"Of course I've considered that," she said, a little sharply. "I've considered everything." What part of trust me didn't he understand?

But, of course, he had no reason to expect that she was trustworthy. They didn't really know each other, and most young women did not have the particular set of skills she did. Most young women had not spent half a decade conducting secret research and then the past year writing under a pseudonym.

"Yes, please," she answered, her tone softer but still not entirely devoid of irritation. She raised her cup to finish it off, then leaned forward to put it back on the tray. "With about twice as much sugar as before, if you would."