Page 39 (1/2)

Sophronia couldn’t say anything If she objected to his support of the normal path, she would insult Dimity If she condoned it, her own choices were in question Very nicely played She gave Felix a nod of credit

Sidheag, however, took offense After all, she was off to probable spinsterhood and a very abnormal life choice--nanny to a band of discredited olf soldiers She would have argued with Felix, but Sophronia put a hand to her ar jerked away and went to stare out the , annoyed noith both of them

We are exhausted by each other’s cos were apt to happen at house parties The only ones who see quarters ere Soap and Bu confined to engineering Plus, he was content to let Sophronia handle bickering aristocrats Bumbersnoot, on the other hand, was disposed to enjoy hiy quality

Sophronia wanted to ask Soap’s advice He was unofficial mayor of the sooties; how did he lead theht back over the course of their friendship, only now realizing how often he had given her counsel Had this untenable romantic affection of his destroyed that as well? What will I do without hier have any balance

Soap saw her looking at hi He tilted his head at her in query But there was no privacy to ask hi An uninformed decision had to be made Fortunately, uninformed decisions were Sophronia’s speciality

Sophronia said, into the silence of discontent that perreed that there are few people on this train, possibly only Monique and three others?"

"Sophronia, what are you planning?" wondered Di that tone in her friend’s voice

"Soap, how different are steaibles?"

"Not a great deal I believe the basics are prettyere doith the sooties, yes?"

"Of course, you knowof dirty, Felix gave Sidheag a very dirty look at that staterumbled

Sophronia nodded, decision made "Good I think we should steal this train"

Possibly as a result of being restless, possibly because they were accustoeous ideas, there was no outcry at such a bold statement Sophronia was a little disappointed

Everyone looked htful

"That sounds reasonable," said Di faster and straight toward ho up substantially

Even Soap, the voice of Sophronia’s reason, looked excited, if slightly peevish "I’ve never driven a train before"

Felix only blinked at them all in silent horrified wonder

They pooled their resources