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of Druida and take over as mistress of Laev’s FatherSire’s household. Everything deteriorated after that.
    T’Ash was holding his wife’s hand and Brazos was looking on with approval. Laev cleared his throat. “What do I owe you?”
    Breaking the kiss, a flushed D’Ash leaned back in her husband’s encircling arms and chuckled. “I think Brazos has already authorized payment.”
    Laev looked at the bedsponge where the young tom had been a couple of seconds ago. Now he was on a different counter in front of a scry panel that showed T’Hawthorn ResidenceDen. His black paw patted the screen. DONE! Lifting his chin, he smiled gleefully at Laev. Residence likes Me. I like it, too.
    “I didn’t know cats could use scry panels,” Laev said.
    “Oh, yes, all the younger generation,” D’Ash said indulgently.
    T’Ash snorted. “Not only the younger generation. My FamCat, Zanth, can. I’d advise you to set limits on the gilt authorization amounts that your Fam has with your Residence.” He sounded as if he learned from experience. D’Ash giggled.
    “T’Hawthorn Residence?” Laev projected his voice toward the panel.
    “Yes, T’Hawthorn?” the Residence said.
    “Please note that except for medical emergencies, Brazos has an authorization limit of . . .” Laev had no idea.
    “Fams don’t order their own collars,” D’Ash said loudly. “A collar is a gift from their FamPerson.”
    Good point. But what was reasonable? What else would Brazos want that the Residence couldn’t provide?
    T’Ash was muttering, “Pillows, thickly carpeted perches for every room in the Residence, Earthan catnip grown on the starship Nuada’s Sword , specially prepared cocoa mousse bigger than his head . . .”
    Sounded like T’Ash’s FamCat had really done a run on T’Ash’s gilt. That was amusing until Laev recalled how Nivea liked to shop. His smile faded. “Residence, except for medical emergencies, Brazos has an authorization limit of a hundred gilt a month to be given him in weekly installments upon good behavior.”
    There was no protest from Brazos, though he tapped the scry screen with his paw and ordered, End scry to T’Hawthorn Residence.
    “Good thing you got a feral Fam,” T’Ash said. “He doesn’t know everything that he wants.”
    “Yes,” Laev said. “The last thing I need is another—” He stopped himself before he said something less than complimentary about Nivea. He was thinking about her too damn much. That was the past. The future was what mattered.
    D’Ash handed him a loudly purring Brazos. “I’m glad you got a Fam.” Her eyes were full of pity as she slid an arm around her HeartMate’s waist and leaned against him.
    Laev jerked a nod. Everyone knew of his mistake, and he’d learned to live with that. One last mess to clean up—find his Family’s heirlooms and his HeartGift. Then he’d be done with wife problems forever.
     
     
    C amellia’s day had been one of ups and downs: the compliment from D’Blackthorn that would boost Darjeeling’s HouseHeart’s popularity, the invitation from the starship, the strange experience at the Ashes, getting a Fam, the pleasure of her friends with Mica. Intense emotions that were all very wearing. A few minutes relaxing in her home before the Salvage party would be welcome.
    Yet her steps dragged as she walked to the door of her small bungalow.
    Is this it? Is this My new home? It looks pretty. Ooh, flowers! Mica purred in Camellia’s ear.
    “This is it.” The small house was of faded redbrick with a large round front window. Colorful summer flowers danced in the breeze, in the beds around the small grassyard. Camellia thought of warning the cat not to squash the blooms but figured that would be a waste of breath and just irritate them both. Of course a cat so young would pounce on the flowers and shred the petals. Find a good spot to lay on them and smash them.
    Camellia sighed.
    Why did you make that sad noise? Mica asked.
    “I