questions, then I want to know about it beforehand, so I can box his ears. He
seems different already."
"Women have the power . . . what a peculiar notion. Hmm. I rather fancy that. It
sounds very attractive." She paused for a moment, her face reflective. "I'll
wager Herm is probably not telling you things you think you should know, am I
right?"
"The number of things that Herm has not told me during the course of our
marriage so far is already enormous, and I am quite angry with him." She bit off
the words before she said more, surprised by her own candor. She did not know
Gisela very well, and had already learned that the woman was capable of being
spiteful, and that she was a chancy ally at best. But she needed to talk to
someone, and her new sister-in-law was the only one she
