Chapter 1
Six years later
Henry raked a hand through his hair and stared at the documents before him, attempting to keep the desperation clawing up his throat at bay. More bills. They were always bills.
At least, almost always. Today there was something new: a threat disguised as a bill.
Blast the mail system. He appreciated a bit of monotony in his otherwise tumultuous life.
His eyes refocused on the letter, though it had grown too dark to read clearly without a candle.
He stood from his desk, one leg of his chair wobbling as if it would fall off any moment, and moved to the window of his London apartment to see in the light of the setting sun.
He intended to use every last bit of sunlight before lighting a candle. Blasted expensive, those were.