Elijah trailed by her side, nodding, admiring and even striking small jests as appropriate. Overall, he judged her an exemplary host and companion, and saw that whatever faltering in her nerves were visibly soothed out by rejuvenated confidence and affection for the restaurant.
"Of course," he agreed convivially, as they made full circle back to the dining hall. He glanced only briefly in the direction of her abdomen. He was not so selfish as to overexert a mother to be. "We should proceed with the rest of the tour in daylight, I think. The night is late and I do not wish to make myself an imposition."
"If I may be frank, I have a historian's intrigue in the resort," he added, almost as an afterthought. "Have you any idea when this place came to be?"