"I'm not sure what you mean," Goneril replied. "I already said, I supposed the Tuatha would be included if we knew you existed. We don't."

"Unless they've only forgotten." He shook his head. "Don't worry about it. This seems a bit complicated for a single conversation." He gave her a thoughtful look. "If it turns out you come around right tomorrow, would you still be interested in continuing it?"

"Come around right in that I'm not humiliated to be in the same room with you?" Goneril asked. She smiled at him. "As long as you are."

"That too," he said dryly, "but more in the sense that you and Fiona come back to your own seemings and you have more options for your company."

"Oh," Goneril replied. She glanced at him. "Of course I'd still want to," she said. "Fiona wouldn't be displeased, would she?"

"I don't see any reasons why she should," he said, amused. "So long as I don't get out of earshot of the little bell she rings to summon me . . . ."

She raised an eyebrow. "Are you being serious now, or is that a joke?" she asked.