“But why Wenford? Why The Grand? You're completely out of place there.”

“Thank you.”

“Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. I speak first and think later. Always have, and I guess I always will. Too late to change now.”

“Don't you think you could try?” Randolph ventured.

She gave a worried little frown. “Are you mad at me?”

“No, speaking first and thinking later is charming in a young woman, but there are times and situations when it could be damaging.”

“You mean when I'm an ugly old battle-ax?” she asked cheerfully, spreading her hands wide and forcing a waiter to swerve around her.

“I can't imagine that you could ever be ugly,” he said truthfully.

“But a battle-ax, right? Mike says it's like being with a dictator sometimes.”

“And you don't mind him saying things like that?”

She chuckled. “Oh, if he steps out of line I just give him a long, lingering kiss, and then he forgets everything else.”

That was wise of her, he thought. A kiss from those lips wouldn't just be about sex. It would be about laughter and sunshine, wine, sweetness and all the good things of life.

“Guys never give me any trouble,” she added blithely.

“You give them all long, lingering kisses?” he asked, startled.

“No need. A smile usually does it. But you're quite right. The day'll come when they're not trying to get me into bed-”

“Would you mind keeping your voice down?” he begged, conscious of the waiter just behind her.

“And then I'll have to watch my mouth,” she finished.

He reddened. “That's not really what I said.”

“Well, it's what you meant by 'damaging.' Me coming out with something daft isn't going to damage anyone but me, now is it? Kingdoms aren't going to rise and fall because Dottie Hebden opened her big gob-”

“Aren't they?” he murmured grimly.

“-and that's lucky because she's always blurting out something stupid. A really daft cow, that's what everyone says. Well, Mike doesn't say it because he doesn't dare but…oh heck, I'm sorry!”