Somehow that wouldn't surprise Alasdair in the slightest. There were certain Deck families - Bernards, Novaks, Apollonides, Berthiers - who seemed to think that mixing with other children on a daily basis would hurt their children's potential.

"Oh, but then, how would the Spades acquire all those unusual items they require?" Alasdair asked. He usually went through the man in the Hearts who did the same thing, on the rare occasions that he needed something - and if he wasn't available, Evan McCartney. "Still, I think there's a vacancy in kindergarten."