Eliot expected to hear Grace's voice on the other end of the line, shock registers across his face as Sterling's voice fills Eliot's ears. Sterling conveys an all too brief message to request a meeting with Eliot, including the instruction to come alone. Eliot leaves the others without a word regarding his destination. Sophie is not on edge fearing the worst.

Eliot is uncharacteristically pacing about as he waits for Sterling to arrive at the requested location. Sterling was vague by intention. Eliot knows that Sterling was vague by both intention and design. Eliot walks back and forth between the columns within the safety of the shadows as he waits for Sterling to show himself.

As Eliot turns around to retrace his steps for seemingly the tenth time, he spies Sterling leaning against one of the columns in his path. Eliot walks towards Sterling's perch with haste. Sterling pushes away from the column on Eliot's approach. Eliot notices Sterling walking with a limp as Sterling pulls out a lighter and lights a cigarette. A very familiar scent fills the air surrounding both of them. Eliot's mood darkens as the scent fills his lungs as he speaks to Sterling. "What happened to Grace, Sterling." Eliot's anger projects in spades. He is unable to use any pretense to disguise his tone.

In the legitimate world Gracie's family is the business of the old trades, tobacco, herbs and spices. The smoke of the cigarette lingers in the air between them like a ghost. The tobacco is laced with the scents of the spice roads. The scent of her cigarettes is more of a perfume than the foul smell of a normal cigarette. The scent filling the air is Gracie's blend. Eliot would know that scent anywhere. It is a rare custom blend and it is Grace's signature.

Eliot's heart is in his throat. Gracie is too good at this game to have been caught. Something happened and Sterling knows exactly what happened.

"They are safe, Eliot." Sterling takes a long drag from the cigarette as he pauses. Grace had told him how to play this encounter with Eliot but he is going to interject some fun with Eliot Spencer for old times sake. Sterling moves cautiously knowing their history with each other. Grace is a friend, he owes Grace and he will do as she asked but with a bit of panache.

Eliot surveys Sterling closely. Gracie did not send Sterling to tell him that she got the family out. Something happened.

"Where is Grace, Sterling." Eliot tries to contain the building rage in his voice with little pretense of success. "Eliot, the General's family is safe." Sterling takes another long drag from the cigarette spinning the pack between his fingers rhythmically. Eliot's voice grows more horse with the effort needed to control it. "Where is Grace, Sterling."

"She is safe, Eliot." Sterling looks away from Eliot into the night. He is worried himself but the Duchess is the Duchess and her wish is his command.

"Sterling, I am going to ask one more time. Where is she?" Sterling can hear the rage tipping to its breaking point in Eliot's voice. He knows that Eliot knows but he needs to hear the words. Sterling drops the cigarette to the ground crushing the coal beneath his heel. "Eliot, she had to. You knew what Damien was going to do. You knew what Grace was going to do." Sterling turns towards Eliot. "Now the question is, what are you going to do." Sterling tosses the pack of cigarettes at Eliot before turning and walking into the night. Eliot catches the pack. He watches Sterling depart before picking up the pack to take in the scent. He was already missing Grace from their last encounter and the current mystery is only adding to the longing within Eliot.

Flashback:

Eliot watches as Lady Charlotte exits the French doors onto the terrace. Her goal appears mundane as she places the champagne flute onto the stone railing to take in a view of the surrounding gardens with a sigh. As Eliot continues his watch as he waits for the right moment, he realizes that this perplexing creature is in her element, she is obviously one of the manor born. Lady Charlotte moved about the crowd with the ease of a either a debutante or a diplomat, Eliot laughs, perhaps it takes a bit of both with this crowd. He decides to make his move appearing a few feet from Lady Charlotte on the terrace. He takes in the look of his mark. She is dressed in an elegant vintage style dress with pearls strung around her neck. Lady Charlotte acknowledges him with a knowing smile. It is time for another dance with Eliot Spencer.

Lady Charlotte reaches into her bag as Eliot's instincts kick in. Eliot's immediate reaction is to rush Lady Charlotte, grabbing her into his arms. Lady Charlotte drops the bag as she stumbles forward in Eliot's grasp. Lady Charlotte reveals that she was reaching for a cigarette case. All Eliot saw in the rush towards her was the glint of metal. He assumed it was a gun. With other's joining them on the terrace, Lady Charlotte pulls out a cigarette from the sliver case. Eliot retrieves the fallen lighter,offering a flame to her as would be the expectation of a gentleman in her company. Lady Charlotte gently hands Eliot her champagne flute. Without a thought, Eliot takes a long drag from the glass. Within a moment, Eliot again realizes that he has not thought of every contingency when dealing with the Lady Charlotte. As his vision blurs, Lady Charlotte leans in and gently kisses his cheek. All Eliot can utter is "Why."

"Because it still works... and it's elegant, my dearest Eliot until next time, Love, say Good Night Gracie." Eliot is forced to take a seat on the stone to gain his fading balance. As he glances up he finds that Lady Charlotte has disappeared yet again into thin air. He takes in the scent of the lingering smoke. Cardamom and clove mixed with fine tobacco. Memorable and refined. A simple retrieval is becoming quite complicated and Moreau is fortunately still amused by the fact that Lady Charlotte has presented Eliot with a challenge, but he is also growing impatient that Eliot has not yet produced the package.

"Eliot..." Eliot is brought back to the moment by the sound of his name. He finds himself staring into Sophie's eyes and her expression tell him what what she has to say is important. "We need to be careful using the Italian to get into San Lorenzo. I just have a bad feeling about this." Eliot's concerns flow from Sophie's lips. She watched him from afar when he left. Eliot's brooding expression told her that Eliot did not meet with Grace.

Eliot looks down at the pack to see Grace's handwriting across the picture. "You will never be so lost that you can't be found." Eliot tucks the pack into his pocket as he and Sophie head back to join the team for the trip. Grace's note means that she is not far away.

In San Lorenzo:

Eliot has made contact with General and is happy to see him well cared for. The silver lining to an ugly situation was that Eliot could assure him that his family was safe and in the care of the Duchess. The General informs Eliot that their dear Duchess is again in a gilded cage from the rumors circulating in the jail. The General knows the Duchess. He knows that this is of her choosing but he also knows how much Eliot means to their Duchess. "Eliot, there are times when a well placed pawn is more powerful than a King." The General's words echo in his head. The General was telling him that Grace is safe.