Elant chuckled, "For all her... eccentricities, Val is a good judge of people."

It was as good a way to describe his cousin as any, the woman had always been a bit of an odd duck even before her marriage and subsequent widowing. More interested in academics and collecting oddities than attending balls or embroidery.

"Tea would be lovely, I am not sure ai have had much of anything proper to drink today, thank you." He smiled, settling on to a seat across from hers.