[ his smile softens as he bends to let her tuck the ribbon into his braids, almost sweet-- certainly without the painted and practiced sensuality so second-nature to him now, at least. ]

High praise from the Lady Lucrezia, [ he teases gently, and drops a few coins for his hair pin into the stunned merchant's hand. ] Though I suppose it is part of my duties to be as distractingly attractive as I can manage.

[ he offers an arm, as if he's simply a gentleman escorting a high-born lady in this quaint southern stop on the way to literally anywhere else. ] I don't think that anyone quite knows what to do with either of us.