40.      Gotcha

Howard and Bridget celebrate securing a potential whiskey business after Colonel Butterworth approves their homemade Irish whiskey as a saleable product. However, they discover that FAITH territory is off-limits due to religious objections to alcohol, forcing them to plan alternative distribution methods.

Howard and Bridget present their homemade Irish whiskey to Colonel Butterworth at Vulcan for his evaluation. Butterworth, maintaining professional distance to avoid conflicts of interest, approves the product as commercially viable and notes it fills a gap left by depleted Jameson supplies. Bridget celebrates the business opportunity. Later, at The Shaded Green restaurant in Landing, Bridget and Howard discuss their sales strategy over dinner. Cranston has forbidden liquor sales into FAITH territory due to religious objections to alcohol. Rather than write off the market, Howard suggests finding local distributors, noting that prohibition historically fails and demand always exists. He mentions his potato crops are thriving and will support vodka production within six months. Bridget jokes about becoming a liquor baroness. The chapter ends ambiguously when Bridget asks whether their dinner is business or a date, and Howard responds affirmatively to both, accompanied by Bridget's pleased smile.