After saying that, she had the maids bring in fruit and pastries, then decisively returned to the room next door.
"So you already knew your mother would come knocking?"
Only after the door closed did Shade ask Leisha. Her Royal Highness the Princess smiled and nodded.
"Of course. I even guessed that she would come during the second act."
"But Leisha originally guessed that she would send Angelina and Alice to bring the fruit. She didn't expect her to come herself."
Dorothy added with a smile, while Leisha did not care about the slight discrepancy in her guess.
"I know Mother very well. She cares greatly about appearances. Since she has already interrupted us once, she won't interrupt us a second time before it ends. So as long as we move quickly and tidy up the room before the final act ends..."
She reached a hand toward Shade, but Dorothy stopped her. Miss Writer warned her:
"That won't do, Leisha. Didn't we agree that this was extracurricular teaching outside of Saturdays, so Shade could properly watch the modern version of 'Crystal Light'? Besides, the young ladies of the opera troupe practiced so hard. What if Shade doesn't get to see the end?"
As she spoke, she took Shade's hand and made him sit back down. Shade also felt that Dorothy had a point.
"The night is still long, and aren't we going home together tonight?"
"So the two of you are bullying me together now?"
Her Royal Highness the Princess complained softly, then sat down on Shade's left. She reached forward, picked a purple grape from the fruit platter, and brought it to Shade's lips.
Queen Diana indeed did not knock on the door again before the opera ended, nor did she send any of the little princesses or maids.