''Why shouldn't we poor working folks who have been laboring in the fields for hours lavish such things on you lazy members of the leisure class?'' the maid said, dropping the tray the last few centimeters onto the bed. Plates rattled, silverware tinkled, coffee sloshed from a delicate china cup into the saucer.
''Gee, where did my mother find a throwback to the class warfare ideologues? Do they still have them on Earth?'' Kris said, unrepentant, as she took a bite from a delightfully flaky biscuit, already buttered and lathered in strawberry jam.
''Anywhere the holders of great wealth are slugabeds at nine o'clock there is bound to be unrest in the working class.'' Abby bustled about, fluffing Kris's pillows, then examining her wardrobe before laying out a business suit: red skirt and blazer. ''You up to a royal blue blouse or should we settle for a conservative white one, with a monogrammed coronet on it?''
''Whatever makes me a harder target,'' Kris mumbled through a mouthful. ''Back home, I'm at the Firebolt by seven. Out on the Rim, money can't be lazy either. It works as hard as I do.'' Kris glanced around. ''Is Nelly having problems controlling a bug infestation?''
''No, silly goose. I'm not putting on a show for public consumption. You pay me for my service, not my thoughts. You send me to dole out milk and cookies to the night watch, and you better believe you're going to take some lip for it.''
''How are our fearless and watchful defenders?''
''Bored, not very watchful, and I can't say how fearless they'd be in a shoot-out, but I can't tell you how happy I am that my delicate skin won't be targeted if they screw up or run.''
''Thank you.'' Kris grinned. ''How much armor can I carry without being noticeable?''
''You still planning on doing a plumbing job tonight?''
''Yes.''
''I'd planned to use the boob bombs, but the body stocking squishes you flat and doesn't take too well to close-ups. How close do you intend to get to this Hank fellow?''
''Dinner, maybe dancing. He shouldn't get too close.''
''You Rim people are such virgins. Back home my first date and I would have… well, never mind.''
''Abby, you are the best stand-up liar I've ever met.''
''Who says I'm lying?'' Abby sniffed. ''You going to take all day? Or maybe you want to call your fellow from bed. Back home, that's usually an invite to finish the date there.''
''I'm finished,'' Kris said. ''Let's do full armor with that suit. We can decide on tonight later.''
Half an hour later, Kris was armored, dressed, and made up enough for Abby to permit her to make a phone call.
''Mr. Smythe-Peterwald is unavailable,'' a standard computer voice informed her.
''Please tell him that Princess Kristine Anne Longknife of Wardhaven would like to discuss a date with him.''
''He will be so informed.''
KEEP THAT RETARDED BUCKET OF CIRCUITS ON THE LINE A BIT LONGER, Nelly put in.
''Do you have any idea when he might answer my call? I have such a busy schedule,'' Kris lied.
''I am sorry, but I cannot offer any estimate. He is a busy businessman and often must respond to unscheduled priorities.''
Kris hated talking to buffers. She really hated the ones that were following the new tact subroutines; they could waste your time by the yard. ''Well, I really would like a call back before noon. If he is really delayed, maybe…'' Kris rambled on. NELLY, HOW MUCH LONGER?
DONE!
Kris finished with the buffer, hung up, and turned around. ''Okay, Nelly girl, what was that all about?''
''That block of wood was programmed to shortstop you. I corrected that minor fault. Now, when Hank next asks for his messages, yours will be at the top of the queue.''
''More evidence Sandfire likes you where he has you?'' Jack asked.
''If we needed any. Where's Tom?''
''He got away at six-fifteen,'' Jack said. ''The guards were not too enthusiastic about that, but Abby just happened by with the coffee and donuts. What might have taken forever was resolved amazingly fast once the Sergeant commanding had food in his mouth. I've also arranged for chairs out there.''
''Chairs!''
''Why not? Those kids will never be very good in a fight. At least this way they won't be cranky.''
''When's Tom due back?''
''He'll stay out as long as he can, maybe until three if he can stretch it. He's dropping by the embassy to remind whatever officer is in charge of such matters that you and he are here and not intentionally missing ship movement or deserting.''
''Oh Lord, I forgot about that stuff. I am supposed to check in once in a while, aren't I?''
''I can't picture the Navy booting you out for this,'' Penny said, standing at the door to her room, wearing one of Kris's nightgowns and robes. On her, they hung long.
''You don't know General McMorrison. Mac would love an excuse to be rid of me.''
Penny raised her eyebrows, whether at the prospects of a Princess being given the heave-ho, or Kris's familiarity with the name of the Chief of Staff for all Wardhaven armed forces. Kris didn't bother to ask. Unless they got out of here, it wouldn't matter. And unless they figured out a way to blow up a nascent battle fleet, a lot of matters would change drastically.
But for the moment, Kris had absolutely nothing to do. She was, as comfortable as it looked, under house arrest. What she could do was already being done. She went down her list of things that might need doing and came up with a long list of answers that totaled ''insufficient information.''
Penny offered to play chess. ''But not with Nelly. Just you.'' Halfway through the first game, it was clear Penny was far more experienced at this game than Kris ever wanted to be. Penny didn't mind when Abby took to kibitzing, offering suggestions and pointing out possibilities four and five moves in the future.
Kris minded. Standing, she waved a hand not at all as graciously as she wanted to. ''Here, you take over.''
''You've already lost the game,'' Abby pointed out.
''We can start a new one,'' Penny offered.
''You do that,'' Kris said, walking, not stomping, but walking gently to the screen. ''Where is that call?''
''Earth girls don't wait to be called back,'' Abby pointed out, settling at the table and offering Penny two fists. Penny tapped one, got white, and they turned the board around.
''I thought the idea was for me to play her and help her stay calm,'' Penny said as she arranged her board.
''The woman is waiting for the man to call. Trust me,'' Abby said dryly. ''There is no way to calm her. It's an X gene thing.''
''I am not waiting for a man to call. I'm waiting for someone to call so I can go plant a bomb upstairs,'' Kris snapped.
''Looks like a moonstruck calf to me,'' Abby said, making her counter to Penny's opening move. ''What do you think, Jack?''
''Be interesting to see if he calls. I suspect he's got Kris right where he and Sandfire and his papa want her. Locked up like a bird in a cage. Available to be plucked at their convenience.''
Kris stuck out her tongue, but her heart wasn't in it. If Hank was his father's man, Jack was right. ''I don't think Hank's in on all his father's schemes,'' Kris insisted. ''He didn't know about the problem with the smart-metal boats he gave me.''
''He got kind of quiet when you brought that up,'' Abby said as she quickly responded to Penny's move. Unlike Kris's game, Penny and Abby moved pieces around the board like it was greased.
''When you grow up in my neighborhood,'' Kris said, trotting over to bend down and get in Abby's face, ''you learn real quick not to give anyone a sound bite they can use on the news or in a court of law against your father.''
''Anyway,'' Jack said, stretching his legs out on the couch and picking up his reader, ''it doesn't matter what plots he is or isn't in on. Whether you, young Princess, are moonstruck or not. If he doesn't call, nothing happens.''