“What matters most is that you think about your mate,” Rose said as we sipped tea and talked. We had both kicked off our shoes and were crowded on her couch. Her maid, Helen, had gotten us more tea and cakes to eat.

“I have to think of Mordecai?” I asked with my mouth full of cake. Rose didn’t mind at all that I spoke with my mouth full. Sometimes, she spoke with her mouth full too, and she had cake crumbs on her chin.

“Oh, yes! Thinking about your mate is the ...