Probably, the average person would be apologising by now, if only because that that's the human response upon causing offense. But Dorian's apologies are things that usually quicken over time, even amongst friends, and there is nothing about Nerva that tells him he ought to handle her gently.

There is a silence is the wake of her snap, before Dorian looks back at his drink, lifting it to study.

"You first," he says, finally. "I'm not like my countrymen, you know. For starters, I'm here, not there. I don't presume to know your secrets, but I will presume to imagine that you could appreciate the difference yourself."