Before we left the Mayfair Estate, Maguire and I were approached by Tiffany. Her posture read a slight nervous uncertainty that piqued my curiosity. She’d been splitting her time between talking with us and taking care of Marguerite, who made a surprisingly quick recovery with Elmer’s help. I caught the two women a few times having a hushed conversation as I passed by the room, but I didn’t pry. The whole ordeal must have been hard for them both, and they needed the time and space to work through it.

  That’s why I found myself caught off guard when Tiffany asked to speak with Maguire and me.

  “As you both know, I am currently engaged in an apprenticeship with Lady Marguerite,” she said nervously. “She is a most wonderful teacher, but I am afraid I can only go so far as her student, given my aptitudes and interest.”

  “You wish to explore the world outside of alchemy?” I suggested.

  “Yes. I will always treasure the skills I have and I will always be a proud associate of the Mayfairs, but I don’t wish my mother’s family name to define me. I want to find other ways to help those around me, to make a positive difference in the world.”

  “That is a noble goal,” Maguire commented.

  “I’m glad you think so, though I don’t feel that wanting to be a good person should be considered praiseworthy.”

  “Yet it so often is. The world is a better place with more good people in it. Before you defer again, I believe you have something you wanted to ask us,” I prodded.

  “Yes. You see, my apprenticeship with Lady Marguerite is set to end at the end of this year. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do afterwards until I met the two of you. I will always maintain my connection to the Mayfairs and my status as an alchemist, but if you will allow, I would like a chance to apprentice under the two of you for a period. You have a knowledge and curiosity that I admire, and I believe we can all help each other. Lady Marguerite has already approved, as has Lord Hieronymus. You don’t have to answer right away, but I would be honored if you would consider me for an associate apprenticeship.”

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  Her eyes shone with hope and excitement and I couldn’t help but smile at the genuine enthusiasm. I looked at Maguire and he looked back quizzically before realizing I was waiting for him to approve, and he nodded. I turned back to Tiffany.

  “We would be honored,” I said, holding out my hand. “I can’t promise what it will look like, but we have plenty of time to sort out the details. In the meantime, we can maintain a correspondence and perhaps you can start your learning a little earlier than next year. So long as it doesn’t interfere with your current apprenticeship, of course.”

  She shook my hand eagerly.

  “Thank you. I promise, you won’t regret this.”

  “Not for a second. Congratulations on your decision to join the Society of Jacks.”

  “So she gets in with a handshake while I had to go on a wild goose chase,” Maguire scoffed playfully.

  “First off, she is only an associate as of now, so no trial needed. Second, there are traditions in place to ensure the ease of affiliation between members of different societies, so should she decide to make a more permanent transition, it would be a simpler matter. Not that you are expected to, Tiffany. So long as you remain a good friend, you will always be a friend of the Jacks,” I said.

  “What’s this trial you went through?” she asked Maguire, curiosity winning out. He looked at me for permission to share and I nodded.

  “It ended up being one big scavenger hunt, trying to find all of the Original Jacks. First, I had to search the safehouse…”