Ah, but surely there are more pleasant things we could speak of than that. [He leads her to the section of the hall reserved solely for dancing, confident that despite the differences in time between them they will still be able to dance together without incident. Most of the confidence, true, is in his own skill, but she seems a capable and adaptable girl in her own right.]

Poisonous vipers. Packs of wild dogs, perhaps. Wolves tearing one another to pieces.

[The mask doesn't slip for a moment. Even his smile resists the temptation to turn into a rueful smirk. He might as well be commenting on the weather.]

Surely your own family is far more worthy of note, filled with brave ladies and noble ancestors.