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You go back and forth on it for a while, but in the end, you decide to find somewhere to stash the cart <span class="mu-i">after</span> taking delivery of the remaining two dresses at Hortingea’s and <span class="mu-i">before</span> taking deliver of the riding dress – or riding habit, apparently – at Festive Fabricians. What made up your mind was the realization that you are probably not going to be able to walk into the Fabricians, pick up the dress and leave, like you are going to be able to do at Hortingea’s establishment. Cassandra, no doubt wanting to be sure that you never blacken her doorstep again, will want to make sure that the dress fits properly, that you have no issues with it. Now, that is not really unreasonable, especially considering that when you were there last, you threatened her with a lawsuit. The issue is that getting undressed, getting dressed, having final adjustments made – all of that is going to take time. Fifteen minutes, half an hour, who knows?
Of course, the issue is not really the time spent in the fitting room – no, the issue is where is the hand cart going to be while the final adjustments are being made. Are you going to be able to bring the cart into Festive Fabricians with you? If push comes to shove, you might not, even with vague threats of a lawsuit – as Cassandra clearly has some really powerful friends. In her office, behind her desk, and under protective glass, is a stack about two inches thick of nothing but ultramarine ribbons – the kinds that can only be given to artisans and merchants by Princes, to signify that the holder has had the high honor of having a Prince as a customer. You had never actually seen any before, but that is not too hard to understand, considering the kinds and quality of the stores that you go to. What is hard to understand is why Cassandra is not displaying them publicly. Seems like a real wasted opportunity for her business, not to mention a slight to those who gave them to her. Hmm … perhaps she just makes the ribbons for Princes instead?
Ah, it is six in one, half dozen in another. Unless she is counterfeiting the damned things, she is doing business with royalty, one way or another. And if you make yourself enough of a nuisance, she might figure she account of that business, she has enough pull on the Forum to call your bluff. So … that leaves you with precious little leverage to get the hand cart into Festive Fabricians with you, which means that if you want to play things safe – and for the Mercy of the Maker, you do – you are going to have to get the cart situated away safely before you ever set foot into Festive Fabricians. To that end you have a few ideas, though none of them are entirely satisfactory, all for different reasons.
