Wherein the prologue pays off somewhat. (Ch. 6)
“ 10:00 – The meeting’s appointed hour has come. So far, I, Berrington, Lawful, and Gertrude are placed at our regular seating. None of the dignitaries and court officials for whom this meeting has been scheduled have arrived. 10:07 – Gertrude has been staring at the gardener through the window for some minutes now. He’s looking a bit uncomfortable, as I would in his situation. Once you’ve earned Gertrude’s attention, it’s difficult to lose it. I suspect that in fact she’s looking on in approval of his masculinity, but I’m not confident enough in this to reassure the poor gardener. 10: 10 – Eddre has just walked in with a plate full of what seem to be jam pastries. Upon seeing the rank of the assorted company, she’s making an attempt at escaping without taking excessive attrition to her stores of carbohydrates. 10:12 – Eddre has been successfully lured into conversation with Berrington, his tactics unknown to me. Perhaps I’ll endeavor to learn something this time. After I’ve take