AA: Spoiler/question/please don't think I'm stupid :-)

[Bill]

Is Lady Thyme actually Chade in disguise? At first when I read the part about Chade in Lady Thyme's room, I thought they were working together. Then, later, I read Fitz describe it as a "charade" put on by Chade. So I'm intrigued and confused, still loving the book. I kick myself for not reading closely enough but maybe I haven't read far enough yet for it to become crystal clear? Anyone's help would be appreciated, if only for spoiler free clarity. Thanks

[Valerie]

Yep, Lady Thyme and Chade are on and the same. We find out when he gets the summons to see her partway into the trip.

[Stan]

Yes - (view spoiler)[Lady Thyme is a disguise used by Chade. I also enjoyed the play on words of Charade and Chade. (hide spoiler)]

[Bill]

Thanks, I initially was impressed with Lady Thyme as "she" seemed to be quite clever to cover for Chade's activity. Then, once Valerie and Stan cleared it up for me, I was even more impressed with Chade for concocting a character so believable that I continued to think "she" existed LOL. Thanks for the clarity. I love this book!

[David Sven]

From Chapter Nine when Fitz is summoned to Lady Thyme's room during the visit to Rippon Duchy

Heavy hangings draped the bed. The only light in the room came from a single candle guttering in its holder. I picked it up and ventured closer to the bed. “Lady Thyme?” I asked softly. “What's wrong?”
“Boy.” The voice came quietly from a dark corner of the room.
“Chade,” I said, and instantly felt more foolish than I care to remember.
“There's no time to explain all the reasons. Don't feel bad, boy. Lady Thyme has fooled many folk in her time, and will continue to.

[Bill]

"She" fooled me and continued to for at least a chapter and a half LOL

[Joel]

I am not quite to chapter 9 yet but saw this thread accidentally. Anyway I am not surprised at all -- from the way the "lady" was acting, I was pretty sure she was Chade from the start.

[Katie]

from the way the "lady" was acting, I was pretty sure she was Chade from the start."

Unfortunately, I thought it was a bit predictable too, especially with it being Fitz's first time out. I was suspicious when the "old women" closed herself up in the litter immediately and never emerged. Most older ladies I know would have had the drapes open and told everyone who passed how to do their jobs better ;)

[Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth]

I was the same as Bill, initially. When I'd read a little further and there were no more words from Lady Thyme, I realised she had been Chade all along, but I still had a long moment of uncertainty. I rather liked the lady, and wanted her to be a real woman, and had first imagined her standing beside Chade with a smirk on her face.

[Bill]

Ruth, that was EXACTLY my experience. I thought they were some super cool espionage duo. When I read it through again, it was clearer but I imagined "her" first to be a kind of Maggie Smith/Judi Dench type. Oh well LOL

[Mark]

You guys are all so clever

I was fooled the whole time