Rory stopped at Pippa's request and leaned up against a nearby table, checking first to make sure it held nothing potentially dangerous. "Of course," he replied, his tone almost docile. Whatever Pippa's purpose was in bringing him here, he'd go along with it.

In fact he was just as glad to have a minute or two to himself. He could try to get his thoughts, if not in order, at least more settled than they currently were. He could try to dig up a smile from somewhere inside and get it pasted on his face in time to greet this person who kept his love going.

He was a stage performer. He'd met audiences with a smile at time he was feeling exhausted, depressed or angry. He could handle this, he kept telling himself.