“I understand you were at the Hunt Ball,” she opened, hoping to prompt Johnathan into telling her exactly what had happened.
“Yes, I was there…for all the good it did me.”
“Those things are supposed to be a lot of fun.”
“It probably was. I didn’t notice.”
This was no help at all. The android was reacting to his social isolation by withdrawing further into himself. Vini pressed on. “What did you do there?”
“Not terribly much.”
All right, Vini thought stubbornly, when all else fails, try honesty. “I was wondering specifically what went on between you and Tyla.”
Johnathan looked up from his plate to stare at her. “How much did Mistress deVrie tell you about it?”
“Nothing. That’s why I asked you.”
“Well, if she didn’t say anything, I probably shouldn’t, either. I wouldn’t want to hurt
