He was a little surprised by her statement, but with his natural stoicism, didn't show it. What sounded dreadful? His hometown? That was a strange thing for someone to say who had apparently never heard of it. But he wasn't going to get into a fight about it, not until she gave him more reasons than just talking.
"Curiouser isn't a word, you know."
He glanced down at her arm which was linked through his, and then looked up at her once more. He had had a really hard day, and his patience was at an end.
"Is there some reason you're holding on to me like this?"