18 Chapter 18

As unnerved as I was at getting caught out in what was really an innocuous exercise,I had to smile back.“You’re not busy with more tours today?”

“Oh,no,no,those are all done.”His suit today was a pale blue,trailing around his legs as he shook my hand.“Did you enjoy it?”

“Immensely.”

“Wonderful.It’s so hard for me to tell sometimes.Some of the Regent’s other guests were a tad…stiff in their response.”

I chuckled.“Don’t take it personally.Some of his guests are stiff all the time.”

He joined in my amusement,his gaze jumping around the immediate vicinity.“Your lovely companion yesterday was not one of those,thank goodness.Where is she?I’d love to say hello.”

“I’m sorry,she’s not here,”I said.“I’m on my own.”

“No lover’s spat,I hope.”

“Nothing like that.We’re just acquaintances,actually.Yesterday was the first time I’d ever spent more than two minutes with her.”