if something foul had possessed her brother and now lashed out at her. But it seemed like… another life had simply replaced his. Another human, unwitting and unwilling.

  Should she tell the other members of the family? They seemed to like this new Willem, but then… perhaps that was only because they hadn’t known the other Willem at all. Willem van Brugh, her brother, Viviene’s son. They’d want to know, wouldn’t they? But… if things were going well… maybe she should just…?

  “Lady Suzanne,” Dirk said, speaking up. “May I speak?”

  Suzanne looked at him, feeling somewhat sick. “Go,” she said.

  “The other day, Willem expressed a commitment to letting everyone know what’s changed,” Dirk said. “I get the impression that he’s as uncomfortable with this persistent misunderstanding as you are. If you can help me… if you can give him time… give us all time, to figure out how this can happen cleanly…”

  “That’s my brother’s body,” she said.

  “I know,” Dirk said with a sigh. “I know I’m asking a lot. But I am asking. I like to think that counts for something.”

  Suzanne cradled her head in her hands, thinking. She didn’t want to involve Galahad, not yet. But… what would she do?

  Willem didn’t seem inclined toward running away. Rather, he’d set down roots. She was ignorant about this problem, and though she’d done some preliminary research, she hadn’t completed a deep dive into the factors at play. Perhaps she could find something—some key, some elegant solution to bring all of this to a close.

  “I won’t tell the others yet,” Suzanne said decisively, deciding to do more research. “But I won’t just let this go.”

  “Thank you,” Dirk said with a relieved sigh. “Thank you, Lady Suzanne.”