"Now that," Trafalgar said, "is something I did not expect."
Xavier stopped walking as if Trafalgar had placed a blade across the floor in front of him.
Vivienne did not stop with him. She only turned her head slightly, glanced at their joined hands, and accepted with visible dignity that arriving like this had removed any chance of entering quietly. Xavier, unfortunate creature that he was, had not prepared for an entire table to witness the evidence.
Barth's mouth opened first.
Cynthia's cup paused halfway to her lips.
Zafira leaned back a little, her previous mood buried beneath the sort of curiosity people usually reserved for accidents happening at a safe distance.
Trafalgar looked from Xavier to Vivienne, then to their hands again. "I will admit, I thought this would take longer. Much longer, if I am being generous."
Xavier's face reddened at once. "It is not that dramatic."
