BOOK 4: PREPARATION / CH. 19:PREPARATIONS
SATURDAY EVENING. 9TH DECEMBER
[Hi, Bella. Can I be nosey about your day?] Eliza called.
[I'm sure I can't stop you. I had a wonderful day, but I think I'm scaring Trevor, or at least worrying him.]
[Oh?]
[I want more. More hugs, more kisses, more emotion from him. We might have touched the edge of feedback once, and I guess I over-reacted. He was acting a bit scared for a while after that.] [How did you over-react?]
[Urm, but bursting into tears. I've no idea why.]
[Hmm. Bella, you're a physical contact sort of person, aren't you? Thump the bad guys, hug friends?]
[I guess so.]
[I'm no expert, and I'm certainly not digging into your mind without you asking me to, but don't you think it might just be that you've been looking forward to hugs and kisses and feedback would mean they were going to be out of reach? Would that explain both bits?]
[Probably.]
[So, other than scaring him, how did it go?]
[Well, I almost ruptured his stomach, but that was only because he surprised me.]
[You did what to him?]
[He leapt out behind me. I did a back kick, and he caught my foot, before I could even connect! Can you imagine? He just sidestepped and held it. I know the power I put into that kick. It was a real disable-an-attacker kick; and he caught it, as though I was a total novice!]
[I'm not sure I understand, Bella.]
[I guess I'm saying that I think he'd beat me in unarmed combat. He's got the reactions you'd probably expect, but which surprised me, and far more strength than I've got.]
[Ah. And is that important?]
[I'm not sure. It's... unexpected, I guess. He says he doesn't compete in competitions, but he's good.]
[So, does that mean you'd be able to spar against one another?]
[Hmm. Maybe. That's also probably complex. It might not be a good idea. I'd have to ask an expert.]
[At the very least, you'd be able to train for when you don't get a mental warning. I wouldn't mind betting you risk being over-reliant on the power.]
[You're probably right.] Bella admitted.
[So, apart from impressing you physically, what have you learned?]
[That he's been living frugally, and saving pots, that he normally camps when he goes hanging off cliffs, that I'm an idiot, and he needs to talk to John.]
[Why do you say you're an idiot?]
[Because I told him early this morning that I wasn't going to marry him before the impact, or accept a proposal from him until he'd talked to John or someone else at IHM, and right now I want to be able to accept a proposal whenever he asks, especially if that's soon, and then elope the following weekend.]
[So, in other words, you're fallen head over heals for him and you're currently riding an emotional wave that's almost entirely impervious to logic?]
[{grin}I guess so.]
[I know the feeling, but I must say it fades with wedding planning. Now I just want the wedding to be over so we can get on with learning to live together.]
[It's pretty intoxicating at the moment.]
[I know. And so now you're going to pray lots and you're thinking of putting yourself on the inactive list because you're not going to be able to concentrate tomorrow?]
[Actually, I told him I'd be away, and that if he dared show up I'd probably be honour-bound to stun him and tie him up to keep me from being distracted from protecting you. But yes, I'll have to declare myself unstable if I can't sleep or if I can't keep my mind off him in the morning. Praying sounds like a good idea though.]
[How did he take that warning?]
[He gave me a kiss, and said I was wise. Me!]
[You are, relatively speaking. But changing the subject, did he analyse his way to identifying me?]
[Yes. You gave him far too many clues, especially telling him you'd given him too many already — that meant you'd spoken to him as well as given the announcement.]
[Oh, me and my big mouth.]
[And he's 95% certain about Albert too.]
[Well, that keeps things simple, anyway. And he must know how to keep secrets, or he wouldn't be in Analysis.]
[He won't be any more, apparently. He's going to be in a new department; of one.]
[Oh? The 'questions to Communications' thing, that's him?]
[You know about it?]
[Maria discussed it with their majesties recently.]
[Maria sent him a question for me to answer along with the note about his assignment.]
[Well, no point in sending two messages when one can reach both of you.]
[She did send two, actually. His was sent first, but I read mine as soon as it arrived.]
[As you've been trained to do. Whereas he was ignoring his wrist unit so he could concentrate on one problem at a time. As I expect he's been trained to do.]
[Are you calling me a problem?]
[Not in yourself. But wooing you? I'm sure he's doing a lot of thinking.]
[Yes, I think he is. But... I need to ask you about something if that's OK.]
[Yes?]
[I think it might even be an ethics committee question, and I'm trying to work out if I can ask it in such a way that I can give Maria a response without the individual or individuals concerned knowing what's being considered.]
[Ooh, this sounds like quite a challenge, and you've had a busy day.]
[It is. I have, and I don't think I can work out how to ask it.]
[Do you need to ask now?]
[I think I do, yes. Too many questions to buzz round my brain otherwise. I'll just ask straight. You do know George and Karen are applying to the Civil Service?]
[Yes.]
[I guess that Maria has been thinking about where they might assign them eventually, and Trevor's new department occurred to her. And it certainly seems to me that they'd be pretty good there, assuming he can make it work. Looking for patterns and gaps in data seems up right their street. But generally, is a married couple in a small department a good thing? Would it work? As long as Trevor's there, it looks like they'd have a team leader who they could contact wherever they are in the world. That's... efficient, potentially really useful, but is it ethical? Is it permissible to prefer them to others, because of their gift? Is it sensible to suggest that they might ever communicate with their manager using something as intimate, special and holy as the gift? And in any case, would it be right for them to be effectively put in a position where they're expected to tell their manager they have the gift, and in certain circumstances they'd possibly be expected to use the gift and there'd also be the temptation to use their gift to short-circuit the legal process, or to ask questions they know the answer to?]
[Wow. No wonder you thought there were too many questions. The easy one is couples in the same work-place. I've seen plenty of examples. It adds an extra dimension, but yes, it works, as long as they're on good terms and as no one is asking them to compete against each other or anything stupid like that.]
[On good terms? You mean the gift doesn't stop arguments?]
[Not according to Sarah, no. But... it does normally help them get resolved quickly.]
[Praise God for that!]
[Amen. Next issue... telling people isn't something Karen's particularly worried about, it seems. At least, she tells me that she told a plane-load of soldiers about having the gift. I don't know about George.]
[Thanks, I didn't think she was very shy about it, but wasn't sure.]
[Now, as to being assigned on the basis of having the gift... That sounds very dodgy to me. I think the case could fairly easily be made that having the power would be something that could be part of a role description. I'm not sure that the role would be in Trevor's patch, though.]
[Hmm. No. Me neither. And what about the whole using the gift to find out what questions to ask? ]
[I'd say it's probably bad news. They could be accused of turning into thought police. On the other hand, they're both entirely capable of refusing to do things if they're worried about the ethics, so I don't think I'd have any worries there.]
[So we're just back to the question of why them not anyone else?] Bella asked.
[Yes, I think so. Somewhere out of the public gaze like analysis would probably be a good place for them though. ]
[I'd assumed they'd be heading for the diplomatic service.]
[Apparently they're a difficult fit, Karen was saying; far too young to be senior, too many high-profile relatives to be anonymous underlings.]
[A tricky problem I guess. I'm glad it's not my problem. What do you think about using the gift to talk to their manager?]
[I'm using it to talk to my friend. Is that appropriate? I think it is. We can talk about things faster, more privately. It's their call, though. It has to stay that way.]
[That... that sounds very reasonable. Thanks. One final question... Looking back it seems to me that Sarah heard Trevor's prayer. Or at least, she answered it, when she bullied me into opening up to Trevor about how I felt. Not that I'm complaining. Does that sound, oh I don't know, reasonable to you?]
[Well, you dumped me in Albert's lap, so that's only fair. I'm not complaining either, by the way.]
[No, I mean the hearing people's prayers. Did God let her hear him praying, or what happened there?]
[Sorry, I guessed that was what you meant. I was giving myself time to think. Can I pass on that one? I really don't know what happened there. Why don't you ask her?]
[Nervous, I guess.]
[Of what? Sarah?]
[No, predestination. Visions of the future, that sort of thing.]
[Oh! Of course. Sorry. Would you like me to ask her if there's a simple explanation not involving divine intervention?]
[Well, if you're sure it's no trouble?]
[Not to me. I'll just see if she's free to talk.]
[Thanks!] Bella thought.
Eliza thought to Sarah, who was indeed free to talk. [Sarah, I've got a question from Bella. She said that what you told her to say answered Trevor's prayer, and she was wondering how that happened, and I think she's really hoping the answer isn't that God passed on that message.]
[Oh! No. Not really. I guess I'd better do some explaining.]
[If you could. She still gets a bit nervous about prophesies.]
[I'll do it now.] Sarah replied and immediately called to Bella.
[Bella? I hear you're getting nervous.]
[Well, not nervous, exactly. Just... did you somehow personally hear Trevor's prayer, or did God tell you to tell me to tell him he was hopeful? Or what happened?]
[Well, the short answer is not exactly to both of those options. But, well, it could have been God, I suppose. Or it could have been me.]
[Could you explain?]
[Yes, of course. Urm... where to start.... You know there are different depths we can listen using the gift, don't you?]
[Yes.]
[There are also different amounts we can focus. We can listen to just one person's thoughts, or we can sort of focus our 'eyes and ears' in different places. For some reason, I'm not quite sure why, when I was talking to you I focussed on your ears instead of your mind. If I do that to someone with the gift, then I hear thoughts directed to the area they're in — it's how we hold a group conversation. I've never done it to someone who didn't have the gift before.]
[And that made a difference?]
[I guess, and this is just a guess, that when I do that then it's as if I'm virtually putting myself into the place where you are. It's not the same as looking at where you are, or looking at who's there with you, but it's obviously more that the normal talking thing. I was vaguely aware of people's thoughts near you — a bit like the pain without pain if that makes sense.]
[Urm, not really.]
[Well we now know that the pain is the result of having a ridiculously sensitive receiver, getting overloaded by too much noise.]
[Yes, we do now.]
[Right. I've been doing some more experimenting. Blame it on my science training. It seems that, probably because of the pain, I can get insights that John can't — if I check where people are, then I notice others there too. They're a bit like a pale shadow, but they're there. John doesn't see them, he needs to take a separate step of seeing who's in the room.]
[OK, I'm following you. And what was that about the pain?]
[Well, what you asked about filters: at lunch yesterday, I tried listening hard really hard. It was a bit like holding your breath; you can't do it for long. But I think it's possible to reduce your filters, for a few seconds, and I was getting some impressions about what people were thinking. It was fuzzy, like a very weak radio signal, but I got something. It was also noisy and I was relived when I stopped trying and my filters came back up. But I did get something. When I focussed on your ears, it was like that; maybe a bit clearer. I could hear you loud and clear, but in the background there was impression of some thoughts around you. Trevor's confusion about what he was feeling was a strong thought, and he was near you. As for his hopefulness, well he seemed to want to know so much that I took a quick peek at his skin to see how he was feeling. That's only as intrusive as an expert face-reader looking at someone, really. We don't get thoughts, just surface emotions and if someone's feeling sick or something like that.]
[So, you mean if I'd let down my filters, I'd have maybe heard him wondering and if I'd looked at him I'd have seen him being hopeful?]
[Possibly. Assuming you can let down your filters. I don't know. Like I said, it wasn't particularly pleasant — and I certainly don't recommend it. It gave me a bit of a headache when I tried.]
[Thanks, Sarah. {relief} So it wasn't that God told you to eavesdrop, or anything scarily supernatural like that.]
[Urm, only as supernatural as me using this spiritual gift.]
[I'm inconsistent aren't I?]
[A bit. I guess you're used to talking like this, and it doesn't seem unusual any more.]
[Spot on. {Hesitation, concern, determination.} There's something else I'd like to ask you though.]
[Yes? Trevor related?]
[How did you guess?]
[Your emotional control's a bit wobbly at the moment. I've noticed those symptoms before.]
[OK. Urm, yes. It's about Trevor. I think, no, I'm certain that he needs to talk to someone. By the sound of it, the psych-computers have given up on him.]
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[Oh. But he's not too messed up for you to feel strongly about him?]
[No. He's fine... just as long as no one thinks of him getting on a plane.]
[And if they do?]
[His brother tried once, when Trevor was a teen. By the sound of it, his panic-reaction ended up with his brother in hospital with a smashed jaw and broken nose.]
[So... either Trevor doesn't go anywhere by plane or he gets his panic fixed?]
[Yes. That's basically it. He told me this morning and I went and made a stupid declaration.]
[Oh?]
[That I wasn't going to accept any proposal until he'd at least tried.]
[Woo! Steady on! He's proposed already?] Sarah was surprised.
[Not yet. But... we're pretty serious about each other.]
[After one day, and no divine intervention? Are you making up for lost time, or something?]
[Well, he did pray once that God would show him who he ought to marry by her offering to help him do lots of shopping. Which I did yesterday.]
[Well, that's not the most clear-cut test, but if you're willing...]
[Willing? Right now I'm floating around the light fittings, emotionally speaking.]
[Enjoy it, Bella, just don't be too surprised if it doesn't last too long.]
[Has it gone already for you two?]
[Not gone gone, but... I can see his bad points too now. He tells me that no one can stay love-crazy for more than a year or so. Crazy's not real love, it's just brain-chemistry. Doesn't mean it's not fun though. So, back to the topic, you're crazy about Trevor and he's got this nasty phobia?]
[Yes. He's agreed to apply to see someone, and that probably means someone at IHM. We don't know how long it'll take, but I was wondering, Is it likely to be John?]
[Possibly. Do you think it should be?]
[Well, I'm imagining that thing's would go faster with John having the gift..... If you're asking for an unbiased opinion about how urgent it is to get him a clean bill of health...]
[{grin} I should talk to someone else, I know. And so should you, about if John's the best person to do it, come to think of it. Was Trevor a Christian when he smashed his big brother's jaw?]
[I'm not sure. I think so. I guess I just don't really understand why he'd react that violently.]
[I'll talk to John. Obviously any of us with the gift could find out what's behind that panic... I'm just not sure if that's as important as the what to do about it now. I presume he's been praying about it?]
[Good question. I'll ask him.]
[And it's not fear of heights?]
[He goes mountain climbing. In November, even.] Bella pointed out.
[I guess not then. Interesting case! I'll talk to John.]
[Thanks.]
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SUNDAY, 10TH DECEMBER
All in all, Eliza felt that Albert handled the whole topic well, and she hoped the congregation would agree. He'd admitted that he had suffered very little, and then asked her to get up to share her own experience of the kidnapping, and how her prayers had changed. She'd edited out a lot of the gory details, of course. Then Albert had spoken of how God had answered Eliza's prayers and those of others. He'd spoken of martyrs throughout history, and also about Jesus' suffering. As a conclusion, he said “We live in a fallen world full of fallen people. Some of those people are truly evil, and sometimes they even seek to make God's people suffer. But sometimes our suffering cannot be attributed to the sin of a particular person. Some comfortable people, over the centuries, have found it surprising that Christians might ever suffer anything. I think most of us, when our turn comes to suffer ask 'Why me? What went wrong?' But shouldn't we instead be surprised if we never suffer? Shouldn't we instead ask 'Is my faith really so weak that God needs to wrap me in cotton wool?' Thanks be to God that he knows what we can stand, and can strengthen us by it. Let us also give thanks for the times when we do not suffer, and rejoice when we do that our suffering will not last long. And even if it lasts until we leave this suffering world, we can rejoice that we will then be with our Lord, who will wipe away our tears.”
[Don't forget to announce the final hymn.] she prompted, when he looked like he was about to step away from the lectern.
“Oops. I almost forgot two important things. Firstly, I hope you won't all rush away, and will stay for tea, coffee and I believe there may be biscuits or even cake too. Secondly, I need to announce our closing hymn. I'm sure the band will correct me if I'm mistaken, but I believe it is 'How Great the Father's Love'.”
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“Bella, am I allowed to offer you a cup of tea?” Eliza asked, after the service.
“I'd love one, but its not really a good idea when there's a crowd.”
“Then, I have the perfect plan. I need to talk to my bridesmaids anyway. Caroline, can you grab Tamula, Victoria and a plate of biscuits, please? I'd like to talk wedding plans in the back room.”
“Oh, OK.”
“No great secrets, so boyfriends and mothers as appropriate are welcome.” Eliza added, seeing Tamula holding hands with Rodger.
Caroline followed her look. “Well! That's new. I'd heard she'd made a commitment earlier this week, but....”
“Rodger's probably rejoicing that he can now introduce the church to the woman he's been waiting for.”
“Tamula's the mystery woman? Well, that makes sense then; he's been waiting long enough. But how did you know that?”
“She told me her side of it, soon after I talked you into being my bridesmaid. What have you done with Richard?”
“I sent him to get me a cup of tea. But I think he got kidnapped by some of the youth group about the Christmas play. Oh, they might be in the back room actually.”
“I'll go and check.” Eliza said, and headed for the back room.
“Nice to be back?” Bella asked.
“Very. Really, this was the closest thing I had to a family after Mum died, you know.”
“And you've been away a long time.”
“Exactly.” Eliza agreed, then seeing Bod McDaniel, asked “Bob? Do you know if the back room is free?”
“Oh, Hi Eliza. I'm not sure, I think the youth group might have claimed it. Thank you for what you and Albert spoke about. It was well said. Does prince Albert preach often?”
“No. This was only the second time as far as I know. The first time was a few years ago at his university.”
“Please tell him a big thank you from the elders. I don't think the others would disagree if I said we'd be happy to hear him speak again ”
“I'll tell him. I'm not sure how we arrange another sermon without getting so many of your colleagues turning up that there's no space for the congregation, though.”
“Well, I'll promise not to spoil my exclusive story.”
“You're going to write it up?” Eliza had expected he would.
“If you don't mind. Of course, I'll get it checked by our Security friends to make sure it doesn't say too much.”
“I don't mind, Bob. Thanks for getting it checked.” Eliza replied “I'll go and see if the back room's free.”
“There's always the prayer room.” Bob said.
“I think that's busy. Fred's talking to someone Bella knows.”
“Oh, the young couple?” Bob asked.
“Naeel and Jazmin.” Bella supplied.
“Then I ought to be there too.” Bob admitted “I didn't know where Fred had taken them, I was about to try his office.”
“I saw them going that way, anyway.” Eliza said.
“Well, take care, Eliza.”
“I'll try.”
“Which way to the back room?”
“This way, but if the youth have it, then I'm going to need to think of somewhere else.”
“If this is just so I can drink some tea, I'm OK really.” Bella said.
“Not just for that. I'd like to talk to them without too many interruptions.”
“Eliza, do thank your handsome prince for us. It was well said, very well said.” said Mabel, an elderly member of the congregation who'd befriended Eliza when she was first at the church “And I've got a message from Victoria. She said you'd said you wanted to talk to her after the meeting?” Eliza nodded. “She said that the youth group are practising in the back room, and so she said she'd meet you in the crèche.”
“Oh wonderful. Thank you, Mabel!”
“Now, what's this I see about you having a cousin?”
“I've got two, actually, Mabel. Well, a first cousin and a third cousin too. Both on my father's side, both Christians.”
“Well! Praise God.”
“I do!”
“Mabel, I was meaning to ask. Would you and Derek like to come to my wedding? I know his health wasn't too great last I'd heard.”
“Oh, he's recovering, praise God. He'd have been here if he'd slept better last night. He'll be sorry he didn't come when I tell him you were here. You're sure you can invite us?”
“Yes, of course. Her majesty's asked me to invite at least fifty people who won't embarrass the nation by turning up looking scruffy.”
“I'll warn Derek to wear his best suit, not that he would have done otherwise.”
“Thank you. Now I'd better find Caroline before she gets roped into the Christmas production.”
“She's just over there.” Mabel pointed out.
“Great, thanks.” Eliza made a beeline for Caroline, Rodger and Tamula.
“Vic's waiting for us up in the crèche, apparently.” Eliza told the others. “I just need to get a cup of tea, then I'll join you.”
“I'll get you one Eliza,” Rodger offered “You go have your discussion. Anyone else?”
“I'd love one.” Bella said. “Milk, no sugar.”
“Me too please.” Tamula added.
“Coffee with cream and one sugar, please, if it's not too much.” Caroline requested.
“I think I can cope with that. I'll dig up a tray from somewhere.”
“Try next to the microwave.” Caroline offered.
“I will.”
Eliza saw that Albert had finally escaped from conversation with the musicians where she'd left him, and was coming in her direction, with Nigel. “I'm guessing that Albert and Nigel will be joining us, Rodger, so if you think you can fit another two cups on your tray....?”
“Of course.”
“Albert, I'm heading off to the balcony — there's a crèche area up there — to discuss dresses and things with my bridesmaids. Open meeting, and it struck me you ought to meet them too. Rodger's getting the teas and coffees.”
“Why don't I help him then?” Albert suggested.
“I was going to look for a tray.” Rodger said “If you can find a second one, we can share the load.” Albert insisted. “That way the ladies can have a bit of time without us.”
“We'll leave you to it, then.” Eliza said. “See you when you've hunted down trays and drinks. This way, Bella.”
----------------------------------------
“Finally!” Eliza said, once they'd sat down. “Thanks for the idea of being up here, Victoria.”
“We've even got ammunition if they boys start getting rowdy.” Caroline noticed, indicating the bucket of soft toys.
“I hope they're better behaved than that. Now, before they come. Any questions about the dresses? You've all been measured, and you've made some choices about style by now, I hope?”
There were nods. “I didn't know she'd come with a laser scanner as well as a tape measure.”
“For what it's worth, nor did I. I guess the idea is that it should fit really well.”
“I hope I don't grow out of it.” Victoria said.
“Didn't the dress-maker tell you?” Eliza asked.
“What?”
“All the styles she suggested for you had growing room.”
“That's good news. So it ought to last for University balls and such like?”
“It should.” Eliza agreed. “You know where you're hoping to go?”
“I had it all planned out by the end of Summer... Only there's apparently an asteroid heading that way now.”
“Oh. Restoration?”
“Yes.”
“That's tricky. You must a second choice? Surely.”
“Yes, but it was a long way second. I liked the look of the course in Restoration.”
“Well, if you like I could ask my cousins if there's a similar course elsewhere. One graduated from there last year and the other's just found out that because of the university closing for the impact her final exams will now start straight after her honeymoon.”
“She's getting married before the end of university? That's... rare.” Caroline said.
“I think the word you're looking for is impatient.” Eliza supplied.
“And what are you two, then?” countered Tamula.
“We're putting the country's needs first.” Eliza said primly. “And wishing we had more time to get everything organised.”
“Well you could always wait a year or two.” Tamula said.
“Not long enough.” Caroline replied. “If the impact really wipes out the whole city then it'll take more than a year or two to rebuild it.”
“Especially since there are already people saying we shouldn't just rebuild what was there, but should 'seize the opportunity and plan the new city properly'.” Eliza added. “Thus delaying the rebuilding by another year or five while they argue about what a proper modern city should look like.”
“OK. But why do you need to wait until the rebuilding is done?” Victoria asked.
“Because there will be people all over the networks grumping about our wedding distracting from the rebuilding effort if we have it after the impact. If we have it before then we won't get nearly as many grumps.”
“As long as there's no sign that it got in the way of preparing for the impact.” Tamula pointed out.
“Why do you think we're not waiting until the last minute?” Eliza asked.
“Oh. So everything's public relations?” Caroline asked.
“Not everything. I'm actually looking forward to the wedding day.”
“I should hope so too. Or are you marrying him for the extra research opportunities?” Tamula asked.
“What research opportunities? I've had about three days to work on my thesis work since I came out of hiding.” Eliza complained.
“So it's not all beautiful dresses and parties?” Victoria asked.
“No. It's meetings, committees and more meetings. Ask Bella, she's my witness.”
“And the person who makes sure you don't go out looking like a shrubbery.”
Bella commented from where she's stationed herself at the door.
“Hey, I only looked like a shrubbery once.” Eliza said.
“And would you have gone out like that?”
“I didn't know the plant had disintegrated all over me.”
“And you didn't check, either.” Bella insisted.
“I was busy.”
“I rest my case, ladies. As Eliza's bridesmaids, you're going to have work to do.”
“What's this about, Eliza?”
“When I moved into my current flat, there was a plant which someone had thoughtfully left next to a radiator. It fell apart all over me when I tried taking it to the waste-chute.”
“Don't you have servants to do that sort of thing?” Victoria was shocked.
“No, Victoria, we're a very modern monarchy. No servants. Oh, there's lots of technical advisors, and a cleaning staff for all but private rooms. Plus there's a catering staff for official occasions, but His majesty makes excellent deserts, and I can highly recommend her majesty's chicken curry.”
“And your handsome prince really helps with the dishes? I thought that was a put-up job for the introduction to Bob's piece.” Caroline asked.
“Albert really does the dishes sometimes, but not when we're out on dates. Part of which is public relations. As is my wardrobe and all sorts of other irksome things.”
“I wondered.” Tamula said. “You're not allowed to dress how you like?”
“I'm allowed but there are all sorts of guidelines and dire consequences.”
“Oh? What like?”
“Like accidentally promoting a company if I always seem to be seen in their products, or ruining another one if I'm perceived to be avoiding them. But I am insisting that I'm not going to throw things away just because I've worn them once already. If Albert can wear the same suit for a year, why can't I have a few favourite outfits, carefully chosen to avoid upsetting balance sheets?”
“Good for you.” Tamula said.
“And is it true that the designers are fighting over who supplies your going away outfit?” Victoria asked.
Eliza groaned. “It was.”
“Was? You've decided? Who's the winner?” Victoria asked.
“The winner is common sense.” Eliza said.
“Eh?”
“I've told them to stop it, I've refused all offers. I'm not going to make or break someone's career just because I did or didn't pick them.”
“So what are you going to do?” Caroline asked.
“I'm going to commission some trusted accomplices to sneakily purchase an outfit for me, combining bits from different shops.”
“Ooh! Who are the accomplices?” Tamula asked.
“You three.”
“You're joking!” Victoria said, flabbergasted.
“No, I'm not. Caroline, I'm leaving you in charge of colours. You know what I can wear. I suggest you get Tam and Vic to do the purchasing, since we don't want the assistants to know what's going on. I'm going to want something smart but fit for the middle of January. Long sleeved jacket, pretty scarf, nice warm jumper, long skirt. Not trousers.”
“You never did like trousers.” Tamula said.
“No. I've got prejudices.”
“You don't want us to get you footwear too, do you?” Victoria asked.
“No. I've found some nice warm boots. Black leather, Caroline, if that affects anything.”
“This sounds like fun.” Victoria said.
“This sounds like hard work.” Tamula corrected. “We're going to have to bounce ideas back and forward aren't we?”
“Just between yourselves. I'm trusting you. Just remember that no two things are allowed to be from the same shop.”
“Where are your boots from?” Caroline asked.
“Don't worry, they only do footwear.”
“I'm not worrying, but I do need something to go with the pretty dress you're buying me. The dressmaker said something about calf-length boots being good with the design I chose, and I don't have any.”
“And then she laser-scanned your feet. Footwear is part of all the outfits.”
“Oh no!” Tamula said.
“What's wrong?”
“I've a nasty feeling there were high heels in the design I ended up with. I hope they're not compulsory.”
“I hope not, too. I told her I didn't want anyone to be in high heels.” Eliza said, making a note on her wrist unit.
“I like high heels.” Victoria protested.
“Sorry Vic, there might be snow or ice. High heels complicate things, and make it a bit more likely that the train gets dropped. Now, moving on to other matters. The unavoidable waltz.”
“What waltz?” Victoria asked, surprised.
“It's traditional, I'm afraid. A suitable time after the meal, Albert and I will start to waltz, then my bridesmaids leave their seats and pick on a pre-arranged or unsuspecting partner and join in.”
“And it has to be a waltz?”
“Afraid so.”
“I guess I need to learn then,” Victoria groaned, “But I just get up and ask anyone to dance with me?”
“Well, you can't have Albert, he'll be dancing with me. And if you want to dance with the king, that might be a breach of protocol, or something, but I can check.”
“Me? Ask to dance with the King?” Victoria asked, amazed. “I'd never dare!”
“It's probably a long time since he's danced with a teenager who can't waltz, but it's not exactly an opportunity that Victoria is going to get very often.”
observed Bella.
“Could you ask, Eliza if it'd be OK? I'll practice every day!”
“I'm not sure, Vic.” Eliza wavered, wondering what the King was going to say. Bella opened the door to Rodger, who was followed by the Prince and Nigel, “Why not ask for expert advice?”
“All right I will. Albert, what do you think?”
“I might think it's a wonderful idea, or I might not, depending on the subject. What am I answering?”
“I was just telling Victoria here about the waltz, and how she could choose who to dance with. She was thinking that there aren't many young ladies who get the chance to waltz with their monarch.”
“You mean, out of all the eligible bachelors there: heirs to various thrones, businesses and fortunes, you'd like to dance with my dad?” Albert asked.
“I don't know who the heirs and so on are, but everyone knows who your father is, your highness.” Victoria pointed out.
“Unless it be some unforgivable breach of protocol or something like that?” Eliza asked.
“I plead ignorance. I've no idea, sorry.” Albert answered “I'll ask.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Albert cringed. “If you're going to be dancing with my father, Victoria, then I think you should stop calling me sir. I do have a name, you know.”
“I didn't want to be disrespectful, s...” she managed to stop herself.
“Noted. Now please respect my feelings as well as my position. I hope you wouldn't think of calling Eliza 'Maam'?”
“Of course not!” Victoria said.
“Good. So, in the present company, I'm Albert. Who wanted the coffees?”
----------------------------------------
SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
Trevor looked at the time on his wrist unit once more; it was still too early. He knew it would be. After all, he'd last checked five minutes ago, and there was no way that two hours would pass in five minutes. Except yesterday, of course. Then it seemed that hours passed like very marvelously full and wonderful minutes.
“Sorry, Fido. It looks like I'm hopelessly in love and missing Bella enormously.”
Fido, of course wasn't missing Bella. She'd given him this wonderful bone, and he was going to give it his utmost attention. No matter if his master was moping.
“Shall we go for a walk to pass the time, Fido?” Trevor asked. Fido ignored him, and concentrated on gnawing the bone.
“You're no help.” Trevor said, getting ignored again. Trevor had already double-checked that he had packed everything, made sure that his camping stove was fueled, oiled and that the jet was clean. He was really running out of things to do, and what he wanted to do was talk to Bella. He'd resisted the lure of trying to write poetry so far — he knew he was a long way from anyone's idea of a good poet. So, what could he do? Then an idea struck him. Earlier that week, he'd found some tourist information about the holiday centre they were going to be going to. He'd thought that he'd look at it on Friday, but then the meeting had been announced and he hadn't had time to study it. It wasn't really work, and it might make a difference to next week. He sat down at his console and pulled up the maps and details. An hour and a half later, he was very glad he had started reading. He now knew about the different walks they ought to be taking, and he also felt that he now had some idea about how to get the best out of the wood burning stove. Or to give it it's full name, the multi-function batch-box rocket-bell stove. According to the manufacturer, it was a wonder of efficiency and state of the art clean-burning technology. The simple bit, well, almost the simple bit, was where the wood went. Surprise surprise, it went into the firebox. One firebox, one chimney. Those were the easy parts; the rest wasn't so easy. Reading on, he discovered how easy it was to turn wood into a smoke-making polluting fuel, and how, during the age of chaos some individuals had taken up the challenge of getting every last bit of energy out of it and ensuring that only carbon dioxide and water came out. Part of the recipe was the right amount of air at the right time and place. The most significant part was to make sure that nothing cooled the flames until they'd burned all the components they had. So, there was an insulated fire box, which led to an insulated 'heat riser' where just the right amount of extra air was added so secondary combustion could take place, and then, once all that was coming out of the heat riser was just hot gas, the stove could heat a hot plate for cooking, heat the room quickly or store heat to release slowly overnight and for heating water. Or do all at the same time. He took some notes as to which valves did what. That was relatively obvious, but the clean burning wouldn't happen without the complexity of the air inlets. Some of them were just to shut the intakes so the hard-won heat would stay in the cabin, but they did need to be opened. Another set were to alter how the air met the fuel, with different settings for the start, middle and final stages of the burn. Not too complex, but easy to get wrong, he assumed. More notes. And then there were special procedures for starting it when the weather outside wasn't actually very cold. It wasn't actually complicated, he decided. But it was all new. And reading the technical description of a worst-case scenario, the warm-outside issue was a real risk that certainly needed to be avoided, he decided. There were safety features; it shouldn't be possible for the chimney to stall, partly smother the fire before flooding the cabin with the invisible killer, carbon monoxide. But, on the other hand, he was going to need to find or write some procedures for checking the safety valve was working, and ensure that the happy couple (or at least their security officers) took the warning seriously. Likewise the water heater. Water should flow through it at a certain rate, according to the manufacturer. Otherwise... he read on, otherwise meant there was a blockage. A blockage meant a small chance of someone's face meeting a jet of steam. And a far smaller chance of a steam explosion killing everyone in the cabin. It all came down to maintenance, he decided. Had the resort management been making sure that the relevant maintenance had happened? He made a note to look up the reports on the way there.
Now, those walks, which ones did he think looked the most romantic? Not just for himself and Bella, of course. But, if he wasn't looking for the benefit of his beloved, then it was work, and today was not a day for working. He took more notes, looking forward to sharing the views with Bella.