I feel quite sorry for him, really. He doesn't seem much happier with his position in the new order than the rest of us. That said, I'd rather not risk a run-in if I can avoid it.

I suppose it's possible, but I can't imagine anyone could turn up to the Lord Protector's birthday do with a common pot like that as a present and still be alive at the end of the festivities. Unless the pot had something fairly special in it. I dread to think what that might be. No, I think it's more likely it's just a general household pot. He has to eat, after all.

Perhaps it's just a little easier to say things like that to someone outside the family, especially when everyone in the family is named after someone else. She might've feared that she couldn't profess a disinclination towards her name without insulting someone or other's great aunt twice removed or some such.

I'm very glad to have her help around the shop. It really was a very good idea to offer her the position. Have you heard from her recently? Is she happy here, do you think? She seems happy, but I suppose she has so few options, she might just feel obliged to stay.

There's the Order as well. I feel quite confident we could trust her, and she definitely has a lot of skills that might prove useful. What do you think? Perhaps it's too soon.