Issue 1 Downtime

Derek smiled charmingly at her. "Well, so am I, then," he said. And then, he caught himself getting stuck in old habits. Yes, because this worked so well back home, it would naturally work here. Idiot, she's playing along with you. It's her job.

"So... I'm, ah, not sure how this works..."

"Well, " Chloe said "You and I go upstairs to my room, and when you're done you speak to Miss Victoria, to settle things up."

Pleasure before business, then. All right. "And first, we have tea?" he asked, smiling, as he took another sip of the tea.

"You can even stay for supper, if you like." Chloe said "Either before or well, after. Miss Victoria sets a good table. Some gentlemen even come just for food and conversation. Not that I'd expect you to......be content with that."

"Hmmm, well that might be nice," He admitted. He wasn't, after all, that great a cook, and being a bachelor had to do all his cooking himself. Company was a welcome change, after all.

"Supper won't be ready for awhile." Chloe said "We could go upstairs, while we wait for supper to get ready. If you want to."

That sounds like the cue. "I'd be delighted. Shall we?"

"I think we shall." Chloe said, extending her hand so he could help her up.

Which, naturally, Derek did in a very gentlemanly manner, again probably forgetting where he was.

Chloe smiled up at him and, not letting go of Derek's hand, lead him upstairs to her room.