Jone takes another swipe at the desert. It is a bit sweet, especially for her unsophisticated palate, but she's mostly entranced by the look of it. Somehow that makes up for it.

"I'd point out some examples, but that would be quite untoward," she says dryly, without looking up from the sparkling gold flecks under her spoon.

She can't keep from smiling at his compliment, and the smile can't keep from going wry. "Ah, but if I cared what pettiness was said of me, I'd stoop to the tedious lows of defending myself against fools."