"Motherrrrrrr," Goneril groaned, holding all her letters to her chest as she joined Faolin once again.

He gave Goneril a worried look. "Do you need to stay with your family?" he asked. "You know we wouldn't leave without saying you goodbye. I don't think the Queen would ever speak to me again if we did."

Alessia laughed. "No, no, you may keep her. For now," she added, sounding amused. "I am sure that you can do her no worse over breakfast than you might have done last night."

Goneril huffed, looking terribly embarrassed. "We did nothing," she insisted. "We talked, that's all."

"We did nothing untoward enough that I'd bother making up a lie for you, good lady," he assured Alessia, cheerfully, then held out a hand to Goneril. "Do you have everything?"

Alessia coughed. "I'll believe that when I have a daughter who isn't as pretty," she replied. "Enjoy your breakfast."

"Yes," Goneril replied, hugging her letters to her chest. She bumped her shoulder up against Faolin's. "Mother, I don't know what you're talking about. Let's go."

He looked fondly at Goneril, then shrugged and gave Alessia a quick nod farewell. "Say hullo to Portia for me," he said quickly, for fear Goneril would actually push him out.

Goneril nearly did push him out. "She knows," she muttered at him, as she shut the door behind them. "Lucky she won't be with us in Knockma."

Faolin managed to contain his giggling until they were well out in the hall. "If she knows, she doesn't seem to mind much. It's your mother, Goneril, and she plainly doesn't disapprove."