Roland gave a rather dry little half-smile. So that was her game. He couldn't say he minded the question all that much, although there was a part of him that rankled at her obvious belief that he needed looking after. It was bad enough getting that kind of concern from Bert or Alain, and they had known him long enough to earn the privilege of worrying about him.

"I don't guarantee I wouldn't push you off it," he said after a moment's consideration. His smile was, all of a sudden, rather sharp. "I'd suggest not trying it. We're both bullheaded enough that it would only end in tears."