"In other words, I would marry him in order to be a spy."
"There would be a pair of loving and beloved go-betweens who would make sure there was never any conflict between the admirals on this ship."
"By suppressing Ender and making him dance to Quincy's tune."
"Until he becomes old enough and experienced enough himself," said Dorabella.
"Which would happen exactly never, at least not in Quincy's eyes," said Alessandra. "Mother, I'm not stupid and neither is anyone else involved in this. You're betting that Admiral Morgan will seize power, and so by marrying him, you'll be the wife of the governor of the colony. But because you can't be sure that Ender Wiggin won't prevail, you want me to marry him. That way, no matter who wins this little power struggle, we'll be able to cash in. Am I correct?"
Alessandra had spoken the phrase "cash in" in English. Dorabella seized on that. "Shakespeare Colony has no cash yet, darling," said Dorabella. "It's all barter and allotment so far. You haven't been studying the lessons on our colony-to-be."
"Mother," said Alessandra. "That is your plan, isn't it?"
"Hardly," said Dorabella. "I'm a woman in love. So are you. Don't deny it!"
"I think about him all the time," said Alessandra. "I dream of him every night. If that's being in love, they need a pill to cure it."
"You only feel that way because the boy you love is not aware enough of his own feelings to make things clear to you or even to himself. That's what I've been trying to tell you all along."
"No, Mother," said Alessandra. "You've been trying to do everything but tell me. What you want me to do, but refuse to say out loud, is seduce him."
"I do not."
"Mother!"
"I've already said this. There's a lot of road between pining for him and seducing him. There's little touches."
"He doesn't like being touched."
"He thinks he doesn't like being touched because he doesn't yet understand that he's in love with you."
"Wow," said Alessandra. "And all of this without a degree in psychology."
"A fairy woman doesn't need to study psychology, she's born with it."
"Mother!"
"You keep saying that. As if you weren't sure I know my title. Yes, dear, I am indeed your mother."
"For once in your life, can't you just say what you mean?"
Dorabella closed her eyes. Saying things plainly had never worked out well for her. Yet Alessandra was right. The girl was so naive she really didn't know what Dorabella was talking about. She didn't understand the need, the urgency--and she didn't understand what she had to do about it.
Candor was probably unavoidable. Might as well get it over with.
"Sit down, darling," said Dorabella.
"So it's going to be a more complicated self-deception," said Alessandra. "One that requires rest."
"I'm cutting you out of my will if you keep that up."
"That threat won't work until you have something to leave me that I want to have."
"Sit down, bratty bad girl," said Dorabella, using her playfully stern voice.
Alessandra lay down on her bed. "I'm listening."
"You can never just do what I ask, can you."