Ring of Fire II(150)

You passed through the lobby to enter the rectangular inner courtyard, which led to "the tower." This would be a "high-rise." Right now, it was still under construction. And the courtyard wouldn't be landscaped until the tower was done.



Still, the conference center was in business. Not only did people meet there, the hospitality suites were rented out at outrageous prices to visitors, like William, who wanted to make an impression. Once the tower was in operation, guests would stay there, instead.



The hotel also made money off the restaurant and the movie theater. The latter was equipped with a VCR and a large projection TV; the hotel charged admission and split the profits with the TV owner. Movie admission was free to hotel guests, but they had to sign in, so they could be accounted for.



Judy's informal guardian in loco parentis, Delia Higgins, owned the hotel. That meant Judy could see a movie pretty much whenever she wanted, which was usually at least once a week. Her fellow Barbie Consortium members often came, too. There weren't a lot of entertainment choices, after dark.



Vicky was the first to arrive. She sat next to Judy. Then Heather showed up.



Judy, who was watching the crowd, was the first to spot her. What she saw was so astounding, her brain had trouble processing what her eyes were telling her. "Heather's wearing a dress."



Vicky turned her head so quickly, it was amazing she didn't suffer whiplash. "You're right! She always wears pants. What's going on?"



"I think William is what's going on."



"Uh-huh. This will be an interesting evening."



It was. When William arrived, which was while Heather was off in the powder room, he sat down next to Judy. Heather came back, gave Judy a suspicious look, then hurriedly took a seat on William's other side. Gabrielle arrived, and sat next to Heather, and Millicent flanked Vicky. William looked like a sultan having a night out with his harem.





Judy squirmed a bit. She liked William, but she wasn't interested in William. Not like Heather. Who Judy was probably going to be hearing from, before the night was over.



It was obvious what Heather saw in William. He could pass, in the right clothing, for a rock-and-roll idol. He was reasonably well educated, for a seventeenth-century nobleman. He was athletic.



But, hey, what kind of long-term relationship could they have? The men of his class didn't marry for love; their marriages were more like corporate mergers.



Heather was usually practical. What was wrong with her?



Oh, that. Judy hoped not.





Sybill Johnson was very apologetic.



"I am sorry, Mister Hobbes. TJ isn't feeling well, you can't come in."



"Can you fetch me the book? It's Hibbert's Cavaliers and Roundheads. I'll take good care of it."



"His library is a mess, I don't know how he finds anything."



"Perhaps . . . you could just ask him, and then find it yourself?"



"I'm so sorry, but he's sleeping, and I'm not going to wake him up. But I'll ask him tomorrow, and you can pick up the book tomorrow night." She shut the door.



Hobbes decided he might as well see what a movie was like.





It wasn't easy spotting William in the darkened room. Hobbes hunched over so as not to block the view, and shuffled along until he found his charge. There he was.



Girls to the left of him. Girls to the right of him. A coincidence? Hobbes wasn't a big believer in coincidences.



William had obviously enjoyed more of a social life in Grantville than he had been letting on.



Hobbes decided that it was high time to get William away from his female admirers. Even if that meant forsaking the Grantville Public Library for a while.



As soon as the lights were turned on, Hobbes walked over. "Ladies, I am Mister Thomas Hobbes, Lord Devonshire's governor. Do you mind if I speak privately with him for a moment?"



Hobbes pulled William into a corner, then looked back. Sure enough, several of the girls were watching them. That confirmed Hobbes' suspicions. "Lord Devonshire, you remember how anxious you were to see Magdeburg? Now that it is an imperial city?"



"Yes . . . But I'm learning a lot here."



"I am sure you are. But you are destined for a political life, and that means you need to go where the emperor is. Magdeburg."



"I suppose a little visit might be nice."



"Actually, Lord Devonshire, I thought we might spend a month or so there."



William bit his lip.



Hobbes decided to sweeten the deal. "We'll see the Swedish Army at drill, and the Navy yard building new ships, and much else of interest. And Halle's on the way; we can play at the tennis court there."



William nodded, slowly. "That sounds good. When do we leave?"