She gave him a much softer look, and smoothed down the front of his shirt. "Well then you needn't act for me, because I already think you're wonderful," she said firmly. "What would it take to convince you?"

Marcello smiled at her. "I know you think I am," he replied. "I think you're wonderful, too. And that's all I care about. Being actually wonderful all the time would get tiring."

She still looked as if she wanted to putter over him. "We're married now. We shouldn't have to worry about these things anymore. We're reasonable people, we can fix things."

Marcello chuckled. "I don't think being married magically solves everything," he said. "But it helps. It's...reassuring, I suppose. To know for certain that we have one another."

"You had me before," she pointed out, then added, lightly, "And now you have the Queensman."

"Ha, ha, ha," Marcello answered. "Are you jealous of my sister's beau?"

"I'm jealous of you and your sister's beau," she teased. "And I am honestly not a little envious that you've already charmed your way nearer to him than I have. I'll have to start sending you north to play cards with him regularly, so you can spy."

"That was a lot of what I was thinking, and I'm sure a lot of what he thought I was thinking," Marcello replied cheerfully. "Go talk to Fiona," he suggested. "When she's feeling better. I'm sure you'll do better with her than I will. Then we'll both have scandalous Unseelie friends."

"You can afford scandalous acquaintances far better than I can," she laughed. "I have to take care of our own nobles." The term tickled her. She raised an eyebrow at him. "You know. Our nobles? The nice people who sometimes pay us taxes?"

"Our nobles!" Marcello echoed happily. "Our taxes!" He grinned at her and gave her a little nudge. "You're going to need to tell me sometime, about all the horrible things I get to share with you now, too," he warned.