She wasn't used to being addressed by pet names. Other than her nickname. Especially by boys. She blinked in surprise. There was a protocol in court for that kind of thing. She'd seen it before. The ladies would bristle and puff up like cats, saying witty things while pretending to be offended.

Really, it made no sense at all. So Ariadne decided just to let it go.

At any rate, she didn't sense deception in his pulse. "Well," she said, smiling, "you haven't lied to me yet. I think I should trust your expertise. It's gotta be better than mine."