"I don't think I need to let anyone see my beautiful anything right now, thanks," Sorrel managed not to grit his teeth, and was a little proud of that, not realizing that accepting Cyril's compliment without real comment had probably broadcast his distress more clearly than snapping might have, "I'm not you, I can't just smile at everything and win it over."

Although, technically, nothing bad had happened yet. He took a deep breath and tried to straighten his spine a little. It didn't help the anxious, white-knuckled tension much, but he did look less furtive.