Damn it.
Who would have thought the person with the least skills when it came to politics would be the one responsible for avoiding a diplomatic incident?
“I didn’t catch your name.” Tate aimed a smile at woman. There was a guardedness in the woman’s face. A tightness around her eyes that said she didn’t enjoy this. For that reason, Tate was willing to try to defuse the situation. “I’m Tate Fisher.”
“I know who you are.”
Tate waited as one moment passed into the next without anything further.
Tate’s smile grew strained. Patience. Understanding. Don’t bite her head off even if everything in you is telling you to.
Dewdrop’s lips quivered as if he knew exactly what was going through Tate’s mind.
“It’s customary once someone gives you their name to respond with your own,” Tate bit out, still trying to sound semi polite.
Judging by the laugh Dewdrop tried to cover up as a cough, she wasn’t entirely successful.
Ben intervened before things could get worse. “This is Georgiana Rosewood. Recently, she’s been called back to the city and is in the process of reacquainting herself with things.”
Rosewood. Tate was pretty sure she recognized that name from one of the endless history lessons Thora subjected her to on a regular basis.
If she recalled correctly, that was the name of an aristocrat’s line that stretched back centuries.
“I prefer to go by George,” the woman said without a shift in her expression.
“She’s a murderer. The same as everyone else in her line.” Blaise stalked toward Jacob and the children. “Let’s go.”
George’s lips flattened as she watched the group move away into the garden and toward the small manor that served as an annex to the headquarters.
Tate caught a glimpse of George’s clenched fists seconds before she relaxed them, her expression smoothing out to one of calm once again.
It looked like someone wasn’t as unaffected by the dragon-ridden’s hostility as she wanted them to think.
Dewdrop nodded at Daisy and Jack, signaling them to follow Blaise and the rest. Only when they were safely away did Dewdrop move to Tate’s side.
“Not sure stomping off after a snit is the best way to handle the emperor’s people,” Dewdrop said in a voice meant only for Tate. “And I thought your diplomacy skills were lacking.”
“Now you see I’m not so bad.”
He pursed his lips as he cast a sidelong glance at her. “I love how out of touch with reality you are.”
“They still need to be interrogated,” George said, focusing on Tate.
It was obvious, given her welcome by Blaise, Thora and Jacob, she’d decided Tate was the most reasonable one.
How little she knew.
“I’m sure that choice of word is an unfortunate oversight.” Tate’s smile held an edge.
Who used a term like interrogate in regards to children? It was possible Blaise and the others had reason to dislike this person after all.
“You’re right,” Ben interjected when George opened her mouth to argue. “No one here is going to interrogate anyone.”
George frowned at him in disagreement.
“No one,” he stressed.
George’s expression turned grumpy. She looked like a child denied a treat.
