"I—" I started again, my brain finally catching up to my mouth.
"This is a misunderstanding. I didn't mean... when I said those things about Tessa, I meant as a person, not as a—"
"As a what?" Zen asked innocently, leaning forward with exaggerated interest. "Please, continue. You meant what exactly?"
My face was heating up. I could feel it.
Get it together. You're a grown man. Well, mentally. Sort of.
"A potential—" I caught myself.
Don't say 'wife candidate.' That makes it worse.
"I meant I was impressed by her skills. Her competence. In a professional capacity."
"Oh, professional," one of the elderly women said, nodding sagely. "Yes, a wife should be professionally competent. Excellent criteria."
"That's not what I—"
"And you said she was talented," the grey-bearded man added helpfully. "Multiple times, in fact."
"Because she IS talented! At alchemy! Not at—"
Zen was grinning.
"Not at what?" he asked sweetly.
