“Well, now, let’s see here.”  Duchess unwrapped the box and studied the polished silver within with a critical eye, then smiled a gentle smile.  “What a charming little trinket, my dear.  Let’s try it out.  And yes, you’ve got the days brew exactly.”<br/>She drew two old fashioned tins out and packed the strainer with real tea leaves.  As she steeped the cups to perfection one at a time, she looked around the park idly.  “I fear the real birds have all moved on to poorer pastures.  It’s the artificial birdsong the city implemented last year.  Adds a nice bit of hominess to the parks with no birds, but they could have the real thing with just a few columns of seed.”<br/>She dropped a spring of fresh mint into the top of each tea cup and set them down.<br/>