"I must admit, I've lost count." He laughed and looked around when she did, though his smile did falter. "Alone? Ah, yes. I recently had a falling out with the person I would have invited. A pity, as they likely would have enjoyed this."
He nodded in Peter's general direction.
"It would seem you enjoy a certain someone's company," he hinted, while trying to change the subject. "I do not wish to intrude, but are you and he...?"
He turned his head a little while staring inquisitively at her, eyebrows slightly raised, leaving it up to her to fill in that blank.