"Can I ask you something?" James asked carefully as he finished his soup from the head of the table.
Lily sat on his right side, drinking her own soup. She nodded and looked up at him, setting her spoon inside her empty bowl.
"Why did you bring up the possibility of me having a mistress? As far as I know, you had no idea what a mistress was."
Lily started a little at his bluntness. She was quiet as the servants came in and took away the early dinner they'd decided to have. James stood up and offered her his arm.
"I know what a mistress is...or at least I have the gist of it," Lily replied uncomfortably as she took his proffered arm and they made their way to walk around outside. "And...someone said something at the palace. About you...you used to have a mistress...a dancer," Lily sa
