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Rue, as always game for a new experience, took it and ate it with alacrity

All the i ladies, who had no doubt eaten the same on more than one occasion before Percy had coers, gasped They watched her with round eyes, anticipating tragic gastronoh but, in truth, it was spicy "Goodness," she said, politely, to Mrs Godwit, "that’s quite lovely It is a bit hot Might I have a spot of that rateful for Rue’s coestured at one of the staff to pour

Pri a bit of the curry herself She coughed a little, but carried it off beautifully, "Delicious"

Neither young lady fainted, came over with sonment

Percy harrumphed "It must not be all that spicy" He broke a bit off the bread and, pinky up in the air, dipped the tip tentatively into the curry sauce Then he tried a tiny nibble

Pure chaos ensued

"Argh – water – I’ ladies closed in, offering hi cloths, and scented handkerchiefs

Percy screwed his eyes shut and grabbed his throat, wheezing and coughing

"Give the uffaw "Can’t you see he’s suffering?"

Percy cracked one watering eye to glare at hi the rabbed Percy, just as a caring older sister ot you ho ladies all twittered objections and sighed in distress As indeed did Priair Pack departed, would have been happy to redirect her flirting back at the hapless Lieutenant Broadwattle for the rest of the evening

Rue, on the other hand, wanted to read her coded e Or at least try to And there see to approach either her or Pri their farewells

They walked back to the ship, Percy hacking draotiate anything with you? As if you wereto do with tea perhaps?" Rue asked

Prim said, "One of the officers tried to invite me to tea tomorroithout a chaperone I turned him down, of course I have more of a care for your reputation than you do mine"

"I am sorry about that But it was necessary"

"Mmm, that’s always your excuse"

"I talked with Dama’s contact, finally, but I wonder what happened to Miss Sekhotiator He seems never to have shown up, which "

"He probably here all good tea negotiators go Bottom of a cup"

"Pri reached such a crescendo that they could no longer carry on a civil conversation Many of those acquainted with the Tunstell twins believed only Prim had inherited their parents’ flare for drama But Rue knew full well that Percy could produce more than his fair share of theatricality when called upon