Either I'm forgiven or she's decided that if this is the way it's going to be for the foreseeable future, she'd better make the best of it.

She's even gone for a nap without an argument. We'll see how long that lasts.

I've been thinking about the Solstice run, whether it's even worth trying to throw something together. Suspect not, not until we've got those stones round the border sorted out. It's put a crimp in my Christmas shopping, too, I'm afraid.

Anyway. Back to Albia.

You'll never believe it but ... I couldn't find anything in the library on the compulsion spells. So I asked the portrait of Mother.

I'll spare you the invective and lecture I had to endure. But she eventually admitted that she kept a Guide to Pure Parenting in the second drawer of her bureau in the drawing room.

So I've been trying to read it.