Summary

There are less than 17 hours to go before the Winklemans' big dinner party and Annie is exhausted, not having slept much for the last week due to preparations. Annie plans to transport the dinner guests back to the 16th century in a sumptuous feast for the senses. Although Annie loves doing these grand events, she's also afraid that she'll lose her job because the Winklemans usually entertain in a much more austere manner.

Earl Beachendon attends an emergency meeting of the board of directors at Monachorum and Sons to discuss recent significant losses. Art is being sold for less than its appraisal and it is becoming more difficult to acquire pieces to sell. Things look bleak and Beachendon knows that his days at the firm are numbered. He wonders how he will support his family when he loses his job.

Barty and his...