4. Madam Mina Triumphant
Finally the doors of the study opened, nearly hitting April, who tried to eavesdrop but failed, and a radiant, wet-faced but happy–looking French girl practically waltzed out of said study.
Following her, out came the League's President, looking as if he had just crossed the English Channel on her own, without any nautical devices.
"I take it all went well, Ma'am?" April wondered, ever the reporter. "Has she agreed?"
"She has," answered Mina, breathing hard. "Susan, would you kindly bring me another cup of tea? Or, rather, a half-glass of vodka. I do feel drained…And, Alice, please go and fetch Erik to my study!"
The other ladies gave each bemused looks.
"I'm sorry, Madam," Wendy started uneasily, "but I'm afraid it's not possible at the moment…"
"Mais pourquoi donc?/ How so?" The two ladies who had just spent several hours in tumultuous conversation looked earnest.
"Because, Madam," Alice chuckled, "he has been in our lords' company for quite a while—you are sure to know what I mean—and from what we've overheard last from their part of the quarters, Tarrant was trying to teach Monsieur Erik how to Futterwacken…" She then mockingly imitated her Hatter, explaining thus to Christine the meaning of that particular word.
"Pas grave, Mesdames; je vais lui chercher moi-meme! (Never mind, ladies, I'm going to find him myself!)," exclaimed the overjoyed young lady and rushed out of the room, leaving the dumbfounded League members behind.
"And," Mina finished her list of chores, "Wendy, please do contact Fr. Stephen as soon as possible! I almost forgot to tell you, dear friends, that we are having a wedding tomorrow. Please don't be late, especially you, April. By the way, you'd better make use of the looking-glass, lest the news catch Mr. Oroku unawares."
"Darn, I almost forgot about Saki! And what if he went to bed without turning off the TV?" April rushed out, making her way towards the looking-glass.
"But, Madam Mina," objected Wendy, "Fr. Stephen is an Eastern Orthodox priest. And both of our guests are most likely Catholics…or at least, are supposed to be…" she added with some hesitation.
Mina sank into the armchair, wiping her delicate brow with a white lace handkerchief.
"After all the tantrum they had put me through today," she drawled, "if they don't convert to Orthodoxy by tomorrow noon, I…I…I won't cook any cake for them this night!" And she closed her eyes for exactly ten minutes.