He had caught her out, Mattie knew this as soon as he mentioned dragon dung. But – fortunately, she was still petting the dog, eyes cast down at it – there was no need for her to let on about that, was there?
“Well, not quite,” she said sweetly, with an innocent smile as she straightened up. Somehow it was more fun that he had seen through her already; he was not just a pretty face. “My father’s research focus is the creatures,” she explained, holding her ground, “while mine is the more human side of dragon-keeping. You know, for context.” She glanced at the other girls impassively, and as if they were not there, Mattie returned her gaze, eyebrows raised, to him. “We can walk, if you prefer.” While they talked.
“Well, not quite,” she said sweetly, with an innocent smile as she straightened up. Somehow it was more fun that he had seen through her already; he was not just a pretty face. “My father’s research focus is the creatures,” she explained, holding her ground, “while mine is the more human side of dragon-keeping. You know, for context.” She glanced at the other girls impassively, and as if they were not there, Mattie returned her gaze, eyebrows raised, to him. “We can walk, if you prefer.” While they talked.
