When they entered the dining room, Jayhan gave her a smile, not of reassurance but of pure, excited welcome. It clearly did not occur to him that she might have reason to be worried. Although this probably sprang as much from his lack of understanding as from his confidence in her, his smile still calmed her.
She smiled back as she followed Clive’s gesture to a place halfway down the table between Jayhan and Jon. Eloquin and Yarrow stood behind their chairs opposite her, ready to be seated, while Maud and Sheldrake were standing at either end.
“Good afternoon, Jon and Sasha, and welcome.” Maud turned to Eloquin and Yarrow. “Jon knew Sasha at the orphanage, and now works at the Kimoran Embassy.”
Yarrow’s face tightened. She nodded curtly. “How do you do?”
“It’s all right, Maud,” said Jo
