"I've been informed I'm an excellent correspondent," he replied. A slight twinge of regret somewhere in the back of his mind at having said so — it was Hector Cartwright who had told him so, before Hector had died. It had been long enough since his friend's disappearance though that the wounds were not so fresh; he kept his smile in place on his face.

"As far as charming young ladies and mothers — since I am neither, I must leave you the judge of that," he teased. "If you have any notes towards my improvement in the area, you can deliver them at your leisure. How did I do with the flowers?"

---