"Long enough to get elected," Robert replied, looking vastly amused. "Parliment's kinda like Congress, only with more drinking, less religion, and about an equal amount of time arguing about absolutely nothing. It's an interesting place. What was it? John Adams said something about it... one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress. Parliment seems sorta the same. I went and saw the National Assembly when I was in Paris, too. That involves less drinking, more shouting, and a lot of really passionate speeches that leaves the speaker hoarse and weeping."
He managed to assume a suitibly sober expression. "'Msorry to hear about your father, Miss Rochester of Dover. 'Salways hard when someone you love just... vanishes from your life." Poor Daphne. She'd probably had a rougher time of it than he did.