Rip and Blair stopped at a nice restaurant on the way home, deciding to eat out rather than spend more time with Nancy.

It would also give them more time alone to talk and get to know one another better.

It’s one thing to know somebody casually, Rip thought. Quite another to be married and sharing a life together.

The maître d’ recognized them, or at least he recognized Rip, and seated them at once in a nice secluded spot near the back of the restaurant.

“Your waiter will be here shortly, Sir Coulter.”

When he left, Rip said, “That guy must read the papers.”

He noticed Blair looked very tired now, with circles forming under her eyes. But she smiled and held his hand across the table through most of the meal. They talked through the meal, getting to know each other better.

Rip told her more about his world, trying his best to explain the metaverse and the multitude of entertainment options available to people. This fascinated Blair.

For her part, she told him about growing up in Ravenwick, and some of her adventures as a child.

Afterward they decided to walk the rest of the way home, cutting through a park to get there. Rip took the opportunity to practice his [Night Vision] skill while they held hands.

“So, here’s something I’ve been wondering all night. How is it you knew all that stuff about your father’s company? I didn’t think you were that involved in it.”

Blair smiled and said, “I’ve always kept an eye on the company. It has to do with being a Spy. At first I did it for practice. The company provided a safe enough place to try out certain skills. If someone saw through my disguise, for instance, then I could always say as the primary’s daughter I was just sneaking around on family business. No one would have thought much of it, had I been caught.”

Rip nodded. This made sense. She had found a perfect solution for leveling up her skills.

“Lately I had ceased spying on the company, what with all the other things going on. Even before we found you in the Gretna Green vault, the Bandits were busy on other assignments. So, last night I sneaked out of the house and broke into the Brooke and Company offices. I avoided the night guard and rifled through all our files. I read all the financial reports and everything else I thought might be pertinent.”

“That’s neat. I’m impressed by your memory. You rattled off facts and figures back there without missing a beat.”

“That is thanks to another Spy-related skill of mine, [Thorough Recall]. It works like a photograph, of sorts, and I can access the information verbatim, as required.”

“[Total Recall]?”

“[Thorough Recall]. I see that look on your face. You find this amusing.”

“It just reminds me of an old movie.”

“The kind you watch on a box?”

“Right. Or in a theater. Anyway, your skill sounds like a spy camera without having an actual camera.”

“I suppose that is one way to look at it.”

The stopped and looked out over a small pond. The surface of the dark water reflected the park’s gaslamps along the path.

Blair sighed and said, “I feel guilty, Ripley, about some of the things I’ve kept from you due to my enhanced class. I . . . skulk around a lot, usually at night, and engage in all sorts of unsavory pretensions. It’s not very lady-like, I’m afraid.”

She looked up at him to gauge his reaction. But he continued smiling at her, seemingly unperturbed, so she continued.

“I’ve . . . I’ve done horrid things, like pretending to be a prostitute. I never actually slept with a client, I usually knocked them out or poisoned them before it went very far. But . . . I know what it’s like to live that life. And many others equally sordid, equally squalid.”

He smiled even more at this, but sobered when he saw the look on her face.

“I can see this troubles you, that you’re worried about how I’d feel about that. I understand you and the Infiltrators often pretend to be someone you’re not as part of your class. That’s okay. It doesn’t bother me.”

“Are you certain?” she asked, softly.

“Yup. So long as you stay true to me, I don’t care what you do as a Spy. Well, you know . . . don’t go sleeping with the enemy or anything.”

She hugged him then, and he could feel the tension releasing in her body.

“No, of course not. I take our marriage vows seriously.”

“Good. I think you know the sisters kissed me to bestow their boons on me. Before today, that’s about the farthest I’ve gone with any girl on this world.”

“Mm. It’s a shame you shan’t be getting any more of their boons.”

It was her turn to give him a wry smile.

They resumed walking, hand in hand.

“Spies don’t give any boons for sleeping with them, do they?”

“No. Not unless they’re vampire spies. But I can make it up to you in other ways, believe me.”

They finally arrived back at the townhouse at a late hour. Blair unlocked the wicket gate and then the front door.

Inside they found Nancy fast asleep on one of the couches, snoring softly. Rip shut the door lightly, careful not wake the maid up.

Blair moved silently across the room, and Rip realized she was using a [Stealth] spell. He activated his own and followed her into the bedroom. They shut the door quietly.

Blair laid down on the bed and smiled, invitingly. Rip went to the sink in the room and began taking off his suit and tie.

“You know, I’m going to have to get used to not sleeping in the guest cottage. I’ve gotten kind of attached to that place. I guess it could serve as our bat cave from here on out.”

He smiled and turned.

“That’s another cultural reference you won’t get.”

Blair was still on the bed, fully clothed but fast asleep.

He chuckled and slipped under the covers, reaching across her to turn out the light.