He stayed in the lobby while Valdis disappeared up to her room, and he was in much the same place and position when she returned a few minutes later. At her reappearance he bowed again from the waist, not terribly deeply but with enough of a flourish that the whole thing looked rather impressive anyway.

"Oh good," he replied, immediately taking Valdis's arm again rather than offering an elbow, as a gentleman might. This was much more familiar. Rue was nothing if not a bit invasive--and a whole lot presumptuous "You're just in time, darling. Anton's been distracting me terribly. Let's go before I lose all of my willpower to leave."

A wry grin showed beneath the hat, and once again Rue steered Valdis toward the front doors of the Hotel. This time they made it through, out and into the city proper.

"Now then, where first? I want to see everything."