He handed Rue the stylus, which Rue immediately passed to Prim who kept better track of such things and had vastly superior penmanship. The two customs officers watched this, hawk-like. They seemed to be paying inordinately close attention to the proceedings. Oddly, they were as focused on Lieutenant Broadwattle as they were on Prim and Rue. Was Lieutenant Broadwattle under suspicion of misconduct? Rue cocked her head at the young man. He seemed twitchy, but nothing out of the ordinary for a gentlemen faced with Primrose in a pretty dress and good temper.

He did seem perturbed that Rue had passed off the paperwork, perhaps because it now occupied the whole of that young lady’s attention. He rallied enough to ask, “Do you know the nature of your stores and local contacts, Lady Akeldama?”

Rue shook her head. “No, I have people for that.”

“Of course you do.”

“Will there be anything else, lieutenant?”

“I have the length of your stay down for one week starting tomorrow. Is that sufficient for your needs?”

“As long as I can complete my social calls during that time. May I extend if necessary?”

“Indeed, my lady. However…” He trailed off, distracted by Prim.

Rue sighed. She was used to it. “I take it most activity commences after dark, when it is cooler.”

Primrose was puzzling over a list of numbers in the margins of the paperwork.

The two customs officials tensed.

Then she moved blithely on with an obvious mental shrug.

“Sir?” Rue drew Lieutenant Broadwattle’s attention back to herself.

“Yes, after dark. Speaking of which, some of the local diplomats, their wives, and a few officers are meeting for a garden party at sunset this evening. Would you care to join us? The ambassador’s wife has authorised me to extend the invitation. I must say, we would welcome fresh faces and new society, not to mention unmarried ladies.”

“Lieutenant Broadwattle!” reprimanded Primrose, pinking in pleasure. “You go too far.” Thus proving she had not been entirely focused on the paperwork.

The young man lowered his head in mock shame.

Rue, on the other hand, did nothing to disguise her delight. She loved a garden party, and to have one materialise that very evening in an exotic land. Topping! “We should love to attend.”

“Will you bring the two gentlemen as escorts?” he asked, clearly hoping the answer would be no.

Rue hated to disappoint. “Possibly one, probably not the other, but they are difficult to predict.”

Prim finished listing relevant names and details and handed the parchment back over. “Any other customs business?”

The young man remembered his duty. “Do you have anything to declare for the record? Imports, business engagements, other taxable items? We were told that this is purely a pleasure jaunt.”

Rue and Prim shook their heads solemnly.