"Oh, surely the best," Krem said, though his voice took on a slightly distant tone, even for the teasing. He had no one to blame for that but himself; he'd been the one to start the line of teasing, and he either had to stop it lamely or allow it to continue.

The thing of it was that he wasn't entirely sure which he wanted. The teasing meant nothing. There was a sort of appeal, though; much like there was to everything about Adaline.

He poured her some of the wine, smiling softly.