Veylin felt the warmth beside his ear and sighed inwardly.
Here it was again. More time wasted dealing with pointless problems born of a gap in understanding.
Considering their currently amicable partnership, Veylin composed himself, then turned to Caroline with a faint smile.
He did not explain right away. He intended to let the facts speak for themselves.
But to Caroline, that smile was a fuse, instantly igniting her suspicion and anger.
That was no explanation, no honesty. It was an admission, a provocation!
A silent boast of, You guessed right. So what?
Shing-!
A faint but piercing scrape of metal rang out.
Without a word, Caroline drew an exceptionally sharp Letter Opener from her crocodile-hide handbag and drove it into a nearby wooden supply crate.
The point sank an inch into the wood. The handle hummed, and the trembling blade reflected the cold daylight.
"Lord Klein," she said, stepping back half a pace, the distance making her presence all the more imposing. "It seems my investment has allowed you to live quite comfortably in this backwater. What, have all those bottles and jars in your laboratory stopped satisfying you?"
Her voice grew colder as she spoke. Her lovely brows drew together, and her eyes bored into Veylin.
"I truly never imagined your tastes were so peculiar. With so many mature, alluring women to choose from, you actually dared lay your hands on a little maid who's barely been weaned! Is that what you like so much? Someone who knows nothing and lets you do whatever you please?"
Veylin's smile did not change. He merely turned sideways and gestured toward the Lord's Residence, inviting her to follow.
"Caroline, you have a vivid imagination, but no facts to support it."
He calmly retrieved the Letter Opener, moving naturally, as though Caroline's