Only because you make me want to break my leash one of these days, Sir. [ Lockwood responded with a quick grin, before he sobered as well.

His expression softened and he glanced down at their feet, his expression attentive, and his smile rueful. ]

Herself [ he means his Maker ] often says the same thing. Usually when we've been sitting in a small room, reading over crop yields and auditing taxes for the past five hours. I don't even want to imagine the sort of brain ache you court trying to balance the budget for this place.