"Ah," China said, and managed to sound pleased about it despite the fact that she could not now hold whatever it was over Valdis' head. "Well, that solves that problem, doesn't it? How convenient." She smiled at Valdis, a charming little thing with carefully hidden insincerity. "Shall I leave you to your rendezvous? This seems like... private business."

Which was not to say that she didn't want to know, naturally, but there was only so much she was willing to put up with in one day.