Chapter 106

“Not at all,” he said. “Performing always gets the adrenaline flowing, and it takes a while to unwind. Some wine and a bit of food will be welcome—remember, I eat very little before a major performance.”

“It is settled, then,” Father said. “Everything will be set up by the time you arrive.”

When we arrived in the ducal residence, after Tom and Noah had deposited the music in our apartment, I discovered that my father’s idea of a late-night snack was a full-blown buffet containing an amazing variety of finger foods. The wine flowed freely. We weren’t the only guests; Tristan and a couple of people from the university were there, and I recognized two or three members of the Council. It was a couple of hours before we were back in our apartment.

“I can’t wait to get out of these clothes,” Tom said.

“You and everyone else,” I said.

“What time do we have to leave for the airport tomorrow morning?”

“Ten.”

“Good. We’ll be ready.”