"To summarize my disappointment in your failure to inform me earlier: every second matters," the princess ended her five-minute lecture about why John should have called her immediately.
'All that just because I started with the phrase, 'about half an hour ago,'' he thought, 'better not tell her that is already a downplay.' "Didn't this lecture cost you more time than it was worth?" John asked.
"Don't be ridiculous." Lydia's stern voice was underlined by the constant scratching of several pens. "I can do my finances while telling you exactly why you are wrong. My productivity has not been hindered in the slightest."
The rustling of papers, the soft sound of a piano, both of these replaced her voice for a moment as she fell silent. Then she spoke up again and these noises were pushed into the background. "Any other news worthy of my attention?"
"My girlfriend is coming," John told her.
