She had quietly gotten up and left a small note on the pillow thanking both Zan and Simone for an enjoyable evening. As the only clothes she had available to her were the ones she had worn the night before, she had quickly redressed in them before letting herself out into the crisp morning air. She knew she would have a lot to explain once she arrived at her room, but that would have to wait. For the moment she was she slipped into the local apothecary?s shop and made a small purchase which she tucked into her small clutch. The little shopkeeper, an elderly woman with smile lines, wrinkles and a knot of grey hair perfectly pinned atop her head gave her a knowing wink, which made Jan?tte smile. She had long ago decided to waste no time in confirming nor denying the assumptions of others, but rather leave them to the tales made up inside their own heads.

With her task completed, she made her way out of the small shop and down the cobblestone street. As it was just a little past dawn, there were few people out yet. Mostly she has only the eyes of the shopkeepers and vendors who lined the streets to contend with. While they might have tongues that would wag, she had little to concern herself with those tales either. It was what awaited her that she thought of now. Well-chosen words could often calm Titus when he was displeased with her, poorly chosen ones would often leave her regretting having spoken at all. So it was that she was a bit distracted when she arrived at the Inn and didn?t see Stephan leaned against one of the railings at the top of the steps. ?He?s waiting for you. Hope you have your explanation all worked out this time.?

She knew just from the lazy overconfident lean Stephan was taking that Titus was already upstairs waiting for her. She offered Stephan the most saccharine sweet smile she had, ?You know I wouldn?t approach Titus without an offering to appease for any transgressions.? As she reached the top of the stairs, she gave Stephan a pat to his cheek, ?And have you an offering to make up for not picking me up last night??

He scowled at her as she entered the inn. She managed to draw up her shawl and wrap it around her shoulders just as the door closes behind her. A glance around the commons and she noted only one or two there. The morning crowd had not yet arrived, so she slipped up the stairs and into her room. As she expected, the curtains had been drawn closed darkening the space considerably. It had taken on the almost cavernous feel that Titus enjoyed. She paused in the doorway only long enough to remove her shawl, fold it and deposit it on the back of the chair before stepping inside.

She could see that he was sitting in the oversized chair facing the one desk in the suite, and made her way over to it, pausing only as she stood a foot or two behind him. He continued reading over the report she had made concerning one of the latest cases she had worked. He often did this just to make her wait, something about learning patience, though she had mastered that lesson long before now. Then with only one word, he demanded the explanation she had been working on all morning, ?So??

She knew what he was demanding, but still took her time and spoke each word very carefully, watching him. It wasn?t that she would be able to escape him, still, she hadn?t yet recovered from the previous night?s escapades, and this was the moment that made life rather precarious. She carefully reached into her clutch and extracted the orb she had used the night before, ?I left a message with Stephan letting him know about the change in plans for where to pick me up.? Her hand extended, she offered the device to Titus for him to review. As he took it, she continued, ?There was an opportunity that presented itself to me which I had not anticipated. As you have indicated that you wished a meeting with the new arrival, I considered it best to take advantage of the opportunity.?

She watched as Titus set the orb aside and then steeple his hands in front of him. That was usually his way of showing that while he had not become convinced, he was still listening to the explanation. Taking a deep breath and letting it out, she continued, ?Last night, while I was waiting for Stephan to arrive and take me to the party, I ran into Zan. We sat and had a drink and spoke for a while. He had not fed apparently for a few days. I decided it best to escort him home and fortunately I did so, as he was not alone.? A slight nod toward the orb and she continued, ?I did give a call to Stephan, as I said, and told him of my location. I also made sure that Zan?s problem was taken care of. He?s now willing to meet with us and discuss the mutual benefits we might share.?

Before she could blink, Titus was out of his chair and standing behind her, his hand on her throat, ?Girl, do you realize you passed up an opportunity for which I have been preparing you?? She didn?t make a move, knowing that if she angered him further, he could easily rip out her throat and find another to take her place. ?You were my first choice for the ceremony last night. However, you were not my only choice.? He then hissed in her ear, ?Take care that you do not disappoint me further.?

With that, he released her, and she stepped away with a turn to face him, ?Of course.? With a run of her hand over her throat where his hand been, she continues, ?I would not have considered missing this it the prize had not been worthy of the pursuit.?

He then smiled and nodded, ?And that is why you do not lie dead at my feet now. Be sure that he comes to the table.?Then as if they had just passed the morning with small talk and chit-chat, he sat down calmly and picked up the papers he had been looking through just a few minutes before, "So, shall we discuss the other projects you have been working on?"