It was well past Lady Flora's usual hour-long midnight stroll in and around Fort. Yet, the gentle sea breeze around Horniman Circle Gardens and the calm egged her on to walk for a bit longer. In any case, she hated the massive shroud that marred her view from where she stood. It was no fun, and she'd wait until nightfall for her walkabouts.

Of course, she also realised that Sir PM, her fellow walking companion and conscience-keeper of the city, was missing for a while now. It's the summer holidays, he must be visiting, she told herself, missing his storytelling and dry humour that would engage her for hours.