Absolutely. Not that Velario planned to admit it. “Bored.”
“I see.” Reyn tilted her head up and peeked at him. “What can I do to relieve your boredom?”
If he succumbed to the seduction in her voice, Velario knew he wouldn’t be able to stop with a single kiss. A glass building a stone’s throw from a crowded ballroom was not the place to do more, though. He raised an eyebrow. “You can tell me where Giorden took you.”
“He took me to meet with Lady Jianna in private.”
“Why?”
Reyn hesitated. “I don’t think she would want me to share the details. But I guess it is safe to say she wondered if my skill at spotting counterfeit banknotes could be applied in other situations.”
Velario didn’t bother to speculate about what sort of forgery Jianna wanted Reyn to identify. Family Velassi was not in direct competition with the Ferrinis, and they shared a good relationship. He didn’t need the details.
“Are you going to help her?”
“I already did. I think.” Reyn pulled back a little and looked at him. “I don’t know enough about such things to trust that my observations were valuable, but I think I told her what she needed.”
Velario considered the tiny furrow between Reyn’s brows. “Did you not like being asked to help?”
“No, I wanted to help. I enjoy feeling there is something worthwhile I can do. But I wish I knew if my help was actually helpful.”
“I’m sure it was.”
“Velario, you don’t even know what I did.”
“You used your eye for detail to identify a forgery of some kind, I suspect.” He put a finger to her lips. “Don’t worry, I won’t ask for any details, and I won’t spread any rumors about Jianna.”
“Thank you. I would hate for her to think I didn’t understand the importance of discretion.”
“She knows you understand such things. She is leading the Cabinet’s inquiry into the counterfeiting, remember? Jianna trusted you because of what she’s learned.”
“I told her I’d be happy to help with anything similar in the future.” Reyn bit her lip. “Except, if I do help her again, I’d like to know how to make sense of the details that I notice. I want to be sure I give her good advice.”
“I know someone you can talk to about forgeries, if you’d like. He can explain what he deems the art of forgery to you, and you can see if it helps you understand those details.”
“Velario, are you saying you know a forger?”
“Reformed forger.”
“I think I’d like to talk with him.”
“I’ll arrange a meeting.” Velario tried to keep his voice even. He wouldn’t betray how much it meant to him that Reyn was talking about her future without mentioning a return to Moial. Maybe she would meet with his contact and then take her knowledge back home with her. He hoped not.
She had never mentioned returning to Moial at all in his hearing. That didn’t mean she wouldn’t leave soon. Unless he gave her more reasons to stay. “Reyn?”
“Yes?”
“Lady Jianna isn’t the only person who might appreciate knowing someone who can discreetly check over documents. If you want to do this as more than the occasional favor, there are ways to let people know.”
The light in her eyes dimmed. “How many would want to trust me with such serious matters? Selona had to corner you before you even considered allowing me to help at the bank.”
Velario winced. “I was also being an idiot of enormous proportions with regards to you. You won over everyone else in Tryn with no difficulty.”
“I made myself popular. People who want me around at a ball aren’t necessarily going to want a frivolous bit of skirt to advise them on critical business decisions. I don’t know if I would trust me with anything serious.”
“Hey.” Velario put a finger under her chin and forced Reyn to look at him. “You are more than a frivolous bit of skirt. Selona, Khiran, Lisca, and Danten all saw your intelligence within minutes of meeting you. Giorden, Fideo, Alenna, and many others all respect you. Jianna trusted you with her affairs. Trust yourself, Reyn.”
She nodded. “If you think I could do it—”
“Not think. I know you can. If you want it, you will excel.”
“I want to do this.”
“Then you will. I’ll arrange the meeting with the forger.”
Her smile returned. “Reformed forger.”
“Reformed forger,” Velario agreed. “After you meet with him, we can look through some bank documents and Family Ferrini papers so that you can test yourself. Then, when you feel ready, we’ll put the word out.”
Reyn went up on tiptoe. She kissed him. “Thank you.”
