His eyes crinkle up in amusement. "Ah, you know, if you just showed a bit more hedonism like that, my girl, we'd have gotten on from the first. Let us investigate whether there is more cake. I could use some of my own."

He strolls in the direction of the food table, asking as he does, his voice light and wry, "And tell me, do you have any tips for how to trust without being hurt? That seems to me a perfect paradox. Impossible."