"Partially that," August said with a smile. "And my ward was born there — I thought it would be beneficial for him to spend some time in his parents' country." The lie was getting smoother — of Lysander's origins, and of his reasons for going to Germany. He was sure that some people had heard of the debacle in his attempt to court Grace Greengrass — but he was hoping that two seasons were enough time for everyone to move on.

"If you could travel anywhere," August asked, "Where would you go?"