George grinned. “Not with those chicken wings you won’t. But don’t worry. The Mayor will probably take you on as a school-teacher for the young ones.”
“Don’t even joke about it,” Eileen said, slapping her brother’s arm with considerable force. She turned to Thomas. “Your father was probably in a mood of some kind. Today, it will have passed and all will be well again. You’ll see.”
“I hope you’re right.” He took another deep breath. “Well, from here we can all be seen from the house, and…”
“And it wouldn’t do to be seen with the lower classes,” said George, his smile showing he didn’t mean it at all. He reached forward and gripped Thomas’s hand. “Come tell us all about it at the Fire.”
“If he lets me out of the house, I will.”
Eileen stepped forward. “We’ll see you tonight, certain,” s
