“Thomas is my cousin by decree,” she says, “and the Duke decreed himself my grandfather. He pays the rent, so he got the master suite when he moved back in, but he did pick the place out for me originally. Which I have it on good authority,”

she drawls it; the smell of smoke hangs in the air around her, and there is a particular flavor of languor to the way she's moving,

“means I can toss anyone I like, this evening. Are you just bored? The bear won't judge. He's seen worse.”