Chapter 879

• The noise of the ballroom faded the further Tedmond walked from the glittering chandeliers, replaced by the heavy, echoing quiet of the gallery's private wing.
• A tall, silent gallery steward dressed in a sharp black uniform led the way, his stride perfectly measured.
• At the end of the corridor, he pushed open a pair of double mahogany doors to reveal a secluded, dimly lit cigar lounge reserved strictly for the museum’s highest-tier trustees.