Lemon chuckled and sucked air through her teeth in mock-pain. ‘Still, those looks of yours have opened doors for you over the years, right?’

‘Maybe. Doesn’t mean I’ve liked what’s come through them.’ Loveless took another sip of the wine, then put down her cup, frowning. ‘And you, Lemming? You’re not shopping in the market yourself, this evening? I understand Brother Foss’s reluctance— No, scratch that, I’m aware of it, but I can’t understand it. But how about you, Lem? Nothing on the menu whetting your appetite?’

Lemon concentrated on her cup, her eyes glossy with booze. ‘Aye, well, y’see, it’s just not that interesting to me.’

‘What is? Isn’t?’

‘You know … The act.’

‘The—? Sex?’

‘Yeah, all that, I dunno, squelching. Proximity. Smells and …’ She shuddered. ‘… secretions.’

‘You are joking, yes? This is a famous Lemon joke.’

Lemon put up one hand, the other balancing her newly refilled wine cup. ‘Now, I’m not averse to the odd knuckle shuffle, of course, I’m as human as the rest of you. Shut it, Fossy. No, no, if you’ve got it, use it, and all that. But, well, other people, eh? They’re the worst bit.’

Loveless nodded, eyebrows arched. ‘Ain’t they just?’

***

‘How can you keep drinking this? It’s off. Definitely. What’s wrong with you?’

‘Aye, what’s wrong with you? It’s magnificent.’

‘Maybe try the brandy, my friend, if the wine doesn’t agree.’

‘If they’ve spiced dodgy wine and expected nobody to notice, I can’t see the brandy being any better.’ Loveless poured herself a small cup and swilled it around her mouth.

‘Aye, you were moaning about that stuff we lifted from the cellars in Tenailen and all. You sure you’re not coming down with something?’

She swallowed, made a face, grunted. ‘Huh. Maybe I just need to drink through it.’ She poured another, then swivelled on Chel with terrible focus.

‘How about you, cub? Got your eye on anything this evening? Planning to avail yourself of the facilities?’

Chel had been dreading this. He shifted, looked anywhere but her, feigned interest in the decorative frieze that ran along the top of the luxuriant walling. ‘I’m, er … worried about Rennic.’

Lemon hiccupped. ‘Boss-man has been at the privy a while, eh? Hard rations on your little trek east, was it? I told him, told him I did, you don’t get the pickling right, you’re looking at a downstairs deluge—’

‘That’s, um, not what I meant.’

Loveless’s gaze hadn’t left him, sharp and piercing. ‘What did you mean, cub? Something happen on the road?’