*** Beldamore Shire, two days after the letters to Elsa and Daisy, from Heathwell and Brendan respectively, were delivered to Hardbiscuit Cottage:
Tom Hillerman, a sturdy and reliable servant of the Fiddletons, was often delegated to carry out difficult or time-consuming tasks for the Marshwoods: a token of Sir Sean's esteem for his relatives. Today's business was easy and relaxing. Marjorie, little sister of the two Jane Austen-derived ladies who both enjoyed the esteem of capital-G Good Guys, wanted to return a satchel of books to "Uncle Sean," from whom she had borrowed them. Readyrough came along, so that on the way to the manor house Marjorie could ride on the wolfhound's back. Readyrough could have carried an adult person at need, so carrying a child of whom he was fond was no burden.
"Tell me if you would, Miss Marjorie: in what spirits are your sisters as respects their suitors?"
Marjorie had not been sworn to secrecy, wherefore she felt no qualms about replying directly. "Elsa is floating in paradise, looking forward to her wedding. But Daisy is miffed at the General for staying away after he won his battle."
Sean's mood sobered. "Miffed, say you? Does Daisy realize that her husband-to-be is at work seeking to prevent future wars?"
"Mama tells her the same thing, but Daisy says that the General has done enough out there, and she deserves attention."
Sean thought: If enough prairie tribes united against us to penetrate deeply into this kingdom, I suspect that Miss Daisy Anne would not be pleased by the sort of attention they would accord her!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Near the geometric center of Pitcherton Palace was an open quadrangle, usually frequented by the monarch and her ladies in waiting. Trellises with flowering vines flanked each roof-edge; besides lending color, they would catch stray birdies when the women played what amounted to badminton. As we look in on Queen Juliet-Andrea, she was drinking an equivalent of lemonade with her eldest womanservant: Mrs. Falina Corman, wife to a guard sergeant.
"Falina: in deep confidence, what do you think of Count Petrovik?"
"Your Majesty, I believe that he is no more self-seeking than any other not-quite-highest-ranking nobleman, and probably less so than many."
"From what we know about his family, what do you think about them?"
"As far back as I'm aware, none of them ever greatly distinguished themselves in war, including the one war we and they ever fought with Tohaz; but neither did they disgrace themselves. And they have earned a favorable reputation in commerce."
Juliet-Andrea gazed up at the lattices. "Nothing positively disqualifying Petrovik. And his offering to renounce any prospect of himself reigning as a king would seem to speak well of his character."
"Unless he only did it for show, knowing that a foreign count would never have any chance of taking the throne anyway."
"I hate uncertainty."
