Khalim shook his head. Can you fit us in?
Sure can! The waitress grinned, and winked at him.
Rose glanced at Khalim rather nervously. Obviously the woman had no idea that she was being so familiar with a member of Marabans royal familybut would Khalim be forgiving, or outraged? I dont care, she thought fiercely. Im going to enjoy my lunch!
But, strangely, Khalim found that he was enjoying the unaccustomed pleasure of anonymity. Normally he would not sanction such an intimacyand particularly not from a waitress in a rather basic restaurant.
And yet Rose looked incredibly relaxedeven in the cool linen dress which gave her the outward appearance of an icemaidenand he wanted to relax with her. Not to pull rank.
Thank you, he murmured.
Something about the way he spoke made the waitress narrow her eyes at him, for she suddenly looked rather flustered and led them to what was undoubtedly the best table in the room.
The only one, thought Rose rather wryly, which was not sitting right on top of its neighbours!
He waited until they were seated opposite one another and had been given their menus, before he leaned forward.