"You flatter me." Crane replied with a courteous smile. "But thank you. Of course, you're stunning as always." There wasn't a hint of lechery in his voice, it was entirely innocent. Paternal even.

"Ah, wonderful. You two make such a lovely couple." He didn't say so much, but he had been encouraging regarding their relationship when so many socialites still regarded the notion with skepticism- partly because Kayla was also a woman, but also because she was spectacularly not from the inner circle of society.

"Quite a crowd tonight, isn't it? It's as if they're expecting something big to happen tonight."