As arranged earlier, Slim and Nirumpam visited the freehold in the store room of Nim's parents' shop, in order to determine what the "rat inspectors" had been doing there. Nirumpam was nabbed by his father to serve in the shop, so Slim investigated alone. He later reported that he had found a sigil of someone in Baroness Mordren's retinue, and that he had erased it.
At Waldren House, Slim advised Lady Catherine and Nirumpam that a decision on who was going to hold the freehold should be made as soon as possible. Lady Catherine told Nirumpam to talk to whomever he would concerning their opinions on this matter, and decide at the end of that day.
Meanwhile it seemed that Richard and Robert were behaving true to form, discussing how they might best steal a bank. Not rob a bank, but steal one.
Jacoby, returning from shopping, was informed of the freehold matters, and strongly stated his disbelief that Baroness Mordren would make so audacious a move as allow one of her followers to mark the freehold. It was then decided that Lady Catherine go to court the next day, and there stake her claim for the freehold - without mentioning Nirumpam, and leaving the matter of actual holding until Lady Catherine's claim was ratified. Nirumpam was aware of and agreed to this plan.
The next morning, Lady Catherine, accompanied by Jacoby, Stig, Nirumpam, and Robert visited the court in Hampstead Heath. There they saw the full glory of Sidhe might in England, though the court was presided over by the Troll Lord Chancellor. Various other events occured, and finally it was time for Lady Catherine to step forward. She made her claim on the freehold, and presented Stig to the assembled nobles. Afterwards, she stopped to talk with Madame Rain, the only member of Baroness Mordren's freehold present. It was a brief conversation, in which Madame Rain subtly insulted Lady Catherine and everyone in her retinue. Lady Catherine was also insulted by a Gwydion Sidhe, and numerous remarks were made about the rarity of her appearances at court.