He was about to answer, but the wide eyed look of embarrassment caused him to erupt into a deep laugh. He did not mean to be mocking on insulting, it was just such an adorable little action, it amused him so deeply. "No, no, not rude at all," he insisted warmly. "My wife has passed now," he said, pausing long enough to toss his eyes skyward, a blessing to the passed spirit, "but she did not always approve of my subjects. Have you lived here long?" There was something distinctly foreign about this female, and it had Basim endlessly curious, even if he was the one now doing the prying.