He had noticed her mistake, and Gabrielle felt immediately embarrassed. Her face shifted into a full, warm blush. "Oh, ehm, not really," she said quickly. "I lost somezing- not today, zough- and eet 'as taken me a good while to adjust. Zank you for asking?" It was, apparently, her turn to babble.
"I believe eet," she said, and she meant it. At least this one was making words. She had encountered much worse in the opposite sex. "You are just een a 'urry, eez all," she blatantly justified for him, knowing better. "Eet 'appens, oui?"
"Cass eet eez, zen." It was almost a shame that he hated his full name so, as for some reason, she had no trouble saying 'Cassius' in English- a rare feat.
Gabrielle looked down at the kitten, taking a step closer to tickle under its chin. She did not ask permission to do so. "Well, you two seem to be good friends," she grinned, "from ze way you are talking to eet. I zink you should tell ze leetle one 'ere," she requested, choosing that moment to look up into Cassius's eyes, "zat she 'as poseeteevely stolen my 'eart."