Broadmoor's answer set Ford on edge again. For one thing, he didn't have particularly fond memories of the midnight hunt himself. It hadn't been approved by the Spirit Division, and when the foxes, hounds, and horses had been released into the night streets it hadn't been a particularly pleasant surprise. Ford had been trudging through the streets of Hogsmeade hunting down stray ghost dogs long after he would have preferred to be in bed, given that he had work the next morning and the social season had still been in full swing at the time. Not to mention that the living residents of Hogsmeade had been unfairly terrorized. He recalled one woman who he'd helped who seemed to have nearly fainted after being pursued by a hound, and Barnaby Wye had ended up in Verity's bedroom, of all places, after being thrown from his horse. If Broadmoor was hoping for a repeat performance, he was bound to be disappointed — all of the parties involved in procuring the animals and planning the last one had been uninvited from the upcoming fete. Though with ghosts, that might not be saying much... if they didn't have an invitation, there was nothing to stop them from floating in through the wall instead of the door.
Ford's feelings about the midnight ride aside, however, he still didn't like that Broadmoor was implying. Why would Tycho need Broadmoor to report back to him when he could have used Ford for the same purpose? Ford was obviously going to be there, and he thought he knew Tycho well enough to know what sorts of things he would think were interesting and worth reporting back about. Better yet, why not have Williams do it? Williams lived here, and had known Tycho a long time, and the upcoming mixer was actually for him. (Well, actually, it was the Living and Dead Mixer; by that logic Broadmoor was no less reasonable a choice than Williams in the end).
"There aren't likely to be animals at this one," Ford said in a measured tone. "Hopefully that doesn't put you off the idea too much." Or hopefully it did; he still hadn't decided whether or not he wanted Broadmoor to come.
Ford's feelings about the midnight ride aside, however, he still didn't like that Broadmoor was implying. Why would Tycho need Broadmoor to report back to him when he could have used Ford for the same purpose? Ford was obviously going to be there, and he thought he knew Tycho well enough to know what sorts of things he would think were interesting and worth reporting back about. Better yet, why not have Williams do it? Williams lived here, and had known Tycho a long time, and the upcoming mixer was actually for him. (Well, actually, it was the Living and Dead Mixer; by that logic Broadmoor was no less reasonable a choice than Williams in the end).
"There aren't likely to be animals at this one," Ford said in a measured tone. "Hopefully that doesn't put you off the idea too much." Or hopefully it did; he still hadn't decided whether or not he wanted Broadmoor to come.
Set by Lady!