CHAPTER 52: JAMESON

Jameson begins by remembering one of Tobias Hawthorne’s lessons: sometimes the strongest opening move is to step back, watch, and look for patterns. In Vantage, Branford confronts Katharine Payne, implying that she may be present on behalf of Bowen Johnstone-Jameson rather than for herself.

Zella quietly identifies Katharine as a long-serving Member of Parliament and suggests that Bowen is powerful and unsentimental. Jameson connects this to Ian’s earlier comments about having two older brothers and realizes that two of the five players may represent rival Johnstone-Jameson interests: Branford for himself and Katharine for Bowen.

Katharine then probes Zella by mentioning that Zella’s husband, the Duke, is unwell, briefly cracking Zella’s polished composure. Branford demands to know what Bowen wants with Zella, and the exchange reveals old familiarity and hostility among Branford, Katharine, and Bowen.

Branford also identifies Jameson as Ian’s son and assumes Jameson is playing for Vantage on Ian’s behalf. Katharine echoes that suspicion, but Jameson insists that he is playing for himself, even though the accusation unsettles him and raises questions about why the Proprietor chose this exact group of players.

Instead of reacting openly, Jameson studies the room and notices a children’s book Rohan left behind: The Smugglers’ Caves and Other Stories. Remembering Rohan’s phrasing about leaving no stone unturned and smuggling nothing out, Jameson realizes the book may be an intentional clue and connects it to Vantage’s cliffside location above water.

Avery joins Jameson under the guise of comforting him, but Jameson understands that Avery sees what Jameson sees. While examining the book, Jameson finds a pressed poppy and then discovers two words written in familiar dark purple ink on the inside back cover: Ladies first.