Miss Nalini chanced small glances at him from across the round table as she watched the tea pour into her teacup.
She wringed he wings nervously under the table.
Everything about this meeting was unusual.
Miss Nalini was very self-conscious that this was the first time she had ever been alone with him, barring, for the moment, the servent attending them.
Moreover, in the garden, over tea, and with such a serious .
It was decidedly unprecdented, and it made her uneasy.
There were always such long gaps between the times she go to see him, so of course she was happy to get to se him today_or rather she wanted to be happy, but...
She glanced at one more time.
His spine was as straight as the backrest of the chair he was sitting on.
His shoulders could be used as beams.
His eyes were hard and thoughtful and his mouth was becoming an increasingly thin line.
Miss Nalini was certain that at the very moment she was sitting before his penguin persona,
a form he always reserved around their friends.
He had sent for her and her alone less than a half hour ago, and the only thing she knew was that he wished to talk to her.
was usually busiest in the morning so for him to call for her at this time, whatever he wanted to talk about had to be of very high importance.
It could be good news, she tried to think, but with his apparent mood, she was having difficulty convincing herself.
Miss Nalini pressed her wings around her body and shivered.
It was early in the morning, and on the floating island they were on, one of the larger ones of the complex they were above the sun's levelband thus cast a chilly penumbra.
it only served to make her all the more uncomfortable.
Looking around to distract herself, it came to Miss Nalini's attention that all the sweets and treats on the table and on the servant's trolley were her favorites.
All of them; there appeared to be no options that were ment for , not even fish.
It struck her as severely odd.
"Ah!
That's enough."
Miss Nalini started when she noticed the tea getting dangerously close to the whelm of her teacup.
The servent promptly but smoothly withdrew the porcelain teapot.
She appeared to smile behind her veil.
Miss Nalini returned the smile, just in case, conscious it did not fully conceal her tension.
The servent returned the ornate teapot to her trolly and then presented an equally ornate creamer.
"Milk?"
she asked in a soft, pleasing voice.
Miss Nalini nodded shortly.
The servan poured however much milk would fit in the cup without overflowing.
"Sugar?
"One please," Miss Nalini requested softly.
The servant deposited a sugar cube in Miss Nalini's teacup and proceeded to stir the tea,
the clinks of sliver against porcelain puntuating the silence of the venue.
Remarkably, the contents of the teacup did not spill.
Miss Nalini wasn't sure she was brave enough to pick it up.
The servant moved on to serve 's tea.
She poured a splash of tea, an inordinate amount of milk, and two cubes of sugar into his cup without asking for his preferences, obviously familiar with what hey were already.
"Is there anything else I can do for you and your distinguished guest, sir?"
the servant asked when she finished, lacing her fingers below her waist.