The remainder of the walk passed in blessed silence between the two. Asel enjoyed the scenery on every hand. Beyond the tall elms that lined the drive, his great-grandfather had artfully contrived a stand of moors, patterned in the rude Scottish mode. Gray spires of rock, aged by chemical design, burst now and then through rolling hills. Asel had always found them rather disturbing to the eye. A bit of bold savagery, unexpected and abrupt.
Past the moors was the river, and some sort of mountains after that. Father and Hal had chided him more than once about lolling around this one small corner of the grounds, and never even looking at the rest of the estate. Uncle Hal said Vermont and New York were very nice. There were two or three Virginias to the south, that Mother had brought to the House. And of course, Asel thought with some irritation, now there were all those places of Loreli’s he would have to remember as well.
I’m of age, and it won’t do any harm to take a look, Asel thought. I might take a honeymoon trip. Find out where Loreli’s going, of course. Don’t want to end up there.
It was getting rather hot. Asel gestured and the Brit produced a fan. On the far pale horizon, beyond a bank of windswept clouds, he saw several dark specks in the sky. Some sort of birds. Birds were nice to watch. Apparently, there were several different kinds. He might have a flunk learn their names.

Asel’s cousin said Uncle Hal was most anxious to see him. As ever, Reynard seemed slightly discomposed.
“They’re in the study,” said Reynard. “Your mother is in an absolute snit. Asel, she is not going to do it. I simply knew this would happen.”
“She will and that’s that,” Asel said.
“I love the new you. There’s power in your stance.”
“Forget it, Reynard.”
“I sense this aura of command. How’s the bride?”
“Utterly absurd.”
“She seems awfully sweet.”
“I don’t want to talk about this.”
Asel left Reynard and cut through the sunroom, ablaze with gaudy light. The little Brit trailed along. The high glass walls revealed merrymakers dining on the porch. Seating had been carefully arranged, in tune with net worth and family line. Flunks popped goodies and wines in noble mouths. Lew, the gouty Duke of Seagram-7-Eleven. Lansdale of Calvin-Nutraswine. The lords of Nabisco-Shell, Corona-Jeep. Each, to a man, intent on executive plunder and rape. Swindle and trade. Larceny and shifty enterprise.
And where was good Ducky, the disappointed Duke of Delaware? Too sick to eat, Asel hoped. Pining for the wealth and fine melons of the lovely Loreli.
Mother was indeed in a snit.
She wandered about the study, darting here and there and back again. Short Polish flunks tried to follow in her wake. One offered tissues and salts. Anther Jasmine tea.
Uncle Hal collared Asel at once. “You talk to her. That woman won’t stand still.”
“I thought we settled all this,” Asel said.
“It’s not settled now.”
“Yes it is. Father simply cannot appear. What would everybody think?”
“Tell her,” Hal said. “She’ll listen to you.”
Asel had doubts about that.
“Look. There’s something else,” Hal said. “The market’s on a spree. Your father wants to see you right now.”
“What’s wrong with the market?”
“Up and down. Unsettled and confused. Irregularities and tics.”
Asel looked from Mother to Hal. “What am I supposed to do first?”
“Everything at once.”
“I don’t much care for your advice,” Asel said. Hal didn’t seem to hear. He left Asel in the center of the room and disappeared into the hall. Asel guessed his mother’s dizzy course and cut her off.
“Mother, we simply must go through with this. There is nothing else to do.”
“You have placed yoah self in my path,” Mother said.
“I want you to sit.”
“You are sayin’ simply awful things about that perfectly lovely girl. Ah will not have that, Asel.”
Reynard, Asel thought, visions of torture and abuse in his head.
“We are not discussing Loreli. We are discussing something else.”
“A dahlin’ girl. Unquestioned family line.”
“Mother. These people came to see Father. They didn’t come to see me. They must be assured that the House of Iacola is intact. He cannot go out there looking like that.”
Mother seemed aghast. “There is nothing wrong with yoah father!”
“Absolutely everything is wrong with Father.”
“He is simply under the weathah.”
“It’s safe to say that.”
“Asel, I will not do this.” Tears filled Mother’s eyes. “The very idea is appallin’ to me. I cannot tolerate the presence of a mechanical person in this house. It is against God’s will.”
“Five minutes,” Asel said. “Maybe three. It says hello and that’s it. Mother, stand still.”
Mother faked Asel out. Darted to the left, then the right, leaving flunks behind.
Uncle Hal reappeared. “Don’t like this at all. We’ve got intruders on the screen. Over the estate. Choppers from the SEC.”
Asel seemed startled and alarmed. “They can’t do that.”
“Go outside and see.”
“I think I saw some birds.”
“Asel, I know a chopper from a bird. Have you seen your father yet? No. Go do it now. Don’t delay. See him at once.”
Hal vanished again. Mother continued to wail and move in quick erratic arcs. Asel’s head began to hurt. He felt confused and out of synch. This entire Prince thing was a pain.
“A drink,” he told the Brit.
“Coke? Brandy? Tea? Coffee? Port? Water? Papaya? Lemonade-“
“Damn it all,” Asel said, “you decide. Do I have to do everything around here?”