Syd Fisher tended to time her visits to the rental palace for Songday, so as not to offend the staff, who I swear would have preferred Tennit's mother-in-law be allowed in through the tradesman's entrance. Have I mentioned that the cook's name was Cook, and the butler was Mr. Butler? Loudon is truly the most conservative, old-fashioned place in the entire Empire. Of course, Mother and Aunt Gwin had to have a bit of an altercation about the appropriateness of hosting Mrs. Fisher the first time she visited, but after the Owls got a taste of the woman's baking they were as eager to greet her on Songdays as we Cliffs were. I informed people of my invitation to Captain Copper at breakfast, and was not surprised that the notion of taking in this visitor was considered a pleasing addition to our household. A famous war hero houseguest was agreed to be quite a feather in our caps. I phrased my reasons for the invitation as a kindness to a man who I admired in a professional sense, but, of course, there was teasing about my taking this chance to court the man at close quarters.
